Six Degrees of Separation: Eco-Steps Style

Just as in "six degrees of separation" we are generally only six people away from just about everyone on the planet (including Kevin Bacon).  That means that the little things (or eco-steps, even) we say and do have the potential to influence, well, everyone.  Taking it one step further, think about Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and all of the other social media out there.  We are all "friends" of friends, of friends of someone.  Arguably, we are more interconnected now than in any other time in history and that this "togetherness" brings us all more power than we realize.  I must say that I've gone back and forth on this whole social media concept.  I've loved it, I've hated it, I have activated, deactivated, then reactivated accounts just to stay "in touch" or at least semi-tethered to modern society.   Say or feel what you want about it, social media is here and becoming more entrenched in our way of life, which brings about the power and responsibility aspect.  Since we are all interconnected (one way or another) we can use these social media tools to help share ideas and raise awareness about important issues.  That's where Eco-Steps come in.  Let's look at some examples.

MSG by Any Other Name: Part III

If consuming monosodium glutamate (MSG) and its related substances is safe, then why do we need a “Cheeseburger Bill?”  Otherwise known as the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act, (which has not yet become law so there’s still time…), the Cheeseburger Bill was initiated and passed by the House of Representatives to prevent people from suing fast food companies, manufacturers, advertisers, etc., for causing weight gain, obesity or any other associated health problem.  Plainly stated, the government does not want you to sue any of these places for making you sick or fat.  Now, I am all for personal responsibility when it comes to the food choices we make for ourselves.  But, if we don’t know what’s in our food that’s making us sick and fat, is that our fault?

MSG by Any Other Name: Part II

People get excited about food.  And people get especially excited (even defensive and agitated) when we start talking about what's in their food.  At least that is what I experienced from my last post, MSG by Any Other Name.  Perhaps it is because they are unknowingly consuming hidden neurotoxins or excitotoxins in the form of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and MSG-related additives.  So, let me clear some things up by providing definitions and scientific evidence about what MSG is, exactly, and why it is so bad for us.

MSG by Any Other Name

I am writing this because I had a whopper of a headache after eating some seemingly innocent "all natural" onion ring snacks.  Man were they tasty!  Sure, I probably ate more than I should have, but they were soooo good.  Shortly thereafter, my migraine set in which prompted me to look at the ingredients on the bag of my delicious new friends.  I wondered what could have been in them that made me feel so awful.  I had suspected  monosodium glutamate (MSG) since I know I am sensitive to it, but MSG didn't pop out at me on the ingredient list.  What did catch my eye was modified food starch.  Guess what?  It's MSG.