Posted on 11/19/2025 8:33:01 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Veterans with Gulf War Illness experienced significant improvement in migraine symptoms after following a diet low in glutamate, a component of flavor-enhancing food additives commonly found in processed foods, according to new research. Brain scans also revealed decreased cortical thickness in patients on the diet—providing evidence, for the first time, that the improvement in symptoms was linked to measurable changes in the brain.
Glutamate, which is found in high levels in processed foods and also occurs naturally in some foods like tomatoes and mushrooms, is known to play a role in mediating pain.
Researchers first used brain scans to compare differences in cortical thickness between patients. Those with Gulf War Illness had a significantly thicker right visual cortex. This group was also significantly more likely to report experiencing migraines than the healthy group.
Then in a follow-up study, researchers had patients with Gulf War Illness follow a low-glutamate diet. After a month, scans showed that cortical thickness in this group was significantly reduced.
Researchers also observed a "big decrease" in migraines and headaches, VanMeter noted.
"More than half of the Gulf War veterans had migraines before the diet, and that dropped to under 20% after following the diet for one month," she said. "So it was a very significant drop."
The researchers noted that other symptoms also improved in the low-glutamate group, including significant reductions in widespread pain, fatigue, mood issues, and cognitive dysfunction.
While not universal, thickening of the visual cortex, part of the brain linked to vision, is common among migraine sufferers, especially those whose migraines occur with aura, or visual disturbances.
"This is a very doable diet," she said. "It's a healthy diet, it's not that hard to follow, and it's a very low-cost way of treating what for some individuals is a chronic and debilitating condition."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Key takeaways from the write up:
"More than half of the Gulf War veterans had migraines before the diet, and that dropped to under 20% after following the diet for one month," she said. "So it was a very significant drop."
“The researchers noted that other symptoms also improved in the low-glutamate group, including significant reductions in widespread pain, fatigue, mood issues, and cognitive dysfunction.”
“While not universal, thickening of the visual cortex, part of the brain linked to vision, is common among migraine sufferers, especially those whose migraines occur with aura, or visual disturbances.”
“NO MSG FOR YOU!!!”
(In my best Soup Nazi voice…)
bkmk
“Gulf War Illness.”
I was there, infantry, with the 24th ID in worst areas and exposed to all of the supposed boogymen. Burn pits, M8 alarms, ammo cache explosions, depleted uranium warheads... all of it.
I’m fit as a fiddle, and can out lift, outrun the vast majority of 20 year olds and can still max the Army push-up requirements for their age group, 82 in 2 minutes. I do between 86 and 120 depending on the week and how hard I’ve been training.
There is no such thing “Gulf War Illness.” It’s payout to shyster lawyers and welfare queen vets looking to up their disability. The leftist media pushes it because they like sick, weak vets and military failure. Our side pushes because they think it’s patriotic to kiss all vets’ ass, all the time.
Bullshit and a total scam.
I think I may try this with the idea that it is lowering toxins in your body. I just found out I am completely missing an enzyme that helps Glutathione bind to toxins. Some of the issues I have are similar to what is helped by this kind of diet.
It is seen more in Asians so if anyone out there is Asian and has noticed weirdness when you take Glutathione you might want to check if you have problems with certain enzymes.
This one was very difficult to find out because I wasnt being alerted by various Genetic Apps that I was completely missing this enzyme. Only figured it out by chance and the help of AI. Got it now documented using https://igv.org/app/ which will show a massive gene deletion.
Genes may be playing a part in it as to why some people have a problem and others don’t. For example, some of them may have a problem in the superfamily of glutathione S-transferases.
GlyNAC, half glycine (500-600 mg) and half N-acetyl cysteine (500-600 mg), taken at least twice daily, has been shown to restart glutathione production in all the places it happened, when we were children. This is within our cells.
Glutathione taken whole doesn't get in the cells, but does float through the blood.
I have posted on GlyNAC, in the past. Look under that term in a Keywords or Title search.
I use Quicksilver liquid that you keep cold . As a side note., AI recommended hibiclens under arm pits for the terrible smell that may or may not have been normal detox ..or caused by an imbalance since I was taking it with Nad gold and my genes are jacked up. I separated out dosage and it got better
Please consider to check www.earthclinic.com - or other sites - for information regarding TAURINE and CREAM OF TARTAR as antidotes for MSG ingestion and adverse effects of same.
Thank you and best to you.
The amino acid Taurine is supposed to be an antidote that mitigates the side effects of MSG, such as headaches.
If reducing glutamate has a benefit, increasing taurine might have a similar benefit. Taurine is available cheap in capsule form.
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