The dangers of MSG

This Week In The HSI Healthier Talk Community

Anyone who goes to the trouble to read ingredient lists and nutrition panels before purchasing a food product is probably savvy enough to avoid monosodium glutamate. Better known as MSG, this sodium salt of an amino acid stimulates glutamate receptors on the tongue, enhancing the flavor of foods that contain it.

And if that were all that MSG did, everything would be fine.
Unfortunately, MSG has also been found to trigger headaches, depression, fatigue, dizziness, ADHD and – in the most extreme cases – possibly even Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other neurological problems.

But what if food manufacturers listed MSG by other names on ingredients panels? Well – guess what? – they do. And a very useful discussion about this situation appears in the HSI Healthier Talk community, in a thread titled “MSG – Monosodium Glutamate” on the Food Questions forum.

Here’s what a member named Rosie has to say: “I found out a dirty little labeling secret some years back. What I, and I assume others weren’t aware of is that MSG is not always listed as such. It is listed simply as ‘artificial flavors.’ Just for grins, go to your kitchen cupboards and read the labels of everything it them. Notice how many th ings list, ‘natural and artificial flavors.’ Odds are, almost everyone is consuming MSG without even knowing it.”

And a member named Michael notes: “The term ‘natural flavors,’ on food labels can mean that these flavors are a source of MSG (same for ‘yeast extracts’ as well). But it doesn’t always mean that. So you have to always assume the worst, I suppose, unless you contact the food maker and hope for an honest answer.”

This thread actually starts off with a question concerning another aspect of MSG. A member named Emster wants to know if anyone has experienced MSG withdrawal. So far no members have posted comments to address this issue, but Emster has some good information for anyone who may be struggling to lose weight due to powerful carb and sugar cravings. She writes: “It (MSG) apparently attacks the hypothalamus, causing amplified insulin surges, and sometimes even causing diabetes and obesity. I was addicted to granulated chicken bouillon mixed in with my morning scrambled eggs. I have this week eliminated the bouillon that apparently had oodles of MSG in it. I am experiencing a big reduction in appetite and cravings and am loving that.”

As I mentioned above, the worst reactions to MSG may create permanent neurological damage. Here’s how a member named Sally describes her brother’s experience: “While doing research about causes and cures for multiple sclerosis, which my brother has (supposedly), I discovered that aspartame and MSG cause MS-like symptoms. They both eat away at the myelin sheath, the outer covering of the nerves in the nervous system (brain and spinal column).

“My brother was found to have 11 exacerbations in his brain. Since my discovery, he has completely stopped consuming MSG and aspartame. In the past two years he has not had another exacerbation (areas of the brain where there is no myelin sheath). I do believe that both of these substances could be the cause of MS which has reached epidemic proportions. They are known as excitotoxins. I read labels and try never to consume MSG and aspartame ever!” Other topics being discussed this week in the Healthier Talkcommunity forums include:

• Memory: Seeing is remembering
• Stomach Problems: Acid reflux
• Diabetes: Rice bran oil
• Headaches/Migraine: Celery juice cure
• General Health Topics: Shingles