Monosodium glutamate and its many names

[Quantum]

It has been testified many times on this forum that a healthier diet leads to less severe POIS symptoms, and a shorter POIS attack duration.  That is not a cure in itself, but a great improvement.

This healthier diet changes includes avoiding any nasty additive like aspartame, nitrites, and of course, monosodium glutamate ( MSG), which is neurotoxic, something you really want to avoid when POIS already causes cognitive and emotional symptoms.

In order to really avoid MSG, you have to be a good label reader, because it is hidden under many names.  In fact, it is present in almost all processed food, to add flavor to otherwise "dead" stuff.   You can find lists of those many names, like here: http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html .

So, avoid any food having this in the ingredient list, because it contains MSG for sure:

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

Anything “hydrolyzed”

Any “hydrolyzed protein”

Calcium caseinate,  Sodium caseinate

Yeast extract, Torula yeast

Yeast food, Yeast nutrient

Autolyzed yeast

Gelatin

Textured protein

Whey protein

Whey protein concentrate

Whey protein isolate

Soy protein

Soy protein concentrate

Soy protein isolate

Anything “protein”

Anything “protein fortified”

Soy sauce

Soy sauce extract

Anything “enzyme modified”

Anything containing “enzymes”

Anything “fermented”

Anything containing “protease”

Vetsin

Ajinomoto

Umami




Here are other possible sources , so these are suspect ingredient names possilbly containing MSG, although not 100% sure like the one above:

Carrageenan (E 407)

Bouillon and broth

Stock

Any “flavors” or “flavoring”

Natural flavor

Maltodextrin

Oligodextrin

Citric acid, Citrate (E 330)

Anything “ultra-pasteurized”

Barley malt

Malted barley

Brewer’s yeast

Pectin (E 440)

Malt extract

Seasonings


You will first be amazed at how many products do contains MSG.   

Don't forget that the meat flavoring called "Accent", here, is pure MSG !!!  Also, commercial chicken and beef broth like Bovril contains a huge amount of MSG.

Why is there so much MSG in food ? In short, MSG stimulate a lot the taste buds, which gives life to dead, cheap food.   It also have the "addictive" effect you have when eating chips.   The effect of MSG is so strong on your brain that you want more of this.   That's part of why it is hard to eat only one piece of chips and stop there.  Powerful stuff, indeed, no wonder why all companies put this in their product, and obviously not for your better health !  In the end, again, it's all about the money.


Other nasty additive like aspartame/nutrasuc have less names by which they hide,  but MSG is in so much industrial food that labeling has been very creative to hide it.

So, read labels, avoid nasty artificial ingredients and toxic additives, and I assure you you will see the benefits in a few months.  You cannot eat chemicals like nitrites, aspartam and MSG, artificial color and flavors, and preservatives, and have nod effect on your body.  All those are upsetting your immune system, and that's not what you want if you have POIS.

[Limitbreaker]

How do proteins contain MSG though? I have some soy protein and it doesn't have any.

[Quantum]

Hi Limitbreaker,

Thanks for your interest in this topic.

The names cited in the list are ingredients names under which companies hide MSG.  If your product list "Soy protein", and do not specify on the label that it is "MSG free", chances are it contains MSG. Companies that produce health-conscious products will often specify list of exclusions like : "Free of gluten, MSG, artificial color, artificial flavor,  and artificial preservatives", and other exclusions, because their market is health-conscious individuals, who read labels before buying.  In case of doubt, you can contact the company and ask directly if there is any MSG in the product, and if their "Soy proteins" contains any MSG.

If it is something you eat or drink once in a month or once in a while,, that's not a big deal if there is some chance of it having some MSG,  But if it is something you consume regularly, it is better to be sure about it being MSG free, and free of other nasty ingredients as well.  Some lines of products are devoted to produce natural food and products, free of anything artificial and potentially harmful, and I choose products from those companies that care to produce top healthy products.  I am glad to give my business to such companies, so more products of the same quality will be available in the future.

[Quantum]

additional information, explaining why ingredients with "protein" in it contains MSG :

"Under 2003 U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, when monosodium glutamate is added to a food, it must be identified as "monosodium glutamate" in the label's ingredient list. Because glutamate is commonly found in food, primarily from protein sources, the FDA does not require foods and ingredients that contain glutamate as an inherent component to list it on the label. Examples include tomatoes, cheeses, meats, hydrolyzed protein products such as soy sauce, and autolyzed yeast extracts. These ingredients are to be declared on the label by their common or usual names.[32] The term 'natural flavor' is now used by the food industry when using glutamic acid. Because of lack of regulation, it is impossible to determine what percentage of 'natural flavor' is actually glutamic acid."  from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutamate_flavoring#United_States

So, you have to mention MSG as an ingredient, but you do not have to mention if the protein source or other ingredient you list contains MSG.  It is then very easy to by-pass the FDA labeling regulation.


Also, for Additional information on MSG neurotoxicity, that is scientifically demonstrated, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutamate_flavoring#Excitotoxicity

Final note: be aware that most Chinese buffets are known to use a profusion of MSG, in particular on their vegetables, so they stay crispy and tastier for days and days... but more neurotoxic, too.   And don't expect any fast food restaurant to spare the use of MSG as well.  It's cheap and boost flavors to the point that your neurons are excited to death, which is what excitotoxicity means.   

[FloppyBanana]

MSG is know to stimulate the vagus nerve.
FB

[demografx]

Thanks, FB, I didn't know that!

[Quantum]

MSG is know to stimulate the vagus nerve.
FB

All nerve cells have glutamate receptors ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutamate_receptor ), and thus can be can be stimulated by MSG.

However, if some ways of stimulating the vagus nerve can be beneficial and therapeutic, MSG is not. Its action in the brain is particularly negative.

[Quantum]

Don't forget that gluten contains MSG.


See https://www.verywell.com/is-msg-gluten-free-562822


Interesting ennough, some POIS sufferers have seen great relief when going gluten free.  In my POIS types chart, there is in fact a 'Gluten Type' POIS.   See GLC thread for more info on the gluten free diet that helped eliminate his symptoms : http://poiscenter.com/forums/index.php?topic=2275.msg18450#msg18450

[Pois 2011]

Let me add this list: http://www.msgfacts.com/nutrition/food-and-nutrition.aspx