5 Neurotoxins Found in Popular Foods

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Last updated July 3, 2023.
Edited and medically reviewed by Patrick Alban, DC. Written by Deane Alban.

Neurotoxins are all around us but are especially common in popular processed and prepared foods. Learn ways to avoid them and use healthy alternatives.

You’d like to think that our food supply is protected from neurotoxins, substances known to harm the central nervous system.

However, the US Food and Drug Administration allows more than 10,000 food additives to be used in our food supply.

And relatively few of them have been tested for safety. 

Of those food additives that have been tested, a handful are well-documented neurotoxins.

Some neurotoxins can be found in common foods and beverages, even those in relatively healthy diets.

A few have made it to our “Top 5 Hit List” of neurotoxins found in everyday foods.

These neurotoxins have been linked to everything from brain fog and headaches to anxiety, depression, and even Alzheimer’s.

We’ve included easy tips and substitutes to help you minimize your exposure.

Neurotoxin #1: Aspartame

Aspartame is a popular artificial sweetener found in diet sodas, processed foods labeled “sugar-free,” and those little blue packets that go by the brand names Equal and NutraSweet.

Aspartame is bad news for overall health and the brain, no matter what you call it.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, there are over 90 documented symptoms of aspartame, including: 

  • allergic symptoms (hives, itching, anaphylaxis)
  • anxiety
  • brain tumors 
  • breathing difficulties
  • convulsions
  • depression
  • epileptic seizures
  • fatigue
  • headaches and migraines
  • hearing loss
  • heart palpitations
  • insomnia
  • joint pain
  • loss of taste
  • memory loss
  • nausea
  • numbness
  • slurred speech
  • tinnitus
  • vertigo
  • vision loss
  • weight gain and obesity

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Aspartame can trigger or worsen the symptoms of many disorders such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

It’s suspected of causing cancer

Consumers have reported over 7,000 aspartame adverse side effects to the US Food and Drug Administration. 

You can also find a discussion of reported side effects on the US Centers for Disease Control website

" Of the many thousands of man-made chemicals that have been introduced into the environment, over 1,000 are known to be neurotoxins. 

One major study that followed over 250,000 soda drinkers found that drinking artificially sweetened soft drinks significantly increased the likelihood of depression. 

Aspartame’s long list of adverse effects is not surprising when you realize that it is composed of three brain-damaging chemicals — aspartic acid (40%), phenylalanine (50%), and methanol (10%). 

Each of these components is neurotoxic in its own right.

Aspartic Acid

Aspartic acid is an amino acid precursor of glutamate, the brain’s main excitatory neurotransmitter.

It also acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter on its own.

When present in excess, either of these brain chemicals can become an excitotoxin, meaning that they can overstimulate brain cells, even to the point of cellular death. 

Phenylalanine

Phenylalanine is an amino acid normally found in the brain.

In large amounts, it is considered a neurotoxin. 

It reduces levels of serotonin, one of the critical feel-good neurotransmitters. 

Methanol

Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is extremely poisonous.

Consuming it can cause blindness and even death. 

Once in your body, it can turn into formaldehyde, another known neurotoxin, and other highly toxic compounds. 

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A Safe Alternative to Artificial Sweeteners

There are many good reasons to avoid sugar-laden drinks, but artificial sweeteners are not a healthy alternative.

Ironically, artificial sweeteners don’t make you thinner.

In fact, they confuse your brain into increasing appetite and hunger

My favorite healthy sweetener is stevia (Stevia rebaudiana).

This naturally sweet herb can be used to sweeten foods and drinks with zero calories.

Stevia is 200 times sweeter than sugar and doesn’t increase blood sugar or promote tooth decay.

Read the product label carefully when buying stevia since, disappointingly, many stevia products also contain added sugar.

One healthy all-stevia brand is SweetLeaf Stevia.

Neurotoxin #2: Diacetyl

Popcorn is a high-fiber, low-calorie snack that nearly everyone loves.

Every year, Americans munch down 14 billion quarts of it! 

But home-popped microwave popcorn often contains butter flavoring with the additive diacetyl.

It’s already established that this chemical causes a serious condition called “microwave popcorn lung.”

Diacetyl is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, a protective filter that prevents harmful substances from entering the brain.

Once in your brain, it causes beta-amyloid clumping, a significant indicator of Alzheimer’s. 

You won’t see the word “diacetyl” on a microwave popcorn label, but if you see “artificial butter flavor” or “natural flavors,” assume that the product contains this neurotoxin.

NUTRITION FOR THE MIND/BODY CONNECTION

It’s almost impossible to live a lifestyle that provides all the nutrients needed for good brain health and performance. The reason? All of us confront multiple nutrient thieves — stress, poor diet, insomnia, pharmaceuticals, pollution, and more — that steal nutrients that the brain needs to thrive.

Taking quality nutritional supplements:
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  • Helps increase resilience to stress to avoid mental burnout
  • Supplies the brain with the fuel it needs for mental energy

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Healthy Popcorn Alternatives

I love popcorn and am as bummed about this as anyone.

But you can eat popcorn safely.

The best way to have healthy popcorn is to pop your own and add your own seasonings.

It’s fast, fun, and highly economical.

If you like the taste of butter, use the real thing.

Butter is a particularly good source of the fatty acid butyrate.

Butyrate reduces chronic inflammation and may help protect the brain against dementia.

Neurotoxin #3: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

Glutamate naturally occurs in some foods and it’s also one of the brain’s most important neurotransmitters. 

It is essential for a healthy brain, but “the dose makes the poison.” 

In excess, glutamate becomes a potent excitotoxin that overstimulates brain cells, sometimes even killing them. 

There are two ways that glutamate occurs naturally in foods.

Glutamate can either be bound to other amino acids (bound glutamate) or not (free glutamate)

Bound glutamate is absorbed slowly, whereas free glutamate is rapidly digested, leading to spikes in the bloodstream.

Since the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate is pure free glutamate, eating it is like eating a glutamate bomb.

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Reported side effects of MSG include: 

  • asthma
  • back pain
  • burning or tingling
  • chest pain
  • convulsions
  • diarrhea
  • flushing
  • fuzzy thinking
  • headache
  • heart palpitations
  • migraines
  • mood swings
  • muscle weakness
  • nausea
  • numbness
  • sweating

Glutamate system dysfunction has been linked to numerous psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases

If you’ve ever felt strange symptoms after eating at an Asian or fast food restaurant, you may have experienced MSG symptom complex

The US National Library of Medicine lists symptoms of MSG symptom complex as ranging from mild to life-threatening. 

Avoiding MSG: List of Top MSG Sources

If you want to avoid MSG, you need to be aware of its common sources.

Generally, the saltier the food, the more MSG it’s likely to contain.

The worst offenders include foods like canned soups, salty snacks, ramen noodles, and refined soy products.

Here are some label-listed ingredients that always contain MSG: 

  • autolyzed yeast
  • calcium caseinate
  • hydrolyzed protein
  • plant protein extract
  • sodium caseinate
  • textured protein
  • yeast extract

These ingredients may contain MSG:

  • bouillon
  • broth
  • corn syrup
  • flavoring
  • malt flavoring
  • natural flavoring
  • seasoning
  • soy sauce
  • spices
  • stock

Supplements to Offset MSG Ingestion

If you accidentally ingest MSG, you don’t have to wait out the symptoms.

There are several supplements that protect the brain from MSG-induced toxicity, including taurine, vitamin C, ginger, and coenzyme Q10

Note that vitamin C also acts as a powerful detoxifier that crosses the blood-brain barrier to remove the next two neurotoxins on this list: mercury and aluminum

Neurotoxin #4: Mercury

When it comes to eating fish, we have a quandary.

We’re advised to eat fish often because it’s a healthy source of protein that’s particularly good for the brain due to its high omega-3 essential fatty acid content.

But fish is also a top source of the neurotoxin mercury.

Unlike the first three neurotoxins we’ve discussed, mercury is not intentionally added to our food supply. It gets into our waterways where it accumulates in fish and seafood.

Some mercury naturally occurs (volcanic eruptions being a top source), but much of it is a side effect of modern-day pollution.

The neurotoxic effects of mercury are well documented.

Mercury has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain.

Chronic mercury poisoning happens slowly over time.

The first signs of mercury toxicity include memory loss, depression, anxiety, mood swings, numbness, and tremors. 

Fish That Are Low in Mercury

While there are legitimate concerns about mercury, it’s widely agreed that the benefits of moderate fish consumption still outweigh the risks. 

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health recommends eating 12 ounces of fish per week and sticking to those low in mercury. 

We recommend eating fish that is both high in brain-healthy omega-3s and low in mercury.

Fortunately, there are a handful of fish that meet both these criteria — wild-caught Alaskan salmon, herring, mackerel, and sardines. 

fish high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in mercury

Fish to Avoid

It’s recommended that you avoid predatory or long-lived fish since they accumulate the most mercury. 

These include swordfish, shark, orange roughy, and tuna. 

If you eat canned tuna, the most widely consumed fish of all, it’s recommended that you eat no more than 3 servings per month.

Neurotoxin #5: Aluminum

Aluminum is the most abundant metal in Earth’s crust.

It’s used as an additive in baking powder and anti-caking agents.

You may also be exposed to it from your drinking water, antacids, or deodorant, and from aluminum cans, foil, and cookware.

By using mass spectrometry and reviewing autopsy results, researchers have found that considerable amounts of aluminum accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients

A review of studies that covered over 10,000 participants found that regular exposure to aluminum increased the risk of Alzheimer’s by 71%

One large study that followed thousands of seniors for 15 years concluded that drinking water that contained aluminum doubled the risk of dementia and tripled the risk of Alzheimer’s. 

It’s been over 50 years since the aluminum-Alzheimer’s correlation was first noted, yet there is still much skepticism about it in the medical community.

How to Minimize Aluminum Exposure

You can wait for the scientific community to reach a consensus, or you can take measures to minimize aluminum exposure now.

Start by using aluminum-free versions of baking powder, deodorant, and antacids.

Minimize your use of aluminum cookware.

This soft metal leaches into food especially when you cook acidic foods like tomato, lemon, or vinegar.

Stainless steel cookware is a better choice.

It is more durable, scratch-resistant, and less reactive than aluminum.

You can also cook on parchment paper instead of aluminum foil.

Other Neurotoxins You’re Likely to Encounter

Of the many thousands of man-made chemicals that have been introduced into the environment, over 1,000 are known to be neurotoxins

Hundreds of these, both synthetic and naturally occurring, are commonly encountered in daily life.

Neurotoxins can be found in the water you drink and the air you breathe.

They can be found in toiletries, cosmetics, and household products you use every day.

They can even be found in drugs you take, both prescription and recreational.

Some experts believe we are facing a “silent pandemic” of developmental brain damage caused by neurotoxins.

The image below shows the “dirty dozen” neurotoxins suspected of contributing to attention disorders, autism, and a significant drop in IQ.

Besides the five mentioned in this article, try to avoid these as much as possible as well. 

chart showing the 12 worst neurotoxins
The “dirty dozen” neurotoxins. (Image courtesy of TheAtlantic.com)

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