![]() |
![]() |
Nutrition Information |
|
||
![]() |
![]() |
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.
Look For
MORE RESOURCES: 11 Extraordinary Vacation Rentals You'll NEVER Regret Booking House Beautiful No More Vacation Rentals In Maui. Here's How The Mayor's Plan To Strip The Island of Short-Term Rental Will Affect The Economy Yahoo Finance Plan To Convert Maui Vacation Rentals To Long-Term Housing Delayed Honolulu Civil Beat Community invited to briefing about proposed registration process for short-term vacation rentals Big Island Now Resources for Vacation Rentals for Springs Protection Alachua County Design Within Reach just turned this iconic Palm Desert house into a shoppable vacation home Fast Company Couple who owns Manasota Key vacation rentals welcomes first renters since Hurricanes Helene, Milton FOX 13 Tampa Bay Coast rental is Mississippi’s most desired rental on Airbnb. Here’s why Biloxi Sun Herald Study: Maui Should Phase Out Vacation Rentals With Caution Honolulu Civil Beat Maui Council To Take Up Bill Phasing Out Vacation Rentals This Summer Honolulu Civil Beat Capital One Travel Adds Vacation Rentals — And You Can Earn 5x Miles on Venture Cards Upgraded Points Pinellas County to begin enforcing new vacation rental rules Tampa Bay Times Santa Cruz County moves to rein in vacation rentals Lookout Santa Cruz Cape Coral council member advocating for more lodging options in the city Gulf Coast News and Weather - Southwest Florida News Hoping To End Vacation Rental Rancor Nantucket Current iTrip Orlando in Davenport Visit Florida Dear Annie: Is it wrong to ask friends to help pay for my anniversary vacation home rental? SILive.com The Best Vacation Rental Travel Insurance for 2025 U.S. News & World Report The 9 Most Remarkable Airbnb Treehouses You’ll Ever Stay At Outside Magazine What’s next for vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe? City places 45-day hold after Measure T ruling KUNR Vacation rentals rebound on Anna Maria Island as tourism picks up after 2024 hurricanes Bay News 9 It's Not Your Imagination: Palm Coast Homes Used as Vacation Rentals Increase by 70% in 2 Years, to Over 500 FlaglerLive Cocoa Beach hikes fees to operate vacation rentals Florida Today Is it too late to book your Cape vacation? Summer rentals are off to a strong start. The Boston Globe Judge strikes down South Lake Tahoe vacation rental limits San Francisco Chronicle Gulf Shores Rentals Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism Vrbo Just Released Its Top Vacation Homes for 2025—and We're Ready to Book Our Next Trip veranda.com Vrbo reveals its 2025 vacation rentals of the year Short Term Rentals - News North County Report: More Vacation Rentals, More Problems Voice of San Diego Jersey Shore summer rentals: Here's the good news and bad news for landlords, renters Asbury Park Press Maui mayor's plan to phase out vacation rentals would increase housing but shrink the economy The Independent Manatee County Commission votes to pursue regulation of short-term vacation rentals Sarasota Herald-Tribune With 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay days away, Airbnb prices have dropped. Here's why Green Bay Press-Gazette Our Favorite Vacation Homes in America’s Most Beautiful Small Towns Condé Nast Traveler Palm Springs eases vacation rental rules in effort to aid Los Angeles area wildfire evacuees The Palm Springs Post Honolulu fails to collect millions in short-term rental fines Hawaii News Now Groups file suit against Gallatin County over vacation rental ban Missoula Current Norfolk City Council approves amendment to ban short-term vacation rentals in West Freemason 13newsnow.com 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 Capitalizing on the $147 Billion Vacation Rental Market GlobeNewswire Why Hawaii Vacation Rentals Plummeted To 52% Beat of Hawaii New vacation rental company launched in Lincoln County newportnewstimes.com Why rich Americans are ditching their fancy hotels on vacation Business Insider Vacation rental boom inflates housing prices in WA mountain town Cascade PBS News Hill Country oasis makes new list of best vacation rentals in the U.S. CultureMap Fort Worth 'Nuisance': How vacation rentals have changed Sedona's housing market The Arizona Republic Flamingo hotel operator is now offering luxury vacation rentals complete with concierge service The Press Democrat Indian Rocks Beach to fight vacation rental lawsuit Tampa Bay Times Citing housing crisis, Santa Cruz County supervisors take aim at vacation rentals Lookout Santa Cruz AI-Powered Travel Trends and the Smart-Bot Tsunami: The Future of Personalized Vacation Rentals GlobeNewswire |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
RELATED ARTICLES
5 Secrets of Reading Food Labels Revealed Whether you're concerned about cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or simply losing weight, you want to eat a healthy diet and focus on foods that are high in vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, and balanced in fats, carbs, proteins.There is only one way to incorporate healthy foods into our diet and that is to make the decision to do it! Practical information about the nutrition and safety of the foods we consume is absolutely vital in making this decision. How to Use Flax Seed You can eat whole flax seeds but you need to chew them good to break them up. Your stomach will not dissolve whole flax seeds and many of them will come out in your stools. Lawsuits on Foods and Diets The dangers of processed foods and diets Why is that the business of food processing is not strictly regulated by law so as to prevent health problems generated by an inadequate diet? Unhealthy products encourage an unhealthy diet.They appeal to the consumer by their availability and invasive advertising. Factors that Affect the Nutritional Requirements of an Individual. The factors that affect the nutritional requirements of an individual are the quality and quantity of the food they eat, the efficiency of their digestive system in absorbing and utilizing eaten food and biochemical availability.The quality of food that we eat can vary depending on the soil and growing conditions of that food. Five Reasons You Should Drink More Water I know you've heard this many times - "Drink more water!". Yet, 99% of the people don't heed this advice. Curbing Your Carbohydrate Addiction Some experts consider carbohydrate craving and addiction as something more of the body than of the mind, meaning biological factors are generally considered to be the main trigger for carb cravings. These cravings are described as a compelling craving, or desire for carbohydrate-rich foods; an escalating, recurring need or drive for starches, snack foods, junk food, or sweets. Mangos: Treat Your Skin and Your Taste Buds Mango is my favorite fruit next to pineapples. They're sweet, juicy and delicious. Must Have List Of Foods That Lower Cholesterol Cholesterol is present in our bodies by one of two ways; our liver produces cholesterol and we eat foods containing cholesterol. High amounts of cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol that is bad for us, can lead to many health complications and significantly increase your risk of heart diseases. The Role of Nutrition in Martial Arts, Police, Military Personnel For a considerable amount of time, nutrition has not played a prominent role in the life of many martial artists, police, and military personnel as a means of improving performance. Top athletes are always looking for an edge. How to Stop Bad Breath In 4 Refreshing Steps OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone laugh behind your back after getting a whiff of your noxious breath. Sugar Lovers Beware It would be fair to assume that almost everyone on the planet loves sugar and sweet foods. Processed sugar is in many products and is a key ingredient for baking. What Actually Is Health? Nature works mostly on the principle of thing and no thing. Light is the thing and darkness is the absence of light. The In-Office Emergency Nutritional Kit Tired of having stare-downs with those boxes of Krispy Kremes, trays of brownies, and platters of cookies some well-intentioned but nutritionally clueless co-worker brings into the office? Be prepared for these and other nutritional setbacks at your office by stocking up on a few key items that will have your desk a veritable nutritional emergency kit.Water: Bottles and bottles of water. Cholesterol Does Not Cause Heart Disease Cholesterol is an essential building block of every cell in the body, required for all metabolic processes. It is particularly important in the production of nerve tissue, bile and certain hormones. Fish Oil The research in support of dietary omega-3 fatty acids (such as in fish oils) continues to flood the scientific literature. This is perfectly predictable given our genetic roots. Vitamin D - The Sunshine Vitamin! Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin like A and E. This vitamin is hard to obtain from food. Meal Planning: Your Ticket to Freedom It's 5:30 p.m. The Great Influence Of Vitamin B to the Nervous System In order for a person to actually have a healthy well-being, one must always remember to have an adequate daily intake of the prescribed vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that your body needs in order for it to stay healthy and fit.Unfortunately, due to stress and the increasingly fast-paced environment that we're often subjected to, it's quite easy to neglect one's body, most importantly one's health. Missing Link to the Immune System For decades science has been looking for the answers to our health problems in proteins and fats. Carbohydrates have long been overlooked - thought just to be energy or calories and play no other significant role. The Crucial Role of the Salt in Our Health Salt is vital for our health. Right now, you have around 250 gr. ![]() |
home | site map |
© 2005 |