The Effect of Monosodium Glutamate on Your Health
MSG is a taste that kills by exciting and killing your brain cells.
You may be adding monosodium glutamate to add flavor to your food, but many researchers believe it merely subtracts years from your life. Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, tickles your taste buds, but there is more than meets the tongue. Many low-fat food are so tasteless that food manufacturers add MSG for that brothy, meaty taste. People enjoy the effect they get from excitotoxins because it produces a slight rush. For a brief time, the mind speeds up and reacts sharply. Experiments have shown that people become addicted to foods that contain large concentrations of MSG, like the tomato paste used in pasta dishes.
How MSG Affects Brain
MSG has been linked to a wide variety of human brain disorders —brain cancer, stroke, high blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. They also are believed to cause allergic reactions in many people, especially those with asthma. Researchers have discovered that large amounts of MSG fed to infant mice destroyed nerve cells in the brain. The chemical process going on within the cell released free radicals that were responsible for the cell death. After the research was publicised, public pressure forced baby-food companies to stop adding MSG to their products.
MSG and Processed Food
Manufacturers skillfully hide MSG behind other labels printed on food packages – like hydrolyzed plant protein, yeast extract, sodium caseinate, malt extract, bouillon broth and protein concentrate. So you are perfectly justified if you look suspiciously at substances made from milk, whey, vegetable, oat, wheat, soy, collagen proteins, and gelatin. MSG can be found in milk products, soft drinks, candy, chewing gum, health drink powders, some medications and in binders for nutrients, supplements and both prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
MSG is found hidden even in soaps, shampoo, hair conditioners and cosmetics. MSG-sensitive people have reported reactions to soaps, shampoos, hair conditioners and cosmetics that contain hidden MSG. Reactions include palpitations, headache, nausea, weakness, and burning sensation in the back of neck and forearms. Some people complain of wheezing, changes in heart rate, and difficulty breathing. Excess MSG has also been linked to an acute condition called Chinese Restaurant Syndrome, named after symptoms commonly experienced by persons consuming restaurant food.
Free and Bound Glutamate
There is monosodium glutamate/bound glutamic acid that occurs naturally in nature in many fruits and vegetables and in other foods in nature as a part of protein, along with other amino acids. Glutamate is also found in the “free” form in foods such as cheese and ripe tomatoes, which accounts for their distinctive and enjoyable flavors.
However, free glutamate, as found in soy sauce or prepared foods containing MSG, enters the bloodstream much faster than the glutamates bound in proteins which are released slowly during digestion. So a person eating MSG throughout the day can raise glutamate blood levels higher with every meal.
There are glutamate receptors in many parts of the body, including the brain, heart, lungs and the pancreas, where glutamate is a neurotransmitter. Consuming large amounts of MSG can “overwhelm” glutamate receptors in the body, overstimulate the neurons and elevate unnaturally the free glutamate levels in the body. This can be particularly harmful to infants and young children. Long-term use of MSG affects the body’s ability to regulate glutamate and allows it to build up or enter the brain where it should not. By affecting hypothalamus (the part of the brain that regulates food intake), MSG can lead to obesity. By affecting neural pathway from the brain to cells in joints or muscles, MSG can cause or aggravate neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, fibromyalgia and arthritis.
Researchers have found many cancers have glutamate receptors. The cancers of this type include several brain cancers, colon cancer, breast cancer, and others as well.
Read more about MSG at TruthinLabeling.org and Reversing MS.
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Uma Shankari | Aug 21, 2008 | Reply
Thank you, Dr. V. Nagarajan, for your valuable comments, and I appreciate your taking time to comment. I am not from medical profession, yet I am very interested in topics related to fitness and general well-being.
I’d like to refer to John Erb’s book ‘The Slow Poisoning of America’. According to Erb, when the scientists need morbidly obese mice or rats for their test studies, they inject them with MSG. The MSG more than doubles the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, making the rats obese. The book cites researches that prove that MSG increases food intake and causes metabolic disorders by increasing the levels of glucose, insulin, leptin, and triglycerides.Remember the ad jingle on chips — “you can’t eat just one”? You can’t, because MSG is addictive, which is the reason why it’s added.
Parmesan cheese owes its taste to the glutamate. Human milk contains free glutamate, but it is still recommended, as we don’t heat it. Foods high in bound glutamate are not a problem unless they are cooked long and processed. Natural foods contain l-glutamate (the ‘bound’ form). When food is fermented or heated, or processed with chemical additives, free glutamic acid, as well as some carcinogens, are created. These free glutamates can enter the bloodstream much faster than the bound form found naturally in food.
Further, individual tolerances to MSG vary between individuals. The point to note is the cumulative effect of MSG, which can lead to ADHD in children.
PROF DR V NAGARAJAN | Aug 22, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for your reply.
The books quoted in your reference do not carry any authentic
double blind studies, and just a study on mice. Of course the initial tests has to be carried out only in mice, I agree. Many of the metabolic cycles are different in animals from human. Hopefully the author cannot compare straightaway the human aspects to the mice. Thenear metabolic control is with primates only. Even that is not comparable. Moreover, MSG is converted to Glutamic acid in the stomach by hydrolysis, and it is absorbed. There is blood barin barrier which partially absorbs the glutamic acid, which is a brain metabolite. Moreover, commercially available glutamic acids, ( glutoneurol) contains glutamic acid in good proportion, and Doctors prescribe it for students even., The performance rate appears to be good ( in one of the studies I conducted, yet to be published since it did not reach the volume). The insulin level , may go up little , and uptake of glucose intracellularly could be getter in somatic cells. The brain do not consume glucose, but consumes lactic acid for its metabolism.The peripheral nerves consumes glucose partially.
The axonal transport depends mildly on glucose. The MSG by anyway appear to be harmful as it should it be , as it is projected. All the flavouring agents, colors other than MSG have highly suspeciable warrnty, but MSG has categorical outgrowth of utility and safety. It is a food, with flavour.
in fact, I am one who do not like the taste , smell ( smoky flavour) of MSG. That does not mean MSG is harmful. The moment I smell MSG there is a psychological induction of headache in me.It does not mean it should produce headache in every one.
In fact, a few of my trials is on children who consumes are under trial who consumes commercial preparations of MSG in snacks. I still feel unless an authentic review appears , it is wise to wait, since it is an approved product in many country. In fact , Na Bnezoate , KMS are added as preservative.But the toxic limit has not been established. The toxicity may be individual, some may react in micrograms , some in grams. Na Benzoate is a toxic element to periopheral nerves and brain. If more studies are avilable please let me know.
I feel MSG is a good brain food.
qwan | Dec 6, 2008 | Reply
forgot to add a point even after such a long comment. Sorry Uma Shankari for filling up your backyard.
First of all dont be fooled by the neurologist, MSG is totally different from Glutamic acid and glutamate and L-glutamine is essentially what is useful for the body.
of course I already showed or proved how they add sodium and claims it does not reaction. Which is totally assumed.
But also the fact that if glutamate is also available in the body, it does not make MSG safe(which i again remind is chemically different).
If that was the case then synthetic testosterone, steroids, and growth hormones would have been perfectly safe and should have no side effects. haha but it is quite contrary.
So don’t fall for the natural argument. Even testosterone and estrogen is natural, forget that even taurine and creatinine are natural proteins but consuming them in synthetic form will cause imbalance and side effects. Creatinine supplements hinder the bodies own production of creatinine. So there is a world of difference between natural and synthetic.
And this is for all Indians and especially Muslims of the world.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1106202.stm.
Ajinomoto uses enzymes made from pork fat. Manufacturing MSG from pork pancreas is the cheapest method. As pork pancreas is a waste product.
I did not see any Indian news channels/newspapers even publish this news, even though it was published by BBC and time(very subtly though). The reason being ajinomoto sells more than 12000 tons of MSG every year in India. So I am sure they will do anything in their power to continue selling this product even if was a poison. Do you think this big company will simply shut down their company when MSG is their main product?
Steph | Jan 2, 2009 | Reply
I read in one an article about the composition of Monosodium Glutamate that it origionaly made in lamenterms by fermentation of animal aminoacids and humans have the first 9 essintal aminoacids and animals have 21 which causes a reaction to some people. It is caused by the panreacs which causes a neouro reaction. That is why some people get headaches and other symptoms of blood are heart difficulties. The only thing that I see wrong with it is that it is not labeled so that we as consumers and make our own decisions on what we put in our bodies. Is’nt that what it is all about what we decide to do with our own bodies. There are so many things that we all feel different about but that why we all have the freedom to make our own choices. When they don’t lable everything they put in there then I/anyone else can’t make the choice what to buy properly. I get disabliting migraines when I eat something with MSG in it. I have children and I litterly can not move from my bed to do what I need to for them when I have my Migraines. I am in so much pain I could not even discribe it to anyone. Two years seening a nurolegist and nothing help. I just stay away from all pre-prossesed food it is not worth it. I hope this help look at it from a different direction.
Uma Shankari | Jan 2, 2009 | Reply
Thank you Qwan, for advancing such convincing and thought-provoking arguments as you have. Yes, we cannot perfectly reproduce what nature has done in her millenniums of spare time. And commercial elements rule the day.
Thank you Steph. Like you, I get restless and somewhat nauseated ( my reactions are milder than yours, of course)and I would rather do away with artificial flavors.
Jeff | Jan 7, 2009 | Reply
If it’s bad for mice, it’s good to assume that it’s bad for humans. We don’t need “flavor enhancers” of this kind. Common salt is more than enough.
Jeff | Jan 7, 2009 | Reply
MSG is JUST a “flavor enhancer”. Don’t take the great risks associated with it. Humans can do without it.
Karen Gross | Jan 28, 2009 | Reply
I would love to just do without it, but it seems omnipresent! My mother-in-law stopped eating msg several years ago, so I started to look for it on labels – and it’s everywhere! I thought that my homemade soup would be just the thing when the in laws come, but turns out that the beef boullion powder had MSG. When will manufacturers start providing alternatives?
Uma Shankari | Jan 28, 2009 | Reply
I understand your anxiety, but I am sure market forces will facilitate alternatives, once consumers understand the implications of MSG and rise against it.
cleblanc | Apr 2, 2009 | Reply
this is a scary but very good article. it’s scary the things they put in our food now.
anne | Jul 10, 2009 | Reply
i agree..it’s quite scary..it’s better to know the content of the food and remember the saying..”to much is bad”
ken bultman | Aug 8, 2009 | Reply
MSG has gotten recent bad press but that will not prevent most people from consuming it. Flavor first…lasting health effects last, I fear.
ak | Sep 10, 2009 | Reply
Does anyone here know basic chemistry? At all?
A glutamate is when you have a salt (not necessarily table salt) and glutamic acid.
Please look it up, and confirm it. So can someone tell me how MSG is not a glutamate. A distinction a poster above though meant something. Also if you understand basic chemistry of ions in a solution (ie High School or Freshman first year class) then it is obvious that the underlying constituents are not changed. Try this – boil konbu( a type of kelp traditional to japanese cooking), add salt to the broth and dry it out – guess what the stuff left in your pan? MSG. Add a different salt, you’ll have a different glutamate.
MSG is no more good nor bad than adding table salt. Sodium, and glutamate are both chemicals a body needs in moderation.
Adding salt to many items causes people distress, bloating etc. It’s not surprising that large amounts of glutamates will also cause reactions to sensitive individuals. Just like high levels of sugar, salt, iodine, or any of the other basic necessities for life.
Glutamic acid is a very simple molecule consisting of 9 atoms. 9 that’s it. Now I’m not a big fan of industrial food engineers, but think it’s safe to say that it’s possible to make this simple of a compound in sufficient purity. The only thing I am not saying is that the industrial processes actually used may be contaminated – but that is very different from MSG being inherently bad.
I take what I put in my body very seriously and I am not a fan of added flavoring, colorings etc. I have food allergies that make home and fresh preparation nearly a necessity. I really can’t believe the amount of misinformation out there. And red herrings like this make it harder for people to find their real issue.
metro7 | Mar 1, 2010 | Reply
MSG ok even if few find it bad i wud avoid it.informative article.thxs for the share.
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Jubie | Dec 13, 2010 | Reply
Shop at places like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Henry’s, etc. Look for “organic” gluten-free, natural, MSG-free, scrutinize, scrutinize, scrutinize every label!
ur guide | Dec 30, 2010 | Reply
another of your important post.
The Silver Phoenix | Jul 17, 2011 | Reply
an eye-opening article. I completely agree with you about the effect of MSG. i learnt alot from this article. it’s really very professional. thanks.
Ray Bosh | Jul 27, 2011 | Reply
I dont know what to believe but think of this: If MSG is that beneficial,why do some producers ‘hide’ the name? Methink I’ll avoid as much as possible!
Uma Shankari | Jul 27, 2011 | Reply
Good decision, Ray Bosh, but it should be because MSG is harmful and not beneficial to the body.
Rosettaartist1 | Sep 2, 2011 | Reply
True. Viewed several of your articles today and will come back.
N. Narayanan | May 10, 2012 | Reply
A sensible wake up call! As lay people on the specifics of MSG, etc., and the grave threats commercial interests pose to consumers, it makes sense to avoid such avoidable health risks.