[FONT="]Side Effects of Monosodium Glutamate[/FONT]
Side Effects of Monosodium Glutamate
Side Effects of Monosodium Glutamate
Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is an additive that enhances the flavor of food. Unfortunately, the side effects of MSG have been known for a long time, but it continues to be used as an ingredient in many foods, particularly However, because it is naturally occurring, it may hide on an ingredients list as "natural flavoring."
Side Effects of Monosodium Glutamate
Side Effects of Monosodium Glutamate
Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is an additive that enhances the flavor of food. Unfortunately, the side effects of MSG have been known for a long time, but it continues to be used as an ingredient in many foods, particularly However, because it is naturally occurring, it may hide on an ingredients list as "natural flavoring."
- Print Article
- Add to Favorites
- Flag Article
- MSG is a white powder that dissolves quickly in water or saliva. It was discovered in 1909 by the Ajinomoto Corp. in Japan. Once dissolved, it separates into sodium and glutamate. Glutamate is a nonessential amino acid found in virtually all proteins. It is made by fermenting starch and a sugar such as sugar cane, sugar beets or molasses. The reason it remains popular as a food additive is that it is inexpensive and effective at adding flavor.
- While food additives aren't unusual (for instance, salt is an additive), it is rare to include a food additive that can actually cause severe health problems. Some of the side effects of consuming MSG include: burning sensations in the back, neck, chest; paralysis; numbness in the same areas; tingling or warmth in the face, arms or back; nausea; facial tightness; rapid heartbeat; chest pains, asthma attacks; drowsiness or cravings for other foods.
Reactions to MSG may happen at any time, from right after MSG is consumed to up to two days later.
- In lab mice, MSG has been found to increase the chances of obesity. Some people worry that MSG is having the same effect on people, thereby contributing to the obesity problem in the United States. MSG in young mice triples the amount of insulin their pancreases create, which leads to obesity.
- Some studies have suggested that glutamic acid, of which MSG forms the sodium salt, can cause brain lesions. So far, this has been shown only in animals and at very large doses.
- You would hope that something that causes these kinds of problems would be easy to avoid, but it's not. MSG is pretty much in most foods. Canned soups, snack foods, frozen dinners and steak sauce all contain MSG. However, it is most commonly associated with Chinese food, which is not surprising because it was originally used to enhance the flavor of Chinese cuisine.
Last edited:
(dont know i Spelled this right) contains it...I think it got banned in here...
