Monosodium Glutamate:
Eliminating A Foe From
Many Healthy Snacks
Monosodium glutamate, or more commonly known as MSG, is the sodium-based form of an amino acid which is found in all protein-rich foods. This includes items like cheese, meats, fish, many vegetables and milk products. Therefore many supposedly healthy snacks can be a minefield for any individual sensitive to MSG. MSG's common name is glutamic acid. All proteins are comprised of a grouping of different amino acids but glutamate just happens to be the highest percentage of each protein molecule. These amino acids occur naturally in the human body. They are also included in a large percentage of the foods we eat on a daily basis. This is because MSG is added to many foods as a flavor enhancer to stimulate the flavors preferred by the human taste buds. Monosodium glutamate is formed in the United States during the production or fermentation process of sugar cane, sugar beets or tapioca starch. It has always been generally accepted that MSG is safe for anyone with any type of gluten sensitivity. The problem arises though when a manufacturer, whether inadvertently or intentionally, uses MSG from an imported source. Imported MSG usually uses components from a gluten-containing grain for their base during fermentation. Therefore it is very important for all gluten sensitive individuals to source their product. This can be very difficult and often unreliable. Because of this, doctors generally just recommend you avoid it. Can People Actually Be Sensitive To MSG?Many people through the years have expressed the opinion they seem to be allergic to MSG. MSG though is not an allergen. For this reason a person can be sensitive to it like a food intolerance but it is not possible to be allergic. Therefore, even though much concern and debate has been rumored over the years, the Food and Drug Administration and continuous on-going research has been unable to link it to any serious health risks that get reported. Symptoms of MSG SensitivityIf you are one of the people sensitive to this food additive, the most common reported symptoms are:- burning or pressure in the chest area
- breathing difficulties
- headaches
- possible numbness in the face and neck area
- dizziness (usually brought on by the headaches)
Is It Really Safe?After decades of testing, which still has not been concluded to date, no serious health risks or abnormalities can be attributed to the use of MSG in our food industry. All that has been definitively proven is that an already sensitive individual which ingests high concentrations, combined with the natural occurring amounts in their system, intolerance symptoms may develop. Also, any person with poor asthma control may notice their breathing may become more labored.Therefore here in the United States and abroad, it has been determined monosodium glutamate can be used as a safe and viable alternative for use in our worlds' food supply.
Return to "Soy Allergy" from "Monosodium Glutamate".
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*Disclaimer*
This site is not intended to replace the advice and supervision of your professional medical treatment plan. Although all of the information is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge, we still recommend you carefully check all food labels before consuming any food product. We can not assume any legal responsibility for any illness obtained while following the advice contained on this site.
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