Monosodium Glutamate on foods,is it good?
By shaina228
@shaina228 (119)
Japan
October 31, 2012 3:56am CST
Monosodium Glutamate or well know as MSG is a food additives I'm sure mostly all of us know.I have never use MSG so I don't have it in my kitchen. My friend visits and cooked lunch for us yesterday. She is asking for MSG which I don't have. She told me it is good to add MSG to foods because it helps taste even better. I am planning to try MSG and add it on my shopping list. But is it really good? Because I remember my mom told us MSG is not good for the brain. One reason junk foods is not good also because it contains lots of MSG.
Any ideas about this?
4 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
31 Oct 12
MSG is a permitted food additive, listed by the FDA as "generally recognised as safe" and is probably safe enough if used sparingly (as it should be). It is a natural component of some seaweeds and, as such, has been used for a long time in the Far East as a condiment, spice or herb.
The following sites will tell you more about it:
http://www.eufic.org/article/en/artid/monosodium-glutamate/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/monosodium-glutamate/AN01251
This one is rather less impartial (but notice how it makes several claims for the bad effects without giving good documented evidence for them!): http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/monosodium-glutamate.html
The 'bottom line' is that you are probably doing quite well without using it. I have found that a very effective 'flavour-enhancer' which gives a similar "meaty" taste to things is Fenugreek. It is a common spice used in many Indian dishes and is one of those which you barely taste but which, I find, often makes people comment on how good something tastes. I use a little powdered fenugreek - maybe half a teaspoon or less - in mashed potato, lentil and bean dishes and in meat stews. I also use the whole seeds in pickles and chutneys.
@shaina228 (119)
• Japan
3 Nov 12
Thanks for sharing too. Maybe I should maintain it this way. The usual thing I did on my menu...no MSG! MSG I get from instant foods or food chain foods is enough intake I guess.
@Autumnrose2008 (1478)
• United States
31 Oct 12
Before you go and buy it you may want to read up on it. Its been related to bad things such as headaches, depression, rapid heart beat, chest pains, and weakness just to name a few. I would be very careful with this stuff as its bad. Here is a link telling you all about it.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/21/msg-is-this-silent-killer-lurking-in-your-kitchen-cabinets.aspx
http://rense.com/general52/msg.htm
http://www.msgtruth.org/
@shaina228 (119)
• Japan
3 Nov 12
Thanks a lot for the helpful links. Now it is clear to me that MSG is really bad for the health. Maybe MSG I get from canned goods or processed foods is enough intake because it was already in there. So there is no need to use MSG at home on my menu to lessen the risk of side effects.
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
31 Oct 12
MSG is one of those things that has the unfortunate circumstance of being more of an urban legend. Put it in the fish oil category, only reversed.
If it was dangerous, it wouldn't be sold. The odds are great that any effects felt from MSG are psychological, unless a person already has an aversion to too much sodium, in which case they should watch their intake regardless.
@bjc66bjc (6730)
• United States
31 Oct 12
Hi shaina, I have never purchased MSG, that I have known of...
But I have heard it was good for the body not specifically
the brain...But I would believe that a lot of people cook with
it...
Anyway, if we would not eat everything that has been
NOT GOOD for us to ingest there probably wouldn't be much of any
thing left to enjoy about eating...
