MSG and where it’s hiding!

MSG can cause so many health issues and it’s in so many processed food, sometimes hiding under a different name. It’s very addictive and may be the reason so many people get stuck in a cycle of craving junk food.

I wanted to bring this to your attention because heavily processed, commercial bone broth, stock powders and bouillon cubes are notorious for being full of MSG. It’s just one reason why I wanted to make a broth product that was safe, non-toxic and contained just real food.

What is MSG?

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavour enhancer often added to processed foods, takeaways and restaurant foods. It became popular in Chinese restaurants and people would often feel unwell after eating there.

What harm can MSG do?

While there is still debate surrounding MSG, I feel there is enough significant research to be wary. Err on the side of caution by limiting your intake as much as possible, particularly if you are battling ill health. The cumulative effect is also something to be considered, particularly in our children who have a smaller body mass.

Symptoms after consuming may be:

• Headache
• Flushing
• Sweating
• Face pressure or tightness
• Lack of feeling (numbness), tingling or burning in the face, neck and other areas
• Quick, fluttering heartbeats
• Chest pain
• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Weakness

Health issues linked to MSG:

• fibromyalgia
• obesity
• fatty liver
• high insulin and blood sugar
• high cholesterol
• metabolic syndrome
• high blood pressure
• disturbances in the gut-brain connection
• neurological and brain health issues

A PubMed study says “toxic effects include CNS disorder, obesity, disruptions in adipose tissue physiology, hepatic damage, CRS and reproductive malfunctions.”

Peter Taubert in his book, ‘Your Health and Food Additives’, says MSG is an excitotoxin and has been linked to the onset of dementia. When excitotoxins reach the neurons they cause them to become overstimulated. If overstimulated too much, the neurons die. In other words, they kill our brain cells.

He also says “pregnant women should definitely avoid all products containing MSG as the human placenta concentrates MSG so that the foetus may receive a proportionately higher dose than the amount the mother consumed”.

What are other names for MSG?

Most people know to avoid any numbers in the 620 range but there are so many more names for MSG that you may not know about. Here are some:

• Glutamic Acid (E 620)2
• Glutamate (E 620)
• Monosodium Glutamate (E 621)
• Monopotassium Glutamate (E 622)
• Calcium Glutamate (E 623)
• Monoammonium Glutamate (E 624)
• Magnesium Glutamate (E 625)
• Natrium Glutamate
• Yeast Extract
• Anything hydrolyzed
• Any hydrolyzed protein
• Calcium Caseinate
• Sodium Caseinate
• Yeast Food
• Yeast Nutrient
• Autolyzed Yeast
• Gelatin
• Textured Protein
• Soy Protein Isolate
• Whey Protein Isolate
• Anything :protein
• Vetsin
• Ajinomoto