How Safe is MSG?
Monosodium Glutamate, commonly abbreviated MSG, is one of the most controversial food-additives around today. Most people know MSG as the chemical that has historically been added to Chinese Restaurants to improve flavor, but it is also found in a variety of other foods. One of the ironies regarding MSG is that its use in Chinese food has declined significantly as a result of bad press, but other restaurants, especially fast food restaurants, have frequently begun to make use of the additive.
What is MSG?
Monodium Glutamate is a food-additive which is popularly used in high-volume meal production in order to boost the flavor profile of many foods. MSG activates the parts of the tongue associated with Umami, which makes foods taste meatier and more savory. Some foods contain some MSG naturally, including cheese and tomatoes. Natural MSG is what gives meats and stews a lot of their mouth feel and flavor. MSG was first isolated in 1908 by a Japanese researcher, and was first used in Eastern cuisine, which is why there is such a strong association between MSG and Chinese food.
Specifically, Monosodium Glutamate is a combination of L-glutamate, an amino acid, and a salt molecule. MSG acts as a preservative as well as a flavor-enhancer, because it stabilizes the Glutamate molecule, preserving its effect on the flavor of the food. MSG can extend the “freshness” of a soup or other food product by a year or more, which makes it very popular in packaged foods.
Unfortunately, as with any additive, MSG is often abused, as it classically has in Chinese Restaurants and other places where food is sold to the public. There is some concern that high levels of Monosodium Glutamate can have unfortunate side-effects.
Of course, much of the concern regarding MSG is anecdotal, and there is a lot of research that needs to be done in order to entirely assess the health impact of Monosodium Glutamate. There have been enough reports to the Food and Drug Administration regarding MSG that the organization recognizes a condition known as MSG Symptom Complex. The following are the symptoms of the condition:
Weakness
Nausea
Chest Pain
Heart Palpitations
Tingling and numbness
Facial Tightness or Pressure
Sweating
Flushing
Headache
It's important to note that, although MSG Symptom Complex is recognized, there has been no definitive connection made between the condition and the consumption of MSG itself. To date, the FDA considers Monosodium Glutamate as Generally Recognized as Safe, though many health specialists believe that there is sufficient evidence regarding the downside of MSG to warrant patients to minimize their consumption of foods known to contain MSG.
https://www.hgh.tv/hgh-injections/diet-and-eating/how-safe-is-msg.php#article
