NationStates Jolt Archive

MSG - First mass-produced by the Japanese about 100 years ago now, called in their language "the essence of flavor." But is it safe?

I use it now and then in cooking, and probably consume a good deal without my knowledge, in all sorts of common food products. It's basically everywhere. It's always been labeled safe by the FDA, but recently I hear that I shouldn't be eating it, that it has neurological effects, that it promotes weightgain, cancer, diabetes, sterility, and so on. What's the deal? Is any of it true? I'm not so sure.

So I ask: do you avoid MSG? Has anyone ever advised you against buying or using it? If you've read anything detailed about MSG, do you believe any of the hype about it being bad for your health?

:confused:

It's addictalicious.

MSG??

*goes to wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate)*..........

huh....I dunno...............should I worry about it? :confused:

It's addictalicious.

True. But is it dangerous? ;)

All the Asian food places around here advertise not using MSG.

MSG??

*goes to wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate)*..........

huh....I dunno...............should I worry about it? :confused:

According to wikipedia, maybe. That's the thing. It seems the jury is still out on MSG. :(

All the Asian food places around here advertise not using MSG.

Interesting, but there are still reports of "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome," and it's probably not the stir-fried dog. My guess is that some of thost restaurants aren't being honest.

But even more importantly, the question - is MSG really harmful? Because, though it might pay to claim you don't use MSG, the FDA still stands behind it, as do the Euros.

Just thought I'd mention, that apparently the new low-sodium Campbell's soups have no MSG; however, all Ramen Noodle soups are stuffed full of the stuff. However, I report no adverse reaction to Ramen. Not sure how that works.

I thought an MSG was a gun... or that MSG was a poison, similar to arsenic, used to assassinate old rappers.

I thought an MSG was a gun... or that MSG was a poison, similar to arsenic, used to assassinate old rappers.

I guess it sounds king of ominous, but it's just a type of salt that activates certain tastebuds in a strange way. Hopefully it's harmless, but it's supposedly killing labrats now.

I guess it sounds king of ominous, but it's just a type of salt that activates certain tastebuds in a strange way. Hopefully it's harmless, but it's supposedly killing labrats now.

:eek:

We are _____.

:eek:

We are _____.

It's a little frightening, but hopefully the scientists will figure out if it's dangerous before we suffer the worst of it. Of course, the Japanese eat massive amounts of MSG and don't die, though there are many odd things about the Japanese we probably want to avoid here.

MSG has gluten. I avoid it like the plague.

though there are many odd things about the Japanese we probably want to avoid here.

Fo shizzle. ;)

It's a little frightening, but hopefully the scientists will figure out if it's dangerous before we suffer the worst of it. Of course, the Japanese eat massive amounts of MSG and don't die, though there are many odd things about the Japanese we probably want to avoid here.

Like a wierd attraction to tentacles? *nods*

So I ask: do you avoid MSG? Has anyone ever advised you against buying or using it? If you've read anything detailed about MSG, do you believe any of the hype about it being bad for your health?
MSG has that umami taste. Makes food tastier. MSG is monosodium glutamate, the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a naturally occurring, nonessential amino acid. 'Course it's absorbed more quickly, as it won't have to be digested. But then, even if it spikes up glutamate levels in portal blood, it is subject to first-pass clearance by the liver, so probably the liver takes out much of the glutamate in the blood. Still, glutamate is extremely polar and so it cannot easily cross the blood-brain barrier, but it can be transported in via carriers.

As for the obesity issue, the liver removes the nitrogen from glutamate and converts it to alpha-ketoglutarate (a-KG). a-KG is a component of the citric acid cycle, and in no way can it be converted to acetate, the precursor of fat. However, some other processes may work, in that too much a-KG entering the citric acid cycle may prevent utilization of pyruvate and acetate, prompting their conversion to fat. But you probably have to eat lots of MSG for that. It's just the same as taking those amino acid supplements and eating lots of glutamate-rich protein... after all, MSG is an amino acid, and proteins are made of amino acids.
[/useless knowledge]

No. As long as food tastes great, MSG or no MSG, I'll gladly devour it. Yum.

MSG has that umami taste. Makes food tastier. MSG is monosodium glutamate, the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a naturally occurring, nonessential amino acid. 'Course it's absorbed more quickly, as it won't have to be digested. But then, even if it spikes up glutamate levels in portal blood, it is subject to first-pass clearance by the liver, so probably the liver takes out much of the glutamate in the blood. Still, glutamate is extremely polar and so it cannot easily cross the blood-brain barrier, but it can be transported in via carriers.

As for the obesity issue, the liver removes the nitrogen from glutamate and converts it to alpha-ketoglutarate (a-KG). a-KG is a component of the citric acid cycle, and in no way can it be converted to acetate, the precursor of fat. However, some other processes may work, in that too much a-KG entering the citric acid cycle may prevent utilization of pyruvate and acetate, prompting their conversion to fat. But you probably have to eat lots of MSG for that. It's just the same as taking those amino acid supplements and eating lots of glutamate-rich protein... after all, MSG is an amino acid, and proteins are made of amino acids.
[/useless knowledge]

No. As long as food tastes great, MSG or no MSG, I'll gladly devour it. Yum.

I wouldn't call that useless knowledge. :p Even so, I think wiki said something about MSG having some property that allowed it to pass the blood-brain barrier, but I'll have to read that again soon and see.

I wouldn't call that useless knowledge. :p Even so, I think wiki said something about MSG having some property that allowed it to pass the blood-brain barrier, but I'll have to read that again soon and see.
There are specific carrier proteins that transport amino acids across the BBB, but I believe the liver takes out much of the excess glutamate in portal blood. That spike in glutamate levels in blood might be normal, as the amino acid levels in blood increase after a meal because the amino acids are being distributed throughout the body.

I eat it. Though when I first saw this thread I thought it was about Metal Gear Solid. I was wrong.

There are specific carrier proteins that transport amino acids across the BBB, but I believe the liver takes out much of the excess glutamate in portal blood. That spike in glutamate levels in blood might be normal, as the amino acid levels in blood increase after a meal because the amino acids are being distributed throughout the body.

It seems like a lot of people report a tingling or stiffness in the neck and brainstem after eating MSG-laden food, interestingly. I can't really imagine what's responsible for that. :confused:

MSG has that umami taste. Makes food tastier. MSG is monosodium glutamate, the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a naturally occurring, nonessential amino acid. 'Course it's absorbed more quickly, as it won't have to be digested. But then, even if it spikes up glutamate levels in portal blood, it is subject to first-pass clearance by the liver, so probably the liver takes out much of the glutamate in the blood. Still, glutamate is extremely polar and so it cannot easily cross the blood-brain barrier, but it can be transported in via carriers.

As for the obesity issue, the liver removes the nitrogen from glutamate and converts it to alpha-ketoglutarate (a-KG). a-KG is a component of the citric acid cycle, and in no way can it be converted to acetate, the precursor of fat. However, some other processes may work, in that too much a-KG entering the citric acid cycle may prevent utilization of pyruvate and acetate, prompting their conversion to fat. But you probably have to eat lots of MSG for that. It's just the same as taking those amino acid supplements and eating lots of glutamate-rich protein... after all, MSG is an amino acid, and proteins are made of amino acids.
[/useless knowledge]

No. As long as food tastes great, MSG or no MSG, I'll gladly devour it. Yum.
So... if you took a MAO Inhibitor and snorted Japanese Shrimp crackers, what would happen exactly?

Hmm... upon consulting wikipedia - Brain damage?! Jesus... I'm going to stay farther away from that stuff than I do already...

I am the Bacon Man
Bring all the pork I can
To all the little kids down the row

Clogging their arteries
With all the MSG's
Then they'll all die at the age of eight

I am the Bacon Man
Bring all the pork I can
To all the little kids down the row

Clogging their arteries
With all the MSG's
Then they'll all die at the age of eight

What is that from, Harry Potter: The Book? :p

You know, when it comes to MSG, there are worse ways to off yourself. And MSG is TASTY!!!! Giving a Glock a bj is nowhere near as pleasing to the tastebuds.

It seems like a lot of people report a tingling or stiffness in the neck and brainstem after eating MSG-laden food, interestingly. I can't really imagine what's responsible for that. :confused:
It may be psychosomatic.

What is that from, Harry Potter: The Book? :p
Bonus Stage, an internet cartoon by Matt Wilson.

It may be psychosomatic.

I hope so! :p

Bonus Stage, an internet cartoon by Matt Wilson.

Aha. I'm 0/2 today for guessing references. :p