Is MSG harmful?

[Stalker]

I always think it is.
But the link
from Beef jerky thread give me second thought

Here another side of the story from truthinlabeling.org.

What do you think. Is it as harmful as taking too much sugar/salt or is it worse? Of course, not considering people who is allergic to it .

 

[SuepaFly]

I don't think its necessarily any more harmful that salt. But lots of people have adverse reactions to it, like headaches, or it gives them the runs, stuff like that. My parents always cook with it and everything works out fine for us.

 

[dullard]

I feel there is nothing wrong with it. But one person deceided he didn't want to eat Chinese anymore and came up with this rumor. Suddenly people who coincidently got a headache the same day eating Chinese believe it. Quickly this conspiracy theory reached a critical mass and will never go away. Of course that is just all my opinion. I ate MSG all the time and never once had a bad effect (Spagetti O's anyone?)

 

[amnesiac]

MSG is a naturally occurring substance. You can find it in tomatoes. The whole Chinese Food Syndrome is a myth and has been shown to be such through several studies. There are no known long or short term ailments directly caused by ingestion of normal amounts of MSG.

 

[TheNinja]

whenver I eat the chinese food with the MSG in it I am thirstier than a MoFo for the rest of the day, that's all I know about it. I don't get sick or headaches or anything though, and I imagine a lot of salt would do something similar.

 

[amnesiac]

Originally posted by: Staley8
whenver I eat the chinese food with the MSG in it I am thirstier than a MoFo for the rest of the day, that's all I know about it. I don't get sick or headaches or anything though, and I imagine a lot of salt would do something similar.

That could be due to the TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF SODIUM present in all Chinese cooking.

 

[mdennison]

I ate some sardines with msg in them yesterday...yum yum!

 

[SuepaFly]

Originally posted by: Staley8
whenver I eat the chinese food with the MSG in it I am thirstier than a MoFo for the rest of the day, that's all I know about it. I don't get sick or headaches or anything though, and I imagine a lot of salt would do something similar.

Thats because those places pour the sodium (msg and regular) all over the food to suit to American tastes. My friend claims the same thing, and thats because everything she eats inevitably becomes "soy sauce soup"

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: amnesiac
MSG is a naturally occurring substance. You can find it in tomatoes.

And meat, and soybeans, and cheese, and mushrooms, and yeast (ie MSG is in all breads or beers using yeast) etc.

 

[rml]

More reading for you all





http://www.familyhaven.com/health/ir-msg.html



http://allergies.about.com/cs/msg/

 

[LongCoolMother]

i looooooove msg!!!

 

[nativesunshine]

we've always cooked with MSG....i've been eating for the last 19 years of my life...and I'm perfectly healthy.

But for a little under a year now we haven't cooked w/ it. Not because of the stupid rumors..I really don't know why. I guess maybe we've just grown out of the habit of putting MSG in everything.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: rml
More reading for you all

http://www.familyhaven.com/health/ir-msg.html
http://allergies.about.com/cs/msg/

"It is apparent that there is no shortage of research conducted on this ubiquitous ingredient and its potential health effects. Because MSG is one of the most intensely studied food ingredients in the food supply and has been found safe, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization and WHO placed it in the safest category for food additives. (14)

Subsequently, in 1991 the European Community's Scientific Committee for Food confirmed the safety of MSG. Based on the extensive scientific data, and in view of large normal dietary intake of glutamates, the committee determined that specification of an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) was unnecessary. (50)

Finally, the American Medical Association's Council on Scientific Affairs, the National Academy of Sciences, as well as the FDA, have all determined that MSG, at current consumption levels, is safe. (8, 51, 52)"

Thanks for some studies to back up my opinions.

 

[sygyzy]

I agree, I don't know what all the hype is about. MSG is actually a better flavoring than salt IMO . Admittedly I rarely use it but I don't have any problems with it.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: nativesunshine
we've always cooked with MSG....i've been eating for the last 19 years of my life...and I'm perfectly healthy.

But for a little under a year now we haven't cooked w/ it. Not because of the stupid rumors..I really don't know why. I guess maybe we've just grown out of the habit of putting MSG in everything.

Perfectly healhy? . . . I need proof!

:camera:'s!

Anyhoo, back to topic - I've had MSG for as long as I can remember, and I turned out fine ('fine' is subjective, and purely a *physical* description here . . . )

 

[wyvrn]

My wife says MSG has no known deleterious effects, according to her med school classes of a couple years ago. So eat away!

 

[Brutuskend]

Gives me Migrains

 

[FritzTheCat]

I've used MSG all my life. I buy it in 1 pound bags. I've never had a problem with it.

 

[Descartes]

I get sick just about 95% of the time after eating at a Chinese restaurant. Granted, we don't exactly have the highest quality Chinese restaurants around here, so maybe that has something to do w/ it?

 

[MithShrike]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
Gives me Migrains

Hmm... I've never been adversely affected by MSG in the migraine area and I have been a migraineur for over six years. Anyway, I don't really care if it has MSG in it or not. The Chinese food place I always go to satisfies me and my friend's mom makes some great food as well.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: amnesiac

Originally posted by: Staley8
whenver I eat the chinese food with the MSG in it I am thirstier than a MoFo for the rest of the day, that's all I know about it. I don't get sick or headaches or anything though, and I imagine a lot of salt would do something similar.

That could be due to the TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF SODIUM present in all Chinese cooking.

Correct. Traditional chinese people put a lot of salt in their food.

if msg was bad you would have a lot of dead oriental people.......

 

[boyRacer]

MSG sounds like a weapon in counter-strike...

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: boyRacer
MSG sounds like a weapon in counter-strike...

The Mega Sodium Gun pwnz j00.

 

[EvilYoda]

dammit, somone should tell my mother......she's an amazing cook, but refuses to cater to my....affinity for salt. She says she's "looking out for us" and "cooking healthy", blah blah blah.

She doesn't use MSG, but I've never had a problem with it when used either.

 

[geckojohn]

Originally posted by: FritzTheCat
I've used MSG all my life. I buy it in 1 pound bags. I've never had a problem with it.

How much does MSG cost these days for a 1 pound bag? And, where do you buy it at?

Does MSG contain any sodium?