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Nutrition Information |
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MSG: If Its Safe, Why Do They Disguise It On Labels?
Monosodium glutamate, commonly known as MSG, was thought of as a "miracle food enhancer" when it was first introduced to the public over five decades ago. More than just a seasoning like salt and pepper, MSG could actually enhance the flavors of foods, making processed meats and frozen dinners taste fresher and smell better, salad dressings more tasty, and canned foods less tinny. It wasn't until people started having side effects after eating foods with MSG that some began to question whether this miracle flavoring was too good to be true. Today, many more question its safety, but others insist it's safe. How Much MSG are Americans Eating? Americans associate MSG with Chinese food. In fact, MSG Symptom Complex, which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identifies as "short-term reactions" to MSG, was for some time (unfairly) referred to in the United States as "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome." But MSG is in many more foods than Chinese food, and is listed under many other names than MSG. So while many Americans are aware that MSG has been linked to some negative side effects, or have experienced them personally, and believe they are avoiding it in their diets, many have been misled. Food manufacturers, who realize that many people would prefer NOT to have MSG in their food, have adapted by using so-called "clean labels." These ingredient labels hide MSG under names that consumers won't recognize, such as hydrolyzed soy protein. Some manufacturers have also gone so far as to list "No MSG," "No Added MSG," or "No MSG Added" on product labels when MSG is still present, but exists only as a constituent in another ingredient! MSG is Always In: * Autolyzed yeast MSG is Often In: * Barley Malt What Does the Government Say? The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), a group of scientists the FDA asked to review the safety of glutamate, released a report in 1995 that found the following: * When consumed at usual levels, MSG is safe for the general population. * No evidence of any connection between MSG and serious long-term reactions. * No evidence linking dietary MSG or glutamate to Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, or any other long-term or chronic diseases. * No evidence suggesting that dietary MSG or glutamate causes brain lesions or damage to nerve cells in humans. However, the study did find that MSG Symptom Complex did occur in some people, particularly those who ate a large dose of MSG and those with severe asthma. According to the FDA, MSG Symptom Complex can result in: * Numbness Estimates of just how many Americans are sensitive to MSG vary widely: from 1.8 percent to 50 percent of the population may be affected. However, these estimates may be conservative. Symptoms related to MSG may present immediately or several hours after eating a food, so attributing them to MSG can be difficult. In terms of labeling requirements, the FDA says that "monosodium glutamate" must be listed on the label only if MSG is added to a food. However, it's misleading for a manufacturer to list "No MSG," or "No Added MSG" on foods if sources of free glutamates, like hydrolyzed protein, exist, they say. Further, items listed as "flavors," "natural flavors," or "flavorings" may not include MSG, hydrolyzed proteins or autolyzed yeast. The Other Side Other experts are not so convinced of MSG's safety. For instance, Dr. Russell Blaylock, an author and neurosurgeon, recently explained a link between sudden cardiac death, particularly in athletes, and excitotoxic damage caused by food additives like MSG and artificial sweeteners. Excitotoxins are, according to Dr. Blaylock, "A group of excitatory amino acids that can cause sensitive neurons to die." Said Dr. Blaylock: "When an excess of food-borne excitotoxins, such as MSG, hydrolyzed protein soy protein isolate and concentrate, natural flavoring, sodium caseinate and aspartate from aspartame, are consumed, these glutamate receptors are over-stimulated, producing cardiac arrhythmias. When magnesium stores are low, as we see in athletes, the glutamate receptors are so sensitive that even low levels of these excitotoxins can result in cardiac arrhythmias and death." Further, many consumers have personally experienced the ill effects of MSG, which leave them with a headache, nausea or vomiting after eating MSG-containing foods. Said Cathy Evans Wisner in her article "The MSG Myth," "I know from personal experience that the chemical is not as harmless as vinegar or salt. When I ingest a fair amount of MSG, I immediately have nausea, stomach cramps, "spaciness," heart palpitations and a "pins-and-needles" headache, followed the next day by lethargy and overall weakness." Headaches are one of the most commonly reported side effects of MSG, which may occur because it can increase blood flow to the brain. According to Ann Turner, director of the Migraine Action Association, "Food additives can be triggers [for headaches]. MSG, although still not fully understood, may be a culprit ? " Which Foods Contain MSG? MSG is much more prevalent than many people realize. Below is a list of some common food items that contain it from MSGTruth.org, but remember to look for the "hidden" MSG names (listed above) on all processed foods you buy. * The Following McDonald's Items: Your best bet as a consumer looking to avoid MSG, for whatever your personal reasons may be, is to be diligent in reading processed food labels. In general, the more highly processed a food is (or the more ingredients listed on its label), the more likely it is to contain MSG. Meanwhile, try to limit the number of processed foods you eat overall and you'll inevitably reduce your chances of eating MSG, too. --------------- Sources From the FREE SixWise.com e-newsletter, the Web's #1 most read newsletter with original articles in all 6 areas of life leading to complete wellness.
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MORE RESOURCES: Maui mayor's plan to phase out vacation rentals would increase housing but shrink the economy AP News Is it too late to book your Cape vacation? Summer rentals are off to a strong start. The Boston Globe Maui Won’t Be Converting Vacation Rentals To Long-Term Housing Anytime Soon Honolulu Civil Beat Couple who owns Manasota Key vacation rentals welcomes first renters since Hurricanes Helene, Milton FOX 13 Tampa Bay Push for National City vacation rental regulations NBC 7 San Diego Hill Country oasis makes list of best vacation rentals of 2025 CultureMap Dallas Maui transient vacation rental phaseout—more housing, fewer jobs University of Hawaii System After the Surge: Vacation rentals FOX 13 Tampa Bay Take A Look At Short-Term Rental Regulations That Are Already In Effect Nantucket Current Maui mayor's plan to phase out vacation rentals would increase housing but shrink the economy KTAR.com Study: Maui Should Be Cautious In Phasing Out Vacation Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat Kane in Your Corner: Vacation rentals face scrutiny over spy cams News 12 - The Bronx Maui mayor's plan to phase out vacation rentals would increase housing but shrink the economy JHNewsAndGuide.com Santa Cruz County moves to rein in vacation rentals Lookout Santa Cruz Vrbo Just Released Its Top Vacation Homes for 2025—and We're Ready to Book Our Next Trip veranda.com The Best Vacation Rental Travel Insurance for 2025 U.S. News & World Report Stunning Dripping Springs oasis named a Vrbo top vacation rental of 2025 CultureMap Austin Hotel or rental for your summer trip? Know the pros and cons of each WCPO 9 Cincinnati Judge strikes down South Lake Tahoe vacation rental limits San Francisco Chronicle Vacation rentals rebound on Anna Maria Island as tourism picks up after 2024 hurricanes Bay News 9 Maui mayor's plan to phase out vacation rentals would increase housing but shrink the economy thederrick.com Phoenix firm involved in bidding war for vacation rental company The Business Journals Capitalizing on the $147 Billion Vacation Rental Market GlobeNewswire Uncertain Economy Contributes to Slow Summer Rental Bookings The Vineyard Gazette Dune Vacation Rentals Domus Pacis - Vrbo's 2025 Vacation Rental of the Year in Seagrove Beach, FL 30A Yahoo Finance The Shortyz 2025 winners revealed Short Term Rentals - News Vrbo reveals its 2025 vacation rentals of the year Short Term Rentals - News It's Not Your Imagination: Palm Coast Homes Used as Vacation Rentals Increase by 70% in 2 Years, to Over 500 FlaglerLive This Ohio Airbnb tops travelers' wishlists with a nearly perfect rating. See inside The Columbus Dispatch Jersey Shore summer rentals: Here's the good news and bad news for landlords, renters Asbury Park Press Indian Rocks Beach to fight vacation rental lawsuit Tampa Bay Times Cocoa Beach hikes fees to operate vacation rentals Florida Today Vrbo Reveals the 2025 Vacation Rentals of the Year Yahoo Finance The 9 Most Remarkable Airbnb Treehouses You’ll Ever Stay At Outside Magazine Maui mayor's plan to phase out vacation rentals would increase housing but shrink the economy Waco Tribune-Herald North County Report: More Vacation Rentals, More Problems Voice of San Diego Vrbo Just Revealed Its Top 10 Vacation Rentals of 2025—And You Won’t Believe How Stunning They Are Reader's Digest Vacation Rentals Florida Trend Palm Springs eases vacation rental rules in effort to aid Los Angeles area wildfire evacuees The Palm Springs Post San Diego needs more money to enforce vacation rentals so it’s raising licensing fees San Diego Union-Tribune Indian Rocks Beach votes to weaken vacation rental rules ABC Action News Tampa Bay Manatee County Commission votes to pursue regulation of short-term vacation rentals Sarasota Herald-Tribune Why Hawaii Vacation Rentals Plummeted To 52% Beat of Hawaii Gulf Shores Rentals Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism Citing housing crisis, Santa Cruz County supervisors take aim at vacation rentals Lookout Santa Cruz Flamingo hotel operator is now offering luxury vacation rentals complete with concierge service The Press Democrat AI-Powered Travel Trends and the Smart-Bot Tsunami: The Future of Personalized Vacation Rentals GlobeNewswire Why rich Americans are ditching their fancy hotels on vacation Business Insider Ventura gives initial approval to new rules for short-term vacation rentals Ventura County Star |
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