INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Don't trust "no MSG" on the front of the box. MSG is labeled many different ways on a label. Learn other ways food manufacturers label MSG. While a product may have no MSG, this doesn't mean it is MSG-free. There are other ways MSG is in your food. Look for any of the following ingredients:  Processed free glutamic acid, monosodium glutamate Calcium glutamate, monopotassium glutamate, magnesium glutamate, mono-ammonium glutamate, natrium glutamate  Glutamic acid Sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate Yeast extract, autolyzed yeast Whey protein concentrate Textured protein, vegetable protein extract  Hydrolyzed products, including hydrolyzed protein or vegetable broth. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires sources of hydrolyzed protein to be listed on ingredient labels. If a product contains unprocessed tomato or wheat, for example, they can be listed as "tomatoes" or "wheat." If the ingredients say "tomato protein" or "hydrolyzed wheat protein," the product contains MSG. Many processed salty snack foods contain MSG. Be careful when buying flavored chips, crackers, or nuts. Foods like Doritos, Cheetos, and just about all flavored potato chips have MSG in it. Deli meats generally always contain MSG. Chicken and sausages contain MSG products. Ranch dressing always has MSG, but most other salad dressings do, too. In addition to dressing, be wary of vegetable dips. Pay attention to soy sauce, Parmesan cheese, gravies, and dipping sauces. Bouillon and broths more than likely will have MSG in them. Even popular soup brands will place it into the cans.

SUMMARY: Read the labels. Watch out for salty snack food. Avoid deli meats. Be wary of dressings. Pay attention to broths and soups.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Before you start any treatment plan for cataracts, consult with your doctor or ophthalmologist, which is an eye doctor. She can confirm that you have cataracts and help you figure out what the best types of treatment are for the current stage of the condition.  Your regular doctor may send you to see an ophthalmologist to get a specialist’s opinion on the best course of treatment for you. Be aware that you may need surgery for cataracts at some point because they can significantly impair your vision.  Some cataracts will develop to a certain stage and then stop progressing. In these cases, you may not need surgery. Make sure to get regular eye checkups that measure your eyesight. Wearing the right prescription glasses or contacts can help counter the effects of cataracts in their early stages.  You can get proper prescription glasses or contacts either from your ophthalmologist or an optometrist. Make sure to wear your prescription lenses according to your doctor’s instructions so that you can most effectively counter the cataracts. iI is possible that as the cataract worsens, that your prescription may change rapidly. In fact, your unaided (no glasses) vision may initially improve as the cataract worsens, before it gets worse again. This is all due to the shifting refractive index/error of the lens as the cataract progresses. If you read a lot or are having a difficult time reading, use a magnifying glass to aid you. This can help relieve strain on your eyes and also neutralize the effects of your cataracts.  There are many different types of magnifying glasses from which you can choose. Some models have lights to further assist your reading and others are specifically designed to the contour of your hand. Ask your doctor which type of magnifying glass is best suited for your needs. You can purchase magnifying glasses at many pharmacies and large retailers and some medical supply stores. In your home, replace current light bulbs for brighter options or add more lighting and lamps to your home. This can help you offset any difficulties in vision you may be experiencing from your cataracts.  Purchase the strongest lighting available to you or the strongest wattage light bulbs your lamps will accommodate.  Consider buying only clear light bulbs, which emit a stronger and brighter light than opalescent options. If you go outside during the day, decrease the amount of glare from the sun to which you’re exposed. Wearing a broad-brimmed hat or sunglasses are the best ways to do this.  You may want to inquire with your ophthalmologist or optometrist about prescription sunglasses to further boost the anti-glare and sight effects of sunglasses. Any type of broad-brimmed hat can help reduce glare. Wearing a hat and sunglasses has the added effect of UV-protection for your eyes. Ultraviolet light may contribute to the development of cataracts, so this can help minimize your risk of exacerbating current cataracts. People with capsular cataracts may benefit from drops that dilate their pupil(s). Speak with your doctor to see if this can help with your cataracts. Be aware that one side effect of these types of eye drops is that they can produce glare, which can make seeing with cataracts worse.  Dilating drops can also affect your ability to read or focus up close. Glare from headlights can make seeing with cataracts difficult and cause double vision. Limit driving during the evening as much as you can to minimize your risk of getting into an accident.  Ask friends or family members to drive you if you need or want to go out at night. You may also want to consider taking public transportation. If you don’t have other options, make sure that your headlights are clean so that they can emit the most amount of light to help you see. Make sure that your windshield is clean both inside and outside so that your vision is optimal.  You may also want to limit driving in the rain, which can increase glare. Your cataracts will likely get to a point where your vision is affected significantly enough to require surgery. Speak to your doctor and schedule an appointment to have your cataracts removed surgically.  Consider surgery once cataracts begin to interfere with your everyday activities. Cataract surgery removes your clouded lens and replaces it with a new, clear lens.  In some cases, your doctor cannot replace the lens because of other eye problems or medical issues. Your doctor can still remove the cataract and prescribe corrective lenses to help you see without a new lens implant.  Cataract surgery is safe in most cases. It can cause infection or bleeding.  Cataract surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis and won’t require a hospital stay. It is the most frequently performed surgery in the U.S. each year. If you have cataracts in both eyes, your doctor will schedule two separate surgeries to help ensure that you have vision in at least one eye.

SUMMARY:
Consult your doctor. Wear an accurate eyeglass or contact prescription. Magnify texts that you read. Enhance lighting in your home. Reduce glare when outdoors. Try medication that dilates your pupil. Limit driving at night. Remove cataracts with surgery.