I was watching a television show recently where a man went to a Chinese restaurant and asked the waiter, “Does your food contain MSG?” To that, the waiter replied, “Do you want MSG?” The man replied, “No, of course not,” to which the waiter responded, “Never had it, never will!”
This sort of got me to thinking. I can recall when I first heard of Monosodium glutamate (MSG). At the time, it was the latest and greatest thing. These days, everyone seems to be scrambling to avoid it.
I avoid it as well but I wondered just how many people avoid it for their health without actually knowing what it is and what ill side effects are associated with MSG.
MSG is a chemically created flavor enhancer. It has been used since the early 1900s when the Japanese “discovered” it.
It is used in many types of foods including soups, any ready-to-eat meal, processed foods like, canned meat, vegetables, fish and condiments. Basically, you’d have to look to avoid it.
MSG is also hidden by certain word substitutes on the labels. Look for “natural flavorings” or “hydrolyzed sodium.”
OK, so what’s the big deal? I don’t mind a little flavor enhancer if it makes my food better and I don’t suffer as a result.
The problem is that for many, there are side effects of MSG and not all of them are minor. MSG is actually an excitotoxin. This means that its chemical makeup does actually “excite” the brain’s neurons (brain cells) and can in some cases, cause them to die.
Side effects can include rashes, headaches and symptoms of allergies such as sneezing, wheezing and nasal discharge.
As this chemical additive affects the brain, it can for many, exacerbate an already existing neurological disorder such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.
Serious and potentially life-threatening side effects credited back to MSG include asthma attacks, brain cell death, seizures and even tumors.
Yes, taste is great but so is our health. In the end, natural is best so in order to ensure optimal brain activity and health, I avoid MSG and would encourage others to do so.
I also highly recommend my Dementia program for anyone suffering from dementia or mild Alzheimer’s. The exercises are all natural and results are guaranteed!
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