Monosodium glutinate, MSG, is a synthetically derived concentrated artificial flavor enhancer. It was more widely used before 1968, when a Chinese-American physician wrote a rather lighthearted letter to The New England Journal of Medicine. He had experienced symptoms that are associated with the dangers of MSG after eating in Chinese restaurants in the United States. These included numbness, palpitations and weakness. He wondered whether the monosodium glutamate used by cooks in the United States (and then rarely used by cooks in China) might be to blame. And so the term “Chinese restaurant syndrome” was born.
Word spread quickly, and MSG was removed from baby foods and Chinese restaurants began to label their menus with “No MSG”. Here we are 50 years later and there is still controversy. Some claim that is totally safe and that added flavor results in lower sodium consumption. Others feel it is a cancer causing ingredient and that consuming it results in all kinds of conditions such as headaches, high blood pressure, metabolic disorder, and more.
The controversy comes from the highly concentrated form of glutamic acid found in MSG. The glutamic acid in MSG can rapidly change the levels of glutamate in the blood. Studies have shown that excess MSG consumption is associated with a long list of illnesses and disorders. In spite of all of this, it is still being used around the world to make flavorful sauces. And on the other end of the spectrum, Whole Foods and other natural food stores, do not sell any products that contain MSG. People that are sensitive to glutamic acid are particularly vulnerable.
If you are extremely sensitive to gluatamic acid, you will also want to avoid ingredients that contain less concentrated and smaller amounts of glutamic acid: hydrolyzed vegetable, plant, soy and wheat proteins, hydrolyzed oat flour, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate, textured protein, disodium guanylate or inosinate, autolyzed yeast and yeast extract. Here are some of the suspected dangers of MSG.
Weight Gain
In spite of numerous scientific studies, there is no clear evidence that MSG intake causes weight gain. While a 2010 study published in the “British Journal of Nutrition” concluded that MSG intake was not associated with weight gain, a 2011 article published in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” found a positive link between MSG intake and weight gain. The authors state that the presence of MSG in foods not only enhances flavor and palatability, but also increases appetite, which may lead to obesity.
The other reason MSG may be tied to weight gain is because it is often found is processed foods. And processed foods often offer little in terms of nutrition and usually contain extra calories, refined carbs, fat and sodium. To avoid the potential dangers of MSG, fill your diet with unprocessed whole foods, This is the easiest way to minimize your dietary intake of MSG and supply your diet with the vitamins and minerals that you need to be healthy.
Headaches
Processed foods, soy sauce and Chinese foods that contain MSG may trigger migraines in individuals who are sensitive to this food additive, according to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center website. In extreme cases, the headaches may become severe and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and noise, sinus congestion and watery eyes. If you’re not sure if you are sensitive to the glutamic acid found in MSG and other food additives, try keeping a food journal. This may enable you to see a pattern and allow you to identify the offending food or ingredient.
Asthma Attacks
Some studies have found that MSG intake could be linked to a higher risk of asthma attacks in those who are at risk. A study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology tested the effects of 500 milligrams of MSG in 32 people with asthma and found that a shocking 40 percent of participants experienced a worsening of asthma symptoms within 12 hours of ingesting MSG. Not only that, but nearly half of those who experienced a reaction also reported other side effects associated with the dangers of MSG, such as headaches, numbness and flushing.
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