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it's that time of year again. Gather round kids, let's talk about MSG https://twitter.com/ldrinkh20/status/1251991322262671364
I have to do a thread now for @atald so hold onto your butts
What is MSG?
MSG is monosodium glutamate, a combination of sodium and glutamic acid (a non-essential amino acid found through the body). It's commonly added to food (especially in Asian cooking) to enhance umami flavours.
MSG is monosodium glutamate, a combination of sodium and glutamic acid (a non-essential amino acid found through the body). It's commonly added to food (especially in Asian cooking) to enhance umami flavours.
Why is it notorious?
Glutamic acid acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain that causes excitation of nerve cells. Some people suggest that excess glutamic acid leads to excessive nerve cell stimulation, which is a bad thing.
Glutamic acid acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain that causes excitation of nerve cells. Some people suggest that excess glutamic acid leads to excessive nerve cell stimulation, which is a bad thing.
Is there evidence to support this?
A study which injected glutamate into the brains of mice found harmful effects. large amounts of MSG can increase glutamate levels in the blood, but glutamate is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier, meaning dietary MSG has little effect.
A study which injected glutamate into the brains of mice found harmful effects. large amounts of MSG can increase glutamate levels in the blood, but glutamate is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier, meaning dietary MSG has little effect.
So MSG isn't going to fry my brain?
If you eat it, probably not. (N.B. see below)
If you're a lab rat and have it injected into your brain, you've probably got bigger problems.
If you eat it, probably not. (N.B. see below)
If you're a lab rat and have it injected into your brain, you've probably got bigger problems.
Aren't some people sensitive to MSG?
MSG symptom complex is reported in some people, causing symptoms such as muscle weakness, headache, and tingling. However, the dose of MSG required to cause these symptoms in experimental settings are much higher than the average dose.
MSG symptom complex is reported in some people, causing symptoms such as muscle weakness, headache, and tingling. However, the dose of MSG required to cause these symptoms in experimental settings are much higher than the average dose.
Why are some people sensitive?
The best guess is that the blood-brain barrier that protects most people from potential effects of MSG allows small amounts of glutamate to enter the brain in people with MSG symptom complex.
The best guess is that the blood-brain barrier that protects most people from potential effects of MSG allows small amounts of glutamate to enter the brain in people with MSG symptom complex.
I heard MSG causes asthma?
A single study has found a link between MSG and asthma ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3312372 ), but multiple other studies investigating the same relationship have found no such link.
A single study has found a link between MSG and asthma ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3312372 ), but multiple other studies investigating the same relationship have found no such link.
I heard MSG leads to obesity?
There's two things here, mouse studies and human studies.
This is another one where injecting MSG into mouse brains has caused an effect which dietary glutamate intake won't replicate because of that handy blood-brain barrier.
There's two things here, mouse studies and human studies.
This is another one where injecting MSG into mouse brains has caused an effect which dietary glutamate intake won't replicate because of that handy blood-brain barrier.
What about human studies?
This is a little more complicated. Some studies have found no relationship between MSG and weight gain. Some studies have found a correlation, but often using unrealistically high doses of MSG in their methodology. More research is needed.
This is a little more complicated. Some studies have found no relationship between MSG and weight gain. Some studies have found a correlation, but often using unrealistically high doses of MSG in their methodology. More research is needed.
So MSG is perfectly safe?
No, but nothing is. Even water can kill you. Don't trust anything.
No citations because I'm lazy and this is a primer. If you want real science then look it up.
(Disclaimer: This thread was sponsored by MSG Inc.)
No, but nothing is. Even water can kill you. Don't trust anything.
No citations because I'm lazy and this is a primer. If you want real science then look it up.
(Disclaimer: This thread was sponsored by MSG Inc.)
It's also worth noting there is a social/racial aspect to the spread of propaganda about a chemical most commonly found in Asian food. But I know how the human body works and I have no idea how society works, so I'm not the right person to do a thread on that.
