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Ramen and MSG

Testimony of the Day

“I have never been what I would consider overweight. I’ve always been in very good shape, very active and thought I looked pretty good for an “old guy” :) A few years ago, my wife’s friend Maria opened our eyes to alot of our food choices. We took baby steps and it’s still a learning process, but we have turned over to a grain free, low carb, high fat diet and I can’t believe the difference in my body composition. Of course I didn’t change anything except for my diet and lost 16 pounds and look way leaner than ever before without having to even lift hard!!!

My workout routine is very limited and for a limited amount of the year. I only have time in the few winter months of November through March to workout and my workout routine is strictly using the resistance bands and some calisthenics which include pushups, pullups and a few other things. I was amazed at how effective it was and am completely SOLD on the eating plan!

I am definitely enjoying my food choices as well. What guy doesn’t love that diet…I love my food and never feel hungry. I am in the best shape of my life and feel great. It’s made a huge difference in keeping up with my kids and playing sports as I am still very active in sports. I can see for sure that it’s not just all exercise, but a huge part is the diet and food options. Thanks Maria for being my wife’s friend :)- Chad O.”

I have many clients who do little to no exercise and still look amazing on a keto-adapted diet. Take for example Chad; he does about 15 minutes of band resistant training 5 days a week in the winter months. He only does it in the winter because he is very busy with work in the summer. To get the results like Chad, click HERE for easy to follow keto-adapted meals

ramen

RAMEN

TOP Ramen Noodle Soup Ingredients: Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, ramen Riboflavin, Folic Acid)Vegetable Oil (contains One or More of Following: Canola Oil, Cottonseed Oil, Palm Oil) Preserved by Tocopherols and/or TBHQ and/or Ascorbyl Palmitate, contains Less than 2% of Salt, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Carbonate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Alginate. Seasoning Mix: Salt, Monosodium Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Soy, Corn and Wheat Protein, Chicken Powder, Soy Sauce Powder (Wheat, Soybeans, Maltodextrin, Salt)Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Spices, Chicken Fat, Calcium Silicate (Anticaking Agent)Celery Powder, Sugar, Dehydrated Leek, Turmeric Color, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Disodium Guanylate, Disodium Inosinate, Natural Flavors, Artificial Flavors.

MSG (an excitotoxin) causes damage to the neurons in your brain and has links to Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s disease and many others. Children are very susceptible to this type of effect on their sensitive and growing brains. Excitotoxins excite the neurons in the brain too much. They become exhausted and die. Neurotoxins are also a main cause of seizures. The damage may not be seen until many years later. When this happens, our neurotransmitters responsible for focus, mood, and memory have a hard time finding and recognizing their receptors due to the inflammation of the membranes on the brain cells caused by the consumption of MSG.

Brain levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine (important for mood and focus) are lowered by 95% when you ingest excitotoxins. BUT what is even more disturbing, is that when you switch to eating 100% free of processed food, our brain remains unable to produce normal amounts of dopamine in the hippocampus (the part of the brain most responsible for consolidating memory). This is one reason for the high rates of ADHD and depression. To read more on Brain Chemicals, check out my book: Secrets to Controlling Your Weight Cravings and Mood

TBHQ comes from petroleum (think “lighter fluid”). It is banned in other countries. TBHQ keeps fats from going rancid, so you see it in a lot of foods that they want to have a long shelf life. It is considered an “anti-oxidant” BUT it can itself be oxidized into harmful molecules, like tert-butylquinone…causing a TIRED TOXIC LIVER (see chapter on the liver in Secrets to a Healthy Metabolism).

TBHQ also promotes production of quinone reductase, which is linked to cancer. TBHQ can cause a full range of reactions from asthma to anxiety, ADHD, insomnia, depression, tiredness, learning difficulties and children’s behavior problems. This chemical is also found to effect estrogen levels…are you trying to get pregnant? or dealing with menopausal symptoms? I would avoid this like the plague.

ramen

“HEALTHIFIED” Ramen
3 1/2 cups vegetable broth
4 cups zucchini “noodles” OR Kelp Noodles
2 tsp organic Tamari sauce (soy sauce)
1/2 tsp chili oil (or sesame oil)
1/2 tsp minced fresh ginger root
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 green onions, sliced
OPTIONAL: 4 soft boiled eggs, sauteed purple cabbage, mushrooms

Peel and “swirl” the zucchini using THIS TOOL: Spiral Slicer. In a medium saucepan combine broth, zucchini noodles, tamari sauce and ginger. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Stir in chili or sesame oil. Slowly pour in the egg and stir for 30 seconds until the egg has cooked. Garnish with green onions. Makes 4 servings.

NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Ramen = 190 calories, 26 carbs, 2 g fiber (24 effective carbs)
“Healthified” Ramen = 75 calories, 5.3 carbs, 1.4 g fiber (3.9 effective carbs)

Maria Emmerich

Maria is a wellness expert who has helped clients follow a Ketogenic lifestyle to heal and lose weight for over 20 years. She has helped thousands of clients get healthy, get off medications and heal their bodies; losing weight is just a bonus. She is the international best selling author of several books including "Keto: The Complete Guide to Success on the Ketogenic Diet.".

20 Comments

  • Lisa, motyok says:

    Love my spiral slicer, but I have never thought of making a soup like this. Great idea!

  • Thanks Lisa! I have other soup recipes in Nutricius and Delicious using veggie noodles. We LOVE the Chicken “Noodle” Soup;)))

  • Wow I like top ramen and other noodle too. These are my favorites.

  • Beth says:

    Love this. I’ve done similar using daikon radish instead of zucchini noodles.

  • Jennifer says:

    Since knowing you, I look at lots of different packets nowadays and declare it junk!! LOL Keep up the great work, Maria. Sometime you should also maybe tell people how junky Pringles Chips are. I ate a few on a recent picnic and got a migraine. Then I read the ingredients. MSG in there and guess what? Wheat as well – hardly any potato in those chips!

  • Thanks Jennifer! That’s a great idea;)

    Knowledge is power!

  • Sherilyn says:

    Will the zucchini hold up? I like to make up soup & freeze some for a quick meal later.
    (also – was warned about MSG 25 years ago by my allergist – be careful of vegetable broth – it often contains MSG under one of its other names – natural flavors, autolyzed yeast extract, or hydrolyzed vegetable protein).

  • Another veggie that holds up a little better is the Daikon radish. You can freeze that veggie;)

    Happy eating!

  • Karyn says:

    Today I froze my first grande zucchini for bread in winter. 🙂 Wonder if I can freeze them as noodles for soup!? This ramen looks fantastic.

  • Anonymous says:

    Hi Maria,
    I have read that whey protein contains MSG, processed free glutamic acid.

    Here is what was listed
    Whey protein, whey protein concentrate
    Whey protein isolate
    Anything “…protein”

    What is your take on this? Since reading that, I have avoided all whey protein powders.

    Thanks,
    felicia

  • Diane says:

    The picture makes my mouth water but it doesn’t go with the recipe that’s printed. I see mushrooms and what looks to be a bean sprout of some sort. Also, if you don’t have time too make your own what brand of vegetable stock do you recommend?
    Thank you,
    Diane

    • cemmerich says:

      I added as an optional ingredient above. As for stock, there are some decent organic broths at trader joes.:)

  • Diane says:

    I’m sorry what all did you add as optional ingredients? There are no Trader Joe’s or Wholefoods within two hours of me. I was using Kitchen Basics till I saw honey as an ingredient !! Emeril’s adds all kinds of starches. I went to Walmart.com and found a brand I think called Pacific Rim. I think it might pass are you familiar with that?
    Thanks again

  • Malainie says:

    Do you, also, cook the kelp noodles in the soup for ten minutes?

  • Sarah says:

    How do you make your egg cooked on the outside but runny on the inside like in the picture. I love runny yolk and think it would be delicious in this recipe.

    • Maria Emmerich says:

      Make sure the pan isn’t too hot. Just warm. It also helps to put a cover over the pan to steam the top;)

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