Posted on 02/04/2022 10:57:53 PM PST by Norski
Long-time readers of Earth Clinic have probably read a post or two from KT, a strong believer in being proactive about health.
KT has written extensively on Earth Clinic about the link between Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and the brain because of the devastating impact MSG has had on her own body from consuming small amounts of MSG found in supplement capsules made of gelatin.
This article explains exactly what MSG is, the surprisingly common foods that contain it (like mayonnaise), MSG sensitivity and side effects, and just how easy it is for you to consume it without ever knowing it. What is MSG?
MSG, the abbreviation for monosodium glutamate, is a flavor enhancer used to make something taste better.
Monosodium glutamate is a product manufactured in factories. The glutamate in MSG functions as a neurotransmitter, sending signals between cells.
You can’t avoid glutamate. It’s one of the most abundant amino acids in our bodies but is also considered a non-essential amino acid because our bodies produce all we need. Glutamates – Bound vs. Free
Glutamates can be either bound to other amino acids as a protein or exist independently.
Free glutamate is what makes foods taste better. It can be freed from protein in a number of ways. Curing or fermenting greatly increases the amount of free glutamate in a food: 337 mg. of free glutamate in 100 grams of cured ham vs. only 10 mg. of free glutamate in fresh pork. Huge difference.
Free glutamate is also what causes adverse reactions when MSG is eaten in sufficient quantity to cause reactions. Pure MSG – Umami, the Fifth Flavor
It is the glutamate in MSG that can deliver quite a flavor boost to your meal and deliver a negative impact on your body.
(Excerpt) Read more at earthclinic.com ...
Some complaints about MSG are relatively mild and temporary, including headaches, drowsiness, numbness and/or tingling feelings, nausea, and other symptoms of discomfort. The FDA lists MSG as “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS).
However, there are other reactions that follow eating food that contains the toxic glutamate in MSG and the more than 40 other ingredients that contain it. They range from simple skin rash to migraine headache, heart irregularities, seizures, and anaphylactic shock. And these reactions can occur immediately upon eating MSG or something else with free glutamate in it or up to 48 hours later and last for short periods of time or days.
And everyone is unique. Sensitivity levels vary widely. People end up in the ER all the time from a life-threatening reaction to something their system couldn’t tolerate. Extreme, life-threatening reactions to MSG are difficult to diagnose, and the symptoms can vary widely, but they do happen. Just ask KT. Avoiding MSG is Harder Than You’d Think – It’s in the Food You Eat
MSG reminds me of someone on a wanted FBI poster with too many aliases to count. While manufacturers are required to list monosodium glutamate (MSG) as an ingredient on labels, TOXIC GLUTAMATE ISN’T LISTED, and few people realize that there are ingredients like hydrolyzed protein and autolyzed yeast that contain it.
MSG may also be listed by its food additive number: E621.
If the following ingredients are listed on a food label, they contain toxic manufactured free glutamate but the FDA DOESN’T require the label to list free glutamate as an ingredient. Foods With Manufactured Free Glutamate
Here’s a partial list of some of the most common ingredients containing manufactured free glutamate. You’ll find them listed on countless labels.
Yeast extract Autolyzed yeast Hydrolyzed yeast Hydrolyzed vegetable protein Protein isolate Soy extracts
There are no foods that naturally contain MSG, because MSG is manufactured." . . .
” . . .How to Avoid MSG
So, what can you do if you want to avoid consuming excessive quantities of MSG but still plan to continue eating?
It is useless to check the label for “No added MSG” or “No MSG,” because while there may be no MSG in the product, there will usually be some toxic free glutamate in ingredients like hydrolyzed proteins.
Occasionally a manufacturer who eliminates MSG to advertise “No MSG” will compensate by adding more salt.
The MSG problem can even begin on the farm. Certain fertilizers, fungicides, pesticides, and other products used to aid in faster plant growth can contain MSG. When these crops are brought to market, the crops may contain MSG residue. This is more common with foods grown outside the US.
Best solution: Eat unprocessed, natural, organic foods.
The Confusing Bottom Line on MSG
In all my research, I’ve never seen so much conflicting information on a topic. There are scientists and studies on all sides of the issue. As always, you have to take a hard look at who paid for the study. The Truth in Labeling Campaign claims to have traced all the MSG-related research and found everything that claims to show that MSG is safe to be badly flawed (https://www.truthinlabeling.org/assets/designed_for_deception_short.pdf).
MSG Sensitivity
MSG sensitivity isn’t technically an allergy, although the symptoms are similar. One person might react to a relatively small amount of MSG while someone else does not react to a larger dose.
Diagnosing MSG sensitivity is very difficult. There is no standard test to say conclusively that someone is intolerant of or sensitive to MSG. Because the reaction to MSG is a reaction to a poison, the only way to test for it is to feed various amounts of MSG to a person and observe him or her for the next 48 hours.
Diagnostic procedures for MSG sensitivity include:
Giving patients specific doses of MSG and monitoring for up to 48 hours, watching for delayed reactions.
Asking patients to keep accurate food diaries.
Asking patients to eat only unprocessed food and drinks for several weeks and then watching for symptoms as other foods are reintroduced one at a time. As you can imagine, this can be an extremely frustrating process.” . . .
More at link.
Read years ago that there were two substances which can “neutralize” MSG or help reduce its effects for those who suffer from MSG poisoning:
Taurine, an amino acid, and Cream of Tartar.
Feel free to do own research.
Done now. Norski.
All I know is donuts taste like crap without
it.
Very interesting.
This may actually help explain a lot of my health issues and weird reactions especially when it’s hidden in things you don’t expect.
Thanks for this article.
To use MSG is much cheaper than the ingredients vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, real butter, real chocolate, and sufficient sugar.
I know enough about how it adversely affects me that I will avoid MSG.
Most likely.
Ones friends have had to watch for are :
raised pulse rate, “thudding” heart, throat constriction, redness in face, swelling in face, feet or hands, and a “weird” feeling, seems to describe altered perceptions. Generally starts between 10 minutes and two hours after eating.
Used to be known as Chinese Food Syndrome in hospital ERs.
Note: one person known to have long haul covid reactions has just found out they have extreme sensetivity to both MSG and lactose. Even taking zinc, their taste perceptions change much from hour to hour.
As article indicates, more difficult to do than initially appears.
Thanks!
I’m 67. I’ve ingested MSG my entire life,
and I ain’t dead yet....
My mother was allergic to MSG. Her reaction to it (headaches, dizziness) became more sever as she got older.
.
Migraine trigger at a minimum for me.
Some can. Many can’t.
That doesn’t mean it should be outlawed...
People’s physiology differes greatly.
I’m allergic to Ivory soap, and poison
oak. Let’s wipe them from the face of
the earth.
Please do not put words in other person’s mouths.
Never said outlaw this substance.
When one is in extreme pain, doubtful MSG is helping situation.
Researched any of pain solutions posted yesterday?
Double-plus FALSE. Chicken fat, for one thing, is loaded with it. But since it's natural, foods such as soups based on chicken stock don't have to list it. Just one thing about MSG that I had to learn when I became hypersensitive to it in my '50s.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.