I love asian food, but is it bad to eat it a few times a week? People say the MSG is going to harm me later?

Answer 1

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is the common or usual name assigned by the FDA to the ingredient that contains approximately 78 percent free glutamic acid, 22 percent sodium, and a maximum of 1 percent contaminant.2



The origin of MSG comes from a very nutritious sea vegetable called “kombu” that Japanese had used, as a taste enhancer for thousands of years. In 1908, Dr. Kikunae Ikeda succeeded to isolate the taste-enhancing chemical from “kombu”. That chemical was "glutamate." After that Dr. Ikeda and his friend, Dr. Saburosuke Suzuki formed a company called Ajinomoto and began to market this "taste enhancer" in the form of monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Health problems caused by using MSG

The isolated "flavor enhancer" chemical MSG has no nutritional value and is not a preservative. It does nothing to food, but it does affect the person using it.

It is a neurotoxin, which is a poisonous protein complex that acts on the brain and the nervous system. Neurons are over stimulated to the point of exhaustion and cell death. MSG goes to the brain through membranes in the mouth and throat, and it also enters the blood stream as MSG laden foods are digested. It tricks the brain into thinking that it's getting something tasty. Very little use of MSG takes to create widely diverse and dramatic effects on the human body. Since separate parts of the brain govern different body functions. The body function that is affected will depend on the part of the brain that is attacked by the neurotoxin. If a person has a genetic weakness in a specific part of the brain or had an injury or a stroke, the damaged area will be the part that is easily affected and vulnerable to toxins

Answer 2

MSG is a flavor enhancer that accentuates "meatiness." It's a component of the proteins found in many foods, but critics say in its purified form it can be a potent neurotoxin, causing nerve cells literally to excite themselves to death. An alleged example of this is "Chinese restaurant syndrome." A half hour after eating MSG-laden soup, once a staple of budget Chinese cuisine, some people say they experience headaches, tightness of the chest, and a burning sensation. Researchers have had difficulty reproducing this in the lab, but the feds got so many complaints from the field they've issued tougher label requirements for MSG in meat and poultry and are thinking of doing the same for other foods.

MSG may also be harmful to babies, which is why it was yanked out of baby food 20 years ago. But MSG makers and some scientists hotly deny that MSG poses a threat to the average adult. If you want to avoid it, watch out for the term "natural flavoring" on ingredients labels. Until the rules are changed, that could be a camouflage for MSG.


I personally have started to do a little research on MSG and exactly what the issues are with it, i cannot seem to get a straight answer. Problems with it may have arisen from the fact that some people are just plain allergic to it. as with just about any food, there are those in favor and those against it- there are convincing arguments on both sides so with all things, everything in moderation. If you are noticing some problematic symptoms when you eat it, then stop- if not, try to cut down at the very least - don't eat it on a daily basis.

Answer 3

yeah msg is bad for you if you eat it to much. That why asian parents say eating out to much is not good for your health. If you are eating dinner at home most of the time its msg free. If asian parents tell their kids or family eating out is bad.. that means its harmful to you. but msg just makes the food with more flavor that all. there are other subsitute out there beside using msg to bring out the taste in the food.

Answer 4

A lot of the sauces in Americanized Asian food can be high in calories, fat and sodium, but if you are smart you can pick the healthier options. As far as MSG, look for Asian restaurants that specifically advertise that they do not use MSG. There are a lot out there as a lot of people are leery about eating food high in MSG.

Answer 5

It depends on the 'asian' food. My wife and I enjoy Japanese food because of its taste and much healthier ingredients. MSG is mostly going to be present in lower level Chinese food. Most chinese places now a days will tell you somewhere in the menu or a sign in the window saying "NO MSG". MSG is not only prelevant in Chinese food; many common house hold snaks have MSG. Most flavored potato chips like Doritos, Pringles, and others have MSG in them. KFC has been known to use MSG in some of their recipes as well.

If you are interested in eating asian food weekley, there are some great alternatives to just sweet and sour. Japanese will be one of the healthiest, due to their non processed food and their smaller portions. If you have american tastebuds like mine, might I recomend:

Japanese: Teriyaki, Tempura Shrimp (or other forms of tempura) miso soup, udon, ramen, tanin don, chicken-beef-or pork katsu, Pork Shumai, etc

Korean: Bi Bim Bob, Bulgogi, if you like spicy, most korean noodles are very spicy as well.

Vietnamese: Pho (pronounced fuh) and many others I cant think of the names right now :(

If you are feeling adventrous, you can always get sushi or kim chee. I think you will find after eating these meals, you feel less weighed down than traditional chinese food, and yet, surprisingly still full and healthy. Hope this helps!

Answer 6

People are ridiculous.

If Asian people can eat the stuff every day of their lives, and yet prove to have great longevity, I don't think 3 or 4 times a week is likely to kill YOU!

Some people have reactions to MSG, but then some people have reactions to peanuts - do they recommend that you don't eat peanuts or you might be harmed 'later'?

Answer 7

much of the asian food made today is available in MSG free or low MSG varieties. just avoid the greasier, more americanized versions of the cuisine- authetic asian food is much healthier.

and go easy on the soy sauce, but enjoy!

^_^

Answer 8

Find some asian restaurants that use no MSG. Many state it on their restaurant menu or you can ask the owner!

Answer 9

bad 4 the felines

Answer 10

A high fat content and plenty of MSG...it's my favorite food but I only have it twice a month due to high cholesterol issues.