MSG, healthy or not?

does MSG cause memory loss? cause i been having my 8th or 10th packet of MSG (instant noodles MSG) this week and if it cause memory loss, i would have to find other thing to eat..and is there any big problem with it?

http://www.msgmyth.com/

http://www.msgtruth.org/whatisit.htm

it's not just 'a salt' and people around the world have reported reactions to it.  Since I more or less gave it up on behalf of my husband, I can't consume it in any amount without getting jittery.

There are studies upon studies upon studies that will say one thing or another, but the fact remains: my husband gets migraines from MSG.  4-8 hours or longer ones, which effectively screw up his entire day or longer.  I've known others who are sensitive to it as well.

A lot of people say they are allergic to MSG and MSG is the devil and all this crazy stuff as it is IMPOSSIBLE to be allergic to MSG.

Go to any allergist and ask him to test you for a MSG allergy and he will laugh in your face.  MSG is a SALT.  If you where allergic to MSG that means you would be allergic to salt which means you would be dead since the body needs some salt to function.

If people have problems feeling bad when eating certain types of food it could be possibly an allergy to a different type of food or salt take in general but don't blame it on MSG as the scape goat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original Post by brewmonkey:

"chemicals they make in a lab" and food are not mutually exclusive.

 Yes they are.  Just because you can eat it doesn't mean it's food.

My brother has epilepsy. A couple of years ago when he was on a different medication, we tried not to let him have any MSG because it's reaction with his medication made him act out.

Also, I have migraines, and I know that MSG may be a factor.

So it may not affect you, but it's still not healthy.

 

I have heard that the hype about MSG being so bad for you is just that, hype. On food network there is a show called food detectives where they research food myths, and I saw a show about MSG where they proved via research and past evidence that MSG is no worse for you than salt, it just doesn't taste as good.

I love how people who don't know the answer chime in about how bad the noodles are for other reasons.  It's so frustrating trying to decipher any true answers in these forums to the actual questions.  I once asked what is the real weight issue behind eating salt and the same thing happened; I got no information just lectures on how it bloats you and raises blood pressure.

Original Post by miztery:

I love how people who don't know the answer chime in about how bad the noodles are for other reasons.  It's so frustrating trying to decipher any true answers in these forums to the actual questions.  I once asked what is the real weight issue behind eating salt and the same thing happened; I got no information just lectures on how it bloats you and raises blood pressure.

 That's because there is no "real weight" issue behind eating salt, it is a health issue.  There is no "health" issue behind eating MSG, it is a perception issue as is the case with other so called "bad" foods.

All things in moderation.

have you tried the tofu noodles you can find in the dairy area.use your own spices.put low sodium spices together in a container,such as mrs.dash (many varietys)garlic powder,minced dried onion,parsley.heat up your water,drop the noodles,heat,add spice.whala..its really good. you can also find a large variety of dried noodles in the asian section that are not fried.add to water and the spice and there you go...try it..enjoy

While it's true you won't have an MSG allergy, that doesn't mean you can't be sensitive to it, just like you can be sensitive to anything else.

There's a difference between intolerance and allergy.

I don't know what any of the research or scientific evidence is. But I avoid anything with MSG in it like the plague because everytime I eat it, I get a horrible headache. I've monitored it for many years and always trace the source of the headaches to food with MSG.

And.....

I also avoid aspartame (Nutra-sweet) for the same reason. Even 1/2 stick of gum containing it will trigger the throbbing eyes and massive headache. It starts with a "tightness" in my neck and then becomes like a vice-grip on my head.

This is from an old paper I wrote:

Some studies indicate that the high levels of monosodium glutamate (MSG) added to high fats foods such as potatoes chips and fast foods causes excessive glutamate to bind to N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) opening “an ion channel in the neuronal membrane” and increasing the cell’s ability to absorb calcium causing excitotoxicity (Stahl, 1990; Alexander & Peters, 1997, as cited in Stahl, unknown). In the process of excitotoxicity, neurons can become exhausted causing deformity or destruction.

Does that answer your question?

Despite your cliche at the end about moderation, I agree that yes there is no weight issue around salt.  I eat more salt than most and have no health issues and will not moderate it unless there is the tiniest inkling of cardio problems.  As for MSG I don't know and don't pretend to know if eating it is a big deal.

In reply more to the other posters... There's a lot of skepticism of being allergic to MSG, which is probably because it's a bad choice of words. I'd call it a sensitivity to MSG. MSG makes products taste better, and makes you want to eat more (or so they say). It's said to be able to cause headaches, which is something my mother gets. She simply asks that her Chinese food be prepared without msg, and she has to be careful when eating products such as cheetos that also contain msg. And that seems to make it fine.

A sensitivity makes sense to me because while I'm sure that a large quantity of the population is not allergic to salt, some people might be more sensitive to it, ne? And sodium alone can cause bloating and raise blood pressure. I'm on a medication at a very, very low dose for my weight. I'm not allergic to the medication, but I'm very sensitive to it. Obviously I'm not an expert, but I wouldn't write off thousands of people who suffer symptoms from MSG.

And I think if an allergist laughed in my face I could cite him/her for terrible bedside manner.

As others have mentioned while there could theoretically be a VERY small number of people that have an odd sensitivity to MSG but most people that claim to have a sensitivy don't.

http://www.ific.org/publications/brochures/ms gbroch.cfm

How are Glutamate and MSG handled by the body?

The human body treats glutamate that is added to foods in the form of MSG the same as the natural glutamate found in food. For instance, the body does not distinguish between free glutamate from tomatoes, cheese or mushrooms and the glutamate from MSG added to foods. Glutamate is glutamate, whether naturally present or from MSG.

Glutamate Contents of Foods

 

Food Size

Serving Glutamate
(g/serving) Tomato juice 1 cup 0.827 Tomato 3 slices 0.339 Meat loaf dinner 9 oz. 0.189 Human breast milk 1 cup 0.176 Mushrooms 1/4 cup 0.094 Parmesan cheese 2 Tbsp 0.047 Corn 1/2 cup 0.031 Peas 1/2 cup 0.024 Cow's milk 1 cup 0.016 Canned tuna (in water) 1/2 can 0.008

 

so I guess if you basically cannot eat a single meal at any restaurant, or eat anything with milk, or tomato, and weren't breast fed as an infant then maybe you do in fact have a "sensitivity" or "allergy".

To the best of my knowledge, MSG is a by-product of soy.

'nuff said...

MSG is not a byproduct of soy.  Neither is it an allergy of any type.  It is more, a sensitivity.

Would you like to know what MSG is and does (as confirmed by clinical psychologist Christina Rodriguez at UNC-Greensboro)?  MSG means monosodium glutamate.  That is, sodium and glutamate.  Glutamate naturally forms in the body as an agonist for dopamine.  Its antagonist is GABA.  Monosodium glutamate is a chemical created in order to "trick" one's tastebuds into thinking there is more protein in something than there actually is.  Have you noticed that most meat "products" and seasonings, and items that contain meat (soups/Ramen) usually also contain MSG?

MSG reacts in the brain similarly to that of cocaine.  Both over-excite the dopamine receptors in the brain, causing a manic, jittery feeling, or a high, followed by a crash.  This crash is caused by "excitotoxicity", which means the dopamine receptors in the brain have been activated so aggressively that it kills them.  Some people do not experience the side effects.  However, for many others, this crash can cause migraines, nausea, vomiting, and even hormonal changes.  For example, I tend to get hyper for about a half hour, and then for up to four hours, I will be lying on my bed, with a headache, having no reason to cry, but crying like nothing will be good in my life again.

In addition, MSG is addictive.  Since these dopamine receptors are destroyed, it then takes more MSG to activate more dopamine to get the same effect, also like that of cocaine.  If you have seen "Supersize Me", Morgan Spurlock narrated that he felt a headache after not having had McDonalds after a few hours.  This is a great example of the addictiveness of MSG.  He needed, basically, his "fix", which was a burger and fries from McDonalds.

Glutamate on its own, naturally, is perfectly healthy.  Monosodium glutamate, on the other hand, was chemically produced and can cause major problems for long term use.

Check your facts, everyone...!

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a by-product of the manufacture of soy sauce.

And, gee...! Soy sauce is made from... what...?

Personally (as a female) I would not eat ANYTHING that contained soy, what with the high levels of estrogen in soy...

I sincerely hope there are no men out there that are consuming ANYTHING that contains soy... soybeans, soy sauce, flavor enhancers, yams.. and, oh, did I mention yams...?

 

Would you like the EMAIL OF THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST?

MSG is not soy sauce. Period.  I am great with soy sauce, and not great with MSG.  I am a frequenter of sushi places.  I use A LOT of soy sauce and it does not bother me.  But bring me to KFC or McDonalds, and seriously, my hormones will go out of whack.  I will be hyper for half hour, and I will cry for four hours.

I have an MSG shaker on my stove. Sugar,salt, and MSG are flavor inhancers. Every thing in moderation is good a tea spoon of sugar at 8 calories is not going to kil me is it? MSG in small mounts is a great salt substatute and flavor inhancer. As far as the instant soup is concerned I eat nothing instant.

Original Post by lesleyss:

Check your facts, everyone...!

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a by-product of the manufacture of soy sauce.

And, gee...! Soy sauce is made from... what...?

Personally (as a female) I would not eat ANYTHING that contained soy, what with the high levels of estrogen in soy...

I sincerely hope there are no men out there that are consuming ANYTHING that contains soy... soybeans, soy sauce, flavor enhancers, yams.. and, oh, did I mention yams...?

 

Some facts on MSG production:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_gluta mate

UD