Balancing Your Glutamate Neurotransmitter Level Naturally
Balancing the levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate — and its counterpart GABA — is crucial for modulating overall brain function.
When most people hear the word glutamate, they think of the flavor enhancer MSG (monosodium glutamate).
And while glutamate is found in MSG, it also naturally occurs throughout the body where it performs many vital functions.
Its most important role, by far, is as a neurotransmitter, a chemical messenger in the brain.
Glutamate is one of the most recently discovered neurotransmitters and there is still much we don’t know about it.
But one of the most intriguing discoveries is that glutamate acts as both an essential neurotransmitter and a dangerous neurotoxin.
What Is Glutamate? What Does It Do?
Glutamate is the most common amino acid in the body.
It’s estimated that each of us contains over 4 pounds of it!
You can readily get all the glutamate you need from food since it’s common in most plant and animal sources of protein.
Additionally, it’s a non-essential amino acid which means that the body can synthesize it when necessary.
Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain and central nervous system.
Of all the neurotransmitters, glutamate is considered the most critical for healthy brain function.
Glutamate enhances neuroplasticity — the brain’s capacity to change and grow — to help you learn, remember, and perform other cognitive functions.
Glutamate is critical for human brain development which is why there are high concentrations of it in human breast milk.
Ironically, because glutamate performs so many functions, it was not immediately recognized as a neurotransmitter.
It wasn’t considered a neurotransmitter until the early 1980s, decades after the other major neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine, were discovered.
One way of classifying neurotransmitters is whether they are excitatory or inhibitory.
Glutamate is our main excitatory neurotransmitter.
Excitatory neurotransmitters increase the likelihood that a nerve impulse will fire.
Glutamate system dysfunction has been linked to numerous psychological and neurodegenerative disorders.
“ In excess, glutamate becomes a potent excitotoxin that overstimulates brain cells, sometimes to the point of death.
The term glutamate is often used interchangeably with glutamic acid.
They have slightly different chemical structures but, for all intents and purposes, they are the same thing since glutamic acid readily converts to glutamate.
The Relationship Between Glutamate and GABA
You really can’t discuss glutamate without mentioning GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), another abundant neurotransmitter.
Glutamate and GABA are integrally related in both form and function.
They have a complex, homeostatic relationship that brings balance to the level of brain activity.
While glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter, GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Inhibitory neurotransmitters decrease the likelihood that a nerve impulse will fire.
GABA normally inhibits brain activity, enabling you to relax.
When you’re low in GABA, your brain gets stuck in the “on” position and you’ll find yourself anxious, overstimulated, and overwhelmed.
Much as the accelerator and brakes in your car work together to control speed, GABA puts the brakes on brain activity to counter glutamate’s accelerative effects.
There is an additional connection between these two neurotransmitters — glutamate is the precursor of GABA.
An enzyme called glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) triggers the production of GABA from glutamate.
Conversely, GABA can turn back into glutamate as needed.
The Dangers of Too Much Glutamate
Glutamate is essential for a healthy brain, but the dose makes the poison.
In excess, glutamate becomes a potent excitotoxin that overstimulates brain cells, sometimes to the point of death.
There are two main causes of excess glutamate and its resulting excitotoxicity:
- Too much glutamate has accumulated in the brain.
- Glutamate receptors have become overly sensitive and, consequently, are easily overstimulated.
Receptor oversensitivity sometimes occurs in patients with neurodegenerative disorders even when glutamate levels are not particularly high.
Symptoms indicative of a high level of glutamate include anxiety, depression, restlessness, inability to concentrate, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, and increased sensitivity to pain.
Glutamate system dysfunction has been linked to numerous psychological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, including:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- anxiety disorders
- autism
- bipolar disorder
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- depression
- epilepsy
- fibromyalgia
- Huntington’s disease
- migraines
- multiple sclerosis
- obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Parkinson’s disease
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- psychosis
- restless leg syndrome
- schizophrenia
- seizure disorders
- stroke
- traumatic brain injury
Causes of Excessive Glutamate
Brain tissue readily accumulates glutamate and normally there are safeguards to keep glutamate from building up to dangerous levels.
As the authors of one study put it, “neurons eat glutamate to stay alive” which usually keeps glutamate from reaching toxic levels.
Numerous protein transporter molecules can bind to glutamate and move it out of the brain.
Also, the blood-brain barrier keeps the glutamate that’s circulating in the bloodstream from entering the brain.
And finally, when all works right, excess glutamate should be turned into GABA.
But, even with all these checks and balances, there are still times when the glutamate system goes awry.
Here are some of the things that can go wrong.
GAD Autoimmunity
Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is the enzyme that turns glutamate into its calming counterpart, GABA.
But it’s possible to develop an autoimmune reaction to the GAD enzyme, leading to poor GABA conversion.
Gluten intolerance, celiac disease, Hashimoto’s disease, type 1 diabetes, and other autoimmune diseases are linked to GAD autoimmunity.
Vitamin B6 Deficiency
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is an essential cofactor in the conversion of glutamate to GABA.
Lack of vitamin B6 can result in diminished GABA synthesis and a buildup of glutamate.
Other Causes of Excessive Glutamate
It’s possible to have a genetic tendency for glutamate oversensitivity and imbalances between glutamate and GABA.
Traumatic stress can elevate glutamate to abnormally high levels.
Many mood-altering substances disrupt the glutamate-GABA balance.
Stimulant drugs shift the balance towards glutamate.
This includes caffeine, the most widely used stimulant, which increases glutamate activity at the expense of GABA.
A brain injury or stroke causes glutamate to flood the injured area.
This can be counterproductive, causing brain damage by overexciting damaged neurons to death.
Glutamate in Foods and Additives
There are numerous foods that contain glutamate, both naturally and artificially.
Can eating glutamate-rich foods impact your glutamate neurotransmitters levels?
There’s a lot of controversy surrounding this topic, so let’s take a look at the issues involved.
Foods That Naturally Contain Glutamate
Glutamate is responsible for giving foods their umami taste.
Umami is a meaty or brothy taste that is a little harder to recognize than sweet, sour, salty, or bitter.
The average person eats about 20 grams (or 4 teaspoons) of glutamate every day and, for most people, this amount poses no problem.
Foods that naturally contain glutamate include:
- asparagus
- beets
- bone broth
- broccoli
- carrots
- cheese
- corn
- eggs
- green tea
- meat
- mushrooms
- onions
- peas
- sea vegetables
- seafood
- soybeans, especially fermented soy products
- spinach
- tomatoes
You’ll find comprehensive information on umami, including foods that contain glutamate, at the Umami Information Center, a Japanese nonprofit organization.
Bound vs Free Glutamate
There are two ways glutamate naturally occurs 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.
Bound glutamate has no flavor; it’s only when it’s been broken down into the free form that you can taste it.
When foods that contain bound glutamate are cured or fermented, free glutamate is released.
This is why most of us find foods like cured ham, aged cheese, and fermented miso so delicious.
MSG: Pure Glutamate
MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a highly controversial food additive that is used as a flavor enhancer.
It is pure free glutamate.
It is found mainly in salty foods, such as canned soups, condiments, snacks, ramen noodles, and refined soy products like veggie burgers.
The international scientific consensus is that MSG is safe.
However, lab animals fed MSG exhibit brain lesions, obesity, stunted skeletal development, sterility, diabetes, liver damage, and the death of neurons.
One human trial found that MSG caused headaches, muscle tightness, numbness, tingling, general weakness, and flushing in some study participants.
Some researchers posit that MSG may cross the blood-brain barrier leading to raised glutamate levels, but we don’t know this for sure.
It’s notoriously difficult to study neurotransmitter levels in the human brain.
While levels in blood, saliva, or urine can be measured, these results have little-to-no correlation with levels in the brain.
MSG Side Effects and Toxicity Symptoms
But it’s not hard to find lists of reported MSG side effects, even on authoritative medical websites like Mayo Clinic.
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
- psychiatric disorders
- shortness of breath
- sweating
- swelling of the throat
MSG is thought to be responsible for a cluster of symptoms known as MSG symptom complex.
The US National Library of Medicine lists symptoms that range from mild to serious.
Symptoms that could be life-threatening and demand immediate medical attention include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and swelling of the throat.
However, the medical establishment largely denies the existence of MSG symptom complex and the official stance is that MSG is perfectly safe.
Complications of a Leaky Blood-Brain Barrier
Some researchers contend that glutamate brain levels are not affected by MSG unless there is a disruption of the blood-brain barrier.
But having a compromised blood-brain barrier is a problem for many people.
Additionally, people who have an autoimmune reaction to the glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) enzyme often have strong reactions to MSG and other high-glutamate foods.
It seems that generous doses of MSG do not affect brain glutamate levels under normal circumstances.
But if you have a compromised blood-brain barrier, MSG allergy or sensitivity, or autoimmune reaction to the GAD enzyme, you may be among those who react badly to MSG.
If you suspect that you have any of these conditions, it’s prudent to avoid MSG and minimize high-glutamate food consumption.
10 Ways to Balance Glutamate Naturally
When it comes to neurotransmitters, you want to have the proper balance — not too much and not too little.
If you experience problems with mood, sleep, focus, and energy, you may be producing too much glutamate.
If you are easily stressed out, overwhelmed, and overstimulated, it’s likely you’re producing too little GABA.
Here are some things you can take or do to optimize glutamate levels and restore the glutamate-GABA balance.
1. Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid acts much like GABA in the brain.
It has a similar structure and binds to GABA receptors.
Taurine excels at protecting the brain from toxic levels of glutamate.
The top food sources of taurine are seafood (especially shellfish), poultry (especially dark meat), and nori (the seaweed used as a wrap with sushi).
If you don’t eat a lot of these foods regularly, you can try a taurine supplement.
2. Ginger
Eat more ginger or take a ginger supplement.
Ginger protects the brain from MSG-induced excitotoxicity.
The prominence of ginger, seafood, and nori in some Asian cuisines may offset the effect of the consumption of high-glutamate foods and MSG.
3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the most popular vitamin supplement, so you may already have some at home.
You can take it after accidental MSG consumption since it protects receptors that control the release of glutamate, thus providing significant protection against MSG toxicity.
4. Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 exhibits potent anti-glutamate properties.
It is also a powerful antioxidant that protects vulnerable brain cells from free radical damage.
5. Valerian
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a traditional relaxing herbal remedy.
We now know that it works, in part, by increasing GABA and by interacting with glutamate receptors to provide anxiety relief.
6. L-Theanine
L-theanine, a relaxing compound found in tea, is structurally similar to both glutamate and GABA.
It has been found to enter the brain to stimulate GABA production and modestly lower glutamate levels.
7. PQQ
PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone) is a little-known supplement once thought to be a vitamin.
It protects the brain from glutamate-induced neurotoxicity.
8. Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is an essential cofactor required to synthesize GABA from glutamate.
Inadequate B6 intake not only diminishes GABA synthesis, it also leads to a buildup of glutamate.
9. Exercise
Major depressive disorder is often characterized by depleted glutamate and GABA.
Physical exercise has been shown to optimize the balance between glutamate and GABA in people with depression.
10. Control Chronic Inflammation
Chronic inflammation can occur anywhere in the body, including the brain.
Chronic brain inflammation increases glutamate, so take active steps to reduce it.
Balance Glutamate by Increasing GABA
Another way to offset an excess of glutamate is to restore its balance with GABA.
Besides those mentioned above, other supplements that increase GABA include the traditional relaxing herbs kava, lemon balm, feverfew, and passionflower.
Psychobiotics are probiotic supplements that provide mental health benefits.
The bacteria in probiotics help produce neurotransmitters and facilitate communication between the gut and brain via the vagus nerve.
Look for probiotics that contain either Lactobacillus brevis or Bifidobacterium dentium which, so far, have been found to be the best GABA producers.
You can get similar benefits from traditionally fermented foods such as unpasteurized sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, and yogurt.
All exercise is good for GABA production, but yoga stands out as a proven GABA booster.
Just a single one-hour session of yoga can increase GABA levels by an impressive 27%.
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Also read our blog on Magnesium Glycinate vs. L-Threonate vs. Oxide: Which Is The Best Magnesium Supplement?
