Order Learn Eat FAQs You Shop
 

MSG - Monosodium Glutamate

  
     
  Used widely to enhance flavor in Chinese cooking, MSG actually fools the brain into thinking the food tastes good.  This is different from salt which just enhances the food flavor itself.  Instead it effectively alters our brain and tastes buds.  This allows food manufacturers and restaurants to save money on less quality and less costly ingredients.  MSG is hiding in many products and even in some vaccines!

Many people are sensitive to MSG and can have reactions including severe migraine headaches, hives, asthma, and seizures.  It has been linked in some people to such serious side effects as brain damage and learning disorders, stroke epilepsy, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, Parkinson's and maybe even Alzheimer's.  The reaction is not an allergic reaction but rather more of a drug reaction; it damages brain nerve cells.  It is toxic in large amounts.  And obviously it's even more dangerous to children, the elderly, and those with higher risk of neurodegenerative disease.

L-Glutamic Acid, from which MSG is made, actually occurs naturally in protein where it is bound to long chain amino acids.  Every organ in our body contains glutamate receptors.  The problem is when these receptors are overstimulated which can happen when ingesting MSG which means damaged brain cells.

Processed Free-Glutamic Acid is usually created with GM bacteria and in addition to L-Glutamic Acid also contains D-Glutamic Acid, pyrogulatmic acid and additional contaminants.  It may include carcinogenic mono and dichloro propanals or carcinogenic heterocyclic amines.

According to the FDA, since MSG began with something in nature, it may be labeled as "naturally occurring" or "natural" but that does not mean safe since we know that most everything, poisons included, started with something natural.  If a product has less free glutamic acid then the product doesn't even need to list MSG on the label.

When reading labels, MSG is also known as (so avoid foods with these):

  • Autolyzed Plant Protein
  • Autolyzed Yeast
  • Calcium Caseinate
  • Flavoring
  • Gelatin
  • Glutamate
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Hydrolyzed Oat Flour
  • Hydrolyzed Plant Protein
  • Hydrolyzed Protein
  • Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
  • Monosodium Glutamate
  • Monospotassium Glutamate
  • MSG
  • Natural Flavoring
  • Natural Beef Flavoring
  • Natural Chicken Flavoring
  • Plant Protein Extract
  • Sodium Caseinate
  • Textured Protein
  • Yeast Extract
  • Yeast Food or Nutrient

There are many other foods that MAY contain MSG.

So the next time you're at a restaurant, particularly if you are enjoying Chinese cuisine, make sure you let them know that you DO NOT want MSG added to your food.

  
     
     
     
     
  Links:  
 
 
Excitotoxins:  The Taste That Kills
Russell L. Blaylock, M
Battling the MSG Myth
Debby Anglesey 		   
 
     
     
  ©Copyright 2004 Delicious Organics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, with specific permission.  This copyright applies to all information written in the  www.deliciousorganics.com web site.

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of  Delicious Organics, Inc., unless otherwise noted. Articles are synopsis of our opinions based upon research we've done on these issues and we retain copyright to all information and articles contained herein.  We've provided links for further research and encourage you to make your own opinions based upon the information we provide as well as any information you find contrary to our opinion.  We see this site as an easy summary of the many issues we research and a good starting point for you to use.  We encourage each of us to continue researching and learning more about how we can live a better and healthier life in a cleaner and stronger world.  We DO it for ourselves, our children, our environment and our future.