We’ve all heard about the health risks from MSG. But did you know it can be hidden in your food and be called another name?

It’s not just looking for the letters MSG on a label or in an ingredient listing. Did you know that MSG ( monosodium glutamate) has about 40 different names it can go by?

Check out the photo below, MSG actually looks like bits of plastic. Imagine that in your food.

This flavour enhancer has been linked to a host of health conditions, including a fatty liver, liver toxicity, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, headaches, heart palpitations, obesity, metabolic syndrome and brain damage.

Most of us have heard of MSG and think that it is mostly used in Chinese Food, but in fact many health foods contain MSG as well.

MSG is simply the addition of one ( mono) sodium molecule to the amino acid glutamic acid, which is found in many foods.

Glutamic acid can be difficult for the body to flush out especially when eaten in excess. It can cause the nerves in the body to fire excessively causing a form or neuro- toxicity. Because MSG acts as a nerve stimulant it changes how the taste buds taste food and so many people get addicted to these foods.

A product labelled “No MSG” may still contain MSG or free glutamic acid as a result of processing- Companies are not required to list it.

Hidden Names for MSG and free glutamic acid:

Names of ingredients that always contain processed free glutamic acid (7):

• 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
• Gelatin
• Textured Protein
• Soy Protein
• Soy Protein Concentrate
• Soy Protein Isolate
• Whey Protein
• Whey Protein Concentrate
• Whey Protein Isolate

Names of ingredients that often contain or produce processed free glutamic acid (7):

• Carrageenan (E 407)
• Bouillon and broth
• Stock
• Natural flavours
• Maltodextrin
• Citric acid, Citrate (E 330)
• Anything ultra-pasteurized
• Barley malt
• Pectin (E 440)
• Protease
• Anything enzyme modified
• Anything containing enzymes
• Malt extract
• Soy sauce
• Soy sauce extract
• Anything protein fortified
• Anything fermented
• Seasonings

Glutamic acid found in unadulterated “whole food” protein does not cause adverse reactions. To cause adverse reactions, the glutamic acid must have been processed/manufactured or come from protein that has been fermented (1).

The following are ingredients suspected of containing or creating sufficient processed free glutamic acid to serve as MSG-reaction triggers in HIGHLY SENSITIVE people (7):

• Corn starch
• Corn syrup
• Modified food starch
• Lipolyzed butter fat
• Dextrose
• Rice syrup
• Brown rice syrup
• Milk powder
• Reduced fat milk (skim; 1%; 2%)
• Most things labeled Low Fat or No Fat
• Anything labeled Enriched
• Anything labeled Vitamin Enriched

 What can you do?

Eat whole foods- foods that do not contain a label or a nutrient chart on the side of them.

Vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, grass fed meats and poultry and legumes are all great single food items to put in your grocery cart.

If you require help with menu planning of avoiding MSG, book a 30 minute free consult with me. I am happy to help shed light on how to avoid processed foods.

References:www.lifespa.com