Excitotoxins are altered amino acids often added to foods as a Food Enhancer. 

They enhance flavor because they alter brain perception.

The most common excitotoxins are Glutamate, aspartate, and cysteine

Cells in our brains have receptor sites that these excitotoxins attach to causing the neuron’s to fire rapidly to the point of exhaustion which then causes the cells to die.

The result can be brain damage, the larger the consumption, the more profound the damage.  

The damage is accumulative… slow and subtle… but over years it can be dramatic.

Some people especially with thin myelin or lacking fatty acids are particularly vulnerable to these chemicals.

I believe it is wise to avoid all excitotoxins especially MSG and NutraSweet.

MSG Mono Sodium Glutamate, aka  Hydrolyzed vegetable protein, soy protein, soy isolates, soy protein concentrates, caseinate, autolyzed yeast extract or natural flavoring.

Aspartame aka NutraSweet is another food additive to sweeten.