There is much debate over MSG, a flavor enhancer, linked to a host of health issues. There are dangers of hidden MSG, which may appear in many of our favorite “healthy” foods, without showing up on the label.
Health Issues Linked to MSG
- fibromyalgia1
- obesity2
- fatty liver3
- high insulin and blood sugar4
- high cholesterol3
- metabolic syndrome4
- high blood pressure
- disturbances in the gut-brain connection5
- neurological and brain health issues6
- much more
What is MSG?
In the 1960s, the phrase Chinese Restaurant Syndrome was coined by an article in The New England Journal of Medicine. Twenty minutes after eating Chinese food, some very sensitive people would experience tingling, brain fog, numbness, chest pressure, and pain.
Monosodium Glutamic Acid (MSG) refers to a chemical extract: glutamic acid is isolated, bound to a sodium molecule, and purified into a white powder, which is added to foods as a flavor enhancer.
MSG can be an excitotoxin, which means it amps up and stimulates sensory nerves, making food enhanced and tastier. As a flavor enhancer, active forms of MSG or glutamic acid are called D-glutamic acid and L-glutamic acid, usually containing other toxic byproducts.
When proteins are ingested in their natural state, the stomach breaks these proteins down into L-glutamic acid. When proteins are processed, heated, hydrolyzed, or fermented, as in MSG or proteins powders, veggie proteins, etc., they break down into both D– and L-glutamic acid.7
This suggests it is the D-glutamic acid that is the culprit causing MSG reactions. But D-glutamic acid is tasteless and benign, according to Dr. Darren Gay, PhD, a researcher who specialized in purified amino acids. The more likely cause, according to Dr. Gay, are the toxic byproducts of processing and an inability to handle L-glutamic acid.
When proteins are manufactured, processed, or fermented, they will not only produce D- and L-glutamic acids, they will produce a host of toxic byproducts that may also be a factor in MSG symptoms.
Toxic Byproducts of MSG + Other Manufactured, Processed, or Fermented Foods
- pyroglutamic acid
- mono and dichloro propanols (which are carcinogenic)
- heterocyclic amines (which are carcinogenic)
- other unwanted byproducts (impurities)7
MSG, Amino Acids + the Nervous System
It seems that the combination of processed L-glutamic acid, possibly D-glutamic acid, along with toxic byproducts is the cause or an exacerbation of MSG symptoms.
This is why certain people who are “MSG sensitive” cannot tolerate MSG or processed protein products that have been denatured in the manufacturing process. This can include any protein that has been broken down, heated, or processed—found in most packaged foods.
L-glutamic acid found in processed protein foods, as well as when proteins are naturally digested through the stomach, is a stimulating molecule that activates taste and nerves.
Very high dosages of L-glutamic acid can overstimulate the nervous system.
Fortunately, the body highly regulates the amount of L-glutamic acid allowed into the bloodstream. The body needs it and if there is not enough, the body will use other amino acids to manufacture its own glutamic acid. This is why glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid—the body can make its own.
This suggests the importance of glutamic acid for the function of the body and nervous system.7 It also suggests the importance of the health and integrity of the intestinal skin as a protective barrier from excess or overwhelming amounts of amino acids that can overexcite the nervous system.
It is true that when proteins are processed, they can be denatured or flip into being a D- or L-glutamic acid. Some experts believe D-glutamic acid that is the culprit for toxicity reactions to MSG because processing proteins has been shown to increase D- not L-glutamic acid. But, as I mentioned, the consensus seems to be that the cause of MSG symptoms is the toxic combination of excess L-glutamic acid and excess toxic byproducts.7
The form of glutamic acid called L-glutamic acid, which naturally occurs in many foods and proteins in the body is considered a nontoxic form by many experts.
The average human has 4.4 pounds of L-glutamic acid in the body and there are no reactions. Glutamic acid is a main component of proteins. It is found in meat, eggs, poultry, milk, eggs, cheese, fish, and even wheat. It is also found in most grains, beans, vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, and seaweed.
In these natural forms, glutamic acid is bound to other proteins in chains of amino acids or proteins. The process of freeing glutamic acid from the protein chains during the human digestion of proteins is generally not a problem.
When glutamic acid is freed from the amino acid chain during processing, there seems to be concerns.
Dangers of Hidden MSG
So, avoiding MSG should be easy right? As a flavor enhancer, MSG is required by the FDA to be listed in the ingredients. However, as a processing agent, which is very common in many food products, MSG does not require labeling. This exposes many of us to L- and D-glutamic acid and its toxic byproducts on a regular basis.
Interestingly, only a small percentage of the population reacts to MSG, and much seems to depend on the amount of MSG one is exposed to and how sensitive one’s intestinal wall is to toxins.
In a healthy body, proteins are broken down in the stomach and small intestine by hydrochloric acid (HCl) and digestive enzymes. The body’s digestive tract controls how much glutamic acid is freed up from the protein chain, but free L-glutamic acid absorption is highly limited and most of it is passed off as waste through the intestinal tract.
If this type of free glutamic acid is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream because of a breakdown of intestinal skin, it can trigger a neuroexcitatory toxic response in the body.
D-glutamic acid is made by processing food and the body does not seem to recognize it.
How To Avoid Non-Labeled MSG
Without a doubt, we should be reading labels and avoiding any food with MSG. Even if you do not seem to be sensitive to it, MSG is an irritant or neurotoxin and can damage the intestinal wall over time and create other problems down the road.
To avoid non-labeled MSG used in very small quantities as a processing aid, all processed foods must be avoided. This includes many health foods, such veggies burgers, turkey sausages, textured or hydrolyzed proteins, and processed protein powders.
Some, but for sure not all, health food companies go through the trouble of avoiding processed proteins in such a way that avoids production of excess L-glutamic acid, D-glutamic acid, and toxic by-products.
The key is to avoid large exposures to MSG and especially packed protein products. Choose fresh, non-processed foods as often as possible.
That said, since a small amount of L- and D-glutamic acid is incredibly hard to avoid, the most logical thing to do is continue to support the health of the intestinal skin so that it continues to act as a protective barrier against toxins. If the inner skin breaks down, numerous undigested toxins can enter the bloodstream and lymph and become irritants, toxins, allergens, triggering similar symptoms to MSG sensitivity. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a perfect example.
My 3 Favorite Ayurvedic Herbs to Support Intestinal Skin from Irritants Such as MSG
>>> Learn more about how these herbs can support the skin of the intestines here.
>>> Also, learn more about LifeSpa’s undenatured whey protein powder here.
Hidden Names for MSG + Free Glutamic Acid
Ingredients that always contain processed free glutamic acid7
- Glutamic Acid (E 620)
- 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”
- Calcium Caseinate
- Sodium Caseinate
- Yeast Food
- Yeast Nutrient
- Autolyzed Yeast
- Gelatin
- Textured Protein
- Soy Protein Concentrate
- Soy Protein Isolate
- Whey Protein Concentrate
- Whey Protein Isolate
- Vetsin
- Ajinomoto
Ingredients that often contain or produce processed free glutamic acid7
- Carrageenan (E 407)
- Bouillon and broth
- Stock
- Any “flavors” or “flavoring”
- 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
Ingredients suspected of containing or creating sufficient processed free glutamic acid to serve as MSG-reaction triggers in HIGHLY SENSITIVE people7
- 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”
Avoiding MSG may be harder than it first appears. Do what you can and treat your gut right!
Karen King says
TINNITUS! I’m Surprised nobody has mentioned this: I’ve figured out that glutamates and aspartates in their many disguises can make my tinnitus scream for 6 hours until it finally gets out of my system. A huge dose of Taurine can often bring the volume down. I don’t know if my tinnitus was originally caused by a buildup in my system of glutamate toxins but it certainly does make it worse. I’ve learned that I have the same glutamate receptor sensitivity as do people who have certain kinds of seizures, and by studying what causes their seizures I learned what to avoid so the inside of my head doesn’t sound like a chain saw.
David Tuggle says
My wife is on Blood Pressure Meds, a Calcium Channel Blocker to be exact. Two weeks ago I found a website that claims MSG is a Calcium Channel Opener. Our Doctor says “Oh it’s no big deal”. I’m looking for a new Doctor.
Georgia McDaniel says
Several years ago, I started having an aura around one eye or the other or both. I was told it was migraine with no headache. A couple of years later, the migraine headaches followed. After seeing neurologists with no benefit, I started wondering about things I had eaten. When I checked out the ingredients,they all had MSG MSG. I can pretty well control them now except for the deceptive names. I cook from scratch and avoid ready prepared food. I call all restaurants where we wish to dine. They have been honest about their use of MSG. Many don’t add it, but tell you to avoid certain dressings and sauces that they don’t make in their facility.
susie says
MSG and aspartame are neurotoxins. When we consume these toxic ingredients, they cause damage to our brains. MSG is in most of our foods, it is disguised by calling it”natural flavor! It is in almost all we eat! Because MSG is a neurotoxin, it is very harmful to our brains and the neurons that help us to think. These two toxins can cross the blood-brain’s protective barrier. Now after they excite the neurons to make drinks and food taste better than they really are, they DESTROY the neurons.. hence the name neurotoxins. We all need every neuron that we have, but our daily food is full of msg, natural flavors!! Those who drink diet drinks are losing their neurons to diet drinks that have aspertine as their sweetener!! I have friends and family that were addicted to drinking diet drinks, and many of them now have Alzheimer’s!! I used to be so addicted to diet drinks, and when I had one I couldn’t think straight. Luckily I was also going to a naturalpathic doctor, and he noticed the difference when I had been drinking a diet pop!! I have not drank one in many years!! So even though I had lost many neurons, I was smart enough to avoid most of these two neurontoxins that I possibly could. The horrible truth is most people don’t even know about these neurotoxins! I call this a deliberate “dumbing- down of Americans”!! I could write so much more, but if you’re interested, you can study this on your own! There is so much information available! Be smart, learn how to avoid these neurotoxins!!
Wolf says
You’re cuckoo, because hey tomatoes? MSG. Pretty much every cheese in recorded history? MSG. Seaweed? MSG. Look at the Japanese, some of the higher IQ scores globally and beat a lot of countries in tests and so-forth: Seaweed and soy features incredibly heavily in their cuisine. Chinese cuisine as well. Fear of MSG is not about hiding neurotoxins, it’s about hiding racism against asians.
Aspartame is a different story, avoid it if you want, but stop spreading nonsensical fantasy lies about MSG at least. There’s plenty of valid reasons to avoid MSG, but it’s not any form of neurotoxin anymore than dihydrogen monoxide is.
Rachel says
The difference is when it comes from natural sources versus lab/man made. The latter is overly processed, refined, and I would assume more potent and dangerous to the body. I think the point of this article is to realize that yes, it is naturally occurring. But, it really must be avoided when it is included as an additive for optimum health. There is not perfect food out there. Yin/yang. But man made foods are to be avoided for the most part.
RC Anderson says
Ok, While most of the information was good, I do have to disagree on a few points. One, you list anything that is “Ultra-Pasteurized” as containing MSG, this is absolutely incorrect. Almost all dairy products coming to Hawaii are Ultra-Pasteurized (meaning it was brought to a higher temperature for a longer time) so that it has a longer shelf-life for the shipping to Hawaii since we no longer have our own dairies.
Also, you list Whey Protein and anything Protein Fortified. This is also incorrect as Whey is simply the watery byproduct from cheesemaking that is left over when we remove the curds. This Whey is ultra high in protein and is then added into many different things to enrich or enhance its protein including protein shakes. Those products are normally then referred to as Protein Fortified.
If MSG were in either of these products, I would not be able to consume them because I am sensitive to MSG and get extreme migraines from MSG.
Pandie says
Read up on naturally occurring glutamic acid. ?
sully cast says
You’re so awesome! I do not believe I have read through something
like that before. So wonderful to discover another person with a few original thoughts
on this issue. Really.. many thanks for starting this up.
This web site is something that is needed on the web, someone with a
little originality!
Holly says
Hello,
I’m wondering about the “vitamin-enriched” part. Does this include, for example, apple juice with added vitamin C? It just says “vitamin C” in the ingredients.
Doyle Seiber says
Hello,
judith says
any insights on why i can tolerate MSG but i certainly avoid it. my heart races and my skin burns and headache. i’m most sensitive to the HIGHLY sensitive list. dextrose will give me a migraine immediately. i read all ingredients at all times to avoid highly sensitive list.
James says
So let’s get a petition started online to send to president Trump, HHS secretary, & the Surgeon General to get ALL MSG’s & ASPARTAME’s out of our foods & drinks we have in all grocery stores & warehouses like COSTCO & etc… including WALMART. Nobody says now MSG’s are in suntan lotions, muscle creams / lotions, & Aloe Vera Gels, not to mention all OTC drugs & TOOTHPASTES, along with most to all generic name drugs & especially the neurological drugs. For over 50 years I have seen how MSG’s & SACCHARIN both were affecting my brain, not saying that vaccines were not the 1st problem when this all started at 5 months old when my 1st seizure happened to me. Now pushing 58 I see how MSG especially has ruined my brain chemistry to where any traces now of MSG will trigger a GRAND MAL seizure within 8 hours. As long as BIG FOOD & BIG PHARMA has their freedom to do as THEY want to do with their final FDA APPROVED drug or food, we all will be their sheep, as they THE LIONS are out to kill us, as we are their prey. Their answer to eliminate sickness is to get rid of the over populated world with MSG’s & ASPARTAME’s so we die very quietly 1 death every 18 minutes world wide from food & drug chemical reactions. GRAND MAL SEIZURES seems to be just 1 unexpected way 1 can die. That no food chemical problem even as it is a genocide nobody cares to talk about. IF I do use a toothpaste by the P&G world, it is A&H peroxide & baking soda, BUT I use that only if I really need to, as COCONUT OIL flushing works for me. BEWARE of the KIRKLAND Coconut Oil which is NOT 100% pure virgin oil as if does have MSG in it, as I know it is true & fact, because my brain does not lie. THAT is why we need an online petition created on a special site, and get CNN, FNC & MSNBC to report that. Yeah right, that are advocates for the MSG makers & MONSANTO, with Bill Gates in helping to eliminate all from a new born to the oldest living now.
Michael Vasquez says
You are on point. I just finished reading “Deep Nutrition” by Catherine Shanahan where she explains how the food we eat affect our cells and DNA. She incorporates the Four Pillars of the Human Diet. You can Google it for more information. I have begun following her advice and some of my pains are going away slowly but surely. I don’t take meds or supplements. I try to get every nutrients from the food I eat (nothing processed). The food giants are in for the money and not for our health. I have learned that if you go cheap as the food giants like to do, the result is you die early. We have a lot of medicine in circulation and it’s use is to fix and mediate the deceases that are the result of bad food the food industry feeds us. It has been a slow process but I have lost 50 pounds and feel better now than when I was 40. I’m 68 years young and feeling it. Still need some work. Need to work on stress but that WILL come in time
Amy says
Here’s the deal. After eating turkey and dressing with gravy at a “meat and three” diner in southern U.S., I immediately had numbness in my upper lip and nostrils. Within an hour it moved to my throat. Made it to ER just before full blown anaphylactic shock with my throat swollen together where I couldn’t breathe. I know what this feels like, as I am allergic to bee and wasp stings. Since I had not been stung, doctors said it was reaction to msg in turkey and dressing I had eaten. This is an extreme reaction, not the norm, but for me it was real. After totally changing my diet, I have not had reaction in the last year. People need to realize you can become allergic to something anytime in your life, even though you never had problems in the past.
doctor squish says
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Tom says
“Spices” may be a new name for MSG used now. I’ve been getting MSG headaches from some items on Whole Foods food bar that now have “spices” listed as an ingredient, like the Yukon Mashed Potatoes that used to not bother me. “Spices” used to not be on the ingredient list because I check specifically for MSG. They also got me with “flavors” as an ingredient on the “Sicilian Meatloaf” that I ate there recently and got the headache.
judith says
i stopped eating at whole foods. especially since amazon stepped in. whole foods has always been high in msg. i would always get sick. i must remark that a couple months ago, i went into whole foods and checked ingredients in food bar. not so bad and i didn’t get to sick. but it’s the sensitive list like dextrose and for me, maltodextrin. their foods are loaded with msg. they have the facade of health food but i will go to mcdonald’s and order fries sooner then eat at whole foods. great foods unles you are msg sensitive.
judith says
and BTW, trader joe’s i find that probably 100% of their processed foods have hidden sources of MSG (foods on highly sensitive list) still…….msg.
Chad Cunningham says
Re: Trader Joe’s…..very true
Chad Cunningham says
“Spices”….. definite code word for MSG……it is in soooooooo many products now……Trader Joe’s, Costco……also “yeast extract”….. thrifted me right on the migraine train
Chad Cunningham says
*throws…..not thrifted…..gotta luv spell correct
ALS says
I love thrifted. I always find yeast extract in terrible cheap snack food I stupidly consider eating for three seconds before I come to my senses. Someone else’s bad idea about food becomes my problem with yeast extract. Keep up the good fight.
Deborah Fryer says
Does this mean that L Glutamine should be avoided as a supplement?
LifeSpa Staff says
Hi Deborah,
Thank you for your question. L Glutamine is different from L Glutamic Acid, and is considered a healthy supplement.
Be Well.
Brian says
Hi Folks. Just dropping by to talk about my MSG reaction. I have officially “moderate” psoriasis. This is medical-speak for 40% skin coverage. Anyway, after fighting it for 30 years, I discovered that it’s caused by MSG, for me at least. When I get zinged by something I ate, 4 hours later I get a skin reaction. This made it overlap the next meal which is why it was so difficult to spot the pattern. It also takes me several days to recover which meant I would get another MSG dose before I had a chance to recover from the last one. This also made spotting the pattern nearly impossible.
For over a year, I thought I had a problem with potatoes. It turned out that potatoes are often served with things that contain MSG, gravy packets or bullion cubes for example. Also, McDonalds puts MSG in their fry grease. This is why I can eat Wendy’s fries but not McDonald’s fries.
Deborah Fryer says
I am recovering from Rheumatoid Arthritis using nutrition. NO drugs. I am not allowed any oils whatsoever. I have learned over the past 19 months since on this program, that processed cooking oils are to be avoided at all costs as they strip the gut lining.
Colleen says
Nobody recovers from RA! It’s a progressive disease and if you are not taking something that slows/or stops the progression, it’s still occurring!
C. T. says
Deborah,
Update please on your Healing from RA? I was recently diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and oils seem to trigger UC flareups. I am going to stop all oils and see if that helps. Thank you.
I am with you…. Immunocompromised diseases can be healed with the right foundation and rebuilding the gut lining. I am banking on it… big pharma is not my friend.
” Let your food be your Medicine,” Hippocrates.
anne says
You missed out something from your list. I just noticed my tofu contains ‘calcium sulfate’, which I then found is also known as ‘yeast nutrient’. You listed ‘yeast nutrient’, but not ‘calcium sulfate’ which is the same thing.
shadow says
I am vegan, and recently discovered this list of hidden MSG. I now know that every single thing I eat has this in it! I cook some things from scratch but get sick of eating the same things over and over. There is only so much veg and salad I can eat, Im so tired of it, bland and tasteless.
I am really depressed, I have searched the net for recipes for sauces, dips, dressings etc and they are all saying ‘add soy.. ‘ or some other hidden msg. There is hardly anything I can find to eat.
I feel like topping myself.
Please can someone bring out a recipe book that DOES NOT contain anything that hides msg.??
And vegan of course.
The other thing is Im allergic to sulphites, and cannot eat fruit as I cannot bear anything sweet. Fruit is way way too sweet for me, even the less sweet ones. I am really depressed.
gunita says
hi, was just diagnosed with the same – no MSG, no sulphates, no aromatics..
now searching web to find out whats allowed..
give me a shout if want to chat!
Mary says
Check out “Straight Up Food” which is a vegan cookbook by Cathy Fisher. She worked with both Dr. Alan Goldhamer and Dr. John McDougall in their nutrition centers. Many are her recipes are adaptable to allergies.
Mary says
I’m also allergic to sulfas so I avoid all dried fruits as they are processed with sulfur. I eat fresh or use frozen in smoothies. Buying only organic to avoid Fertilizer & Pesticide toxins. As I mentioned in my last reply, Cathy Fisher has a number of recipes that are adaptable for people who have allergies. I’m slowly healing my leaky gut with a healthy plant based diet. You may want to try organic Rosemary bread from the Essential Baking Co.
Colleen says
Sulfa and sulphur Andre two different things!
Sue says
I just bought Kelloggs Special K Popcorn Chips Kettle Corn Sweet & Salty, the ingredients are: milled corn, vegetable oil, icing sugar, sea salt, corn germ, modified milk ingredients and in bold: contains milk ingredients.
I didn’t think any of the ingredients had msg but the next day I woke with swollen eyes, and a terrible headache, even the sodium levels were low.
Was I missing something?
Lisa says
Hello,
I take enzymes with lactase, maltase, invertase, amlyase and protease. Are these the “enzymes” referred to above? Also, does nutritional yeast fall into the “yeasts” category listed above? And, fermented foods, which I consume for the probiotics?
Thank you!
Niecy says
Hello, no doubt I’m experiencing bouts of anxiety. When I have anxiety I can’t eat everything tast like saw dust so I have turned to a ready made drink from Whole Foods called Orgain Organic Nutrition. I’m wondering by drinking this am I marking my episodes last longer. Ingredients list many things but among them are Organin protein blend, Organic grass fed milk protein concentrate, organic whey concentrate, Organic brown rice syrup etc… I’m wondering if this is the cause or at least acting as an agent to make my anxiety last longer. I’m extremely senseitive to MSG and any derivative that is not natural. I actually remembering experience panic attacks when I was younger and ate Chinese or Thai food. I’m 48 now and of course everything is contributed to my age and going through the hormonal changes.
A few months back I drank a womens protein drink from Trader hoes thinking this will also help hair and nails and what the hell it’s geared towards women. I had one drink at night and it took me 3 days to come down off of it.
Doctor is experimenting with different anxiety meds with me but everything is too strong. Wondering if my body is telling me this is not the problem.
Please advise.
C.T. says
ORGAIN makes a Plant-based Protein shake that is available at Costco in Chocolate and sometimes in Vanilla. I tolerate it much better than the organic “grass fed milk-based” version by Orgain. (I do have milk sensitivities as do many with GI issues.). Anxiety can be a by-product or symptom of other underlying issues…just speaking from personal experience…. mold and mycotoxin exposure. I am trying to address the Source of the problems and have found help in Functional Medicine and Integrative Medicine.
Best regards for your journey.
Barb says
Thank you for the article.
So what should I look for in a good quality protein powder? Any brand names?
It is all so confusing.
I am in Canada so I cannot order your whey powder (too high shipping) but any advise on how to get a great protein powder is greatly appreciated.
John Douillard says
Hi Barb. The main thing you want to look for when choosing a protein powder is no added sugar, preservatives, or colorings. In addition it is best to look for a concentrate and not an isoalte! Be well.
PJ says
Kaizen grass feed protein powder is fine with me….no msg…I am highly allergic to msg and will only trust this brand of protein powder..not vegan….available online and in most main grocery chains in Canada
Ginger says
2 nights ago I ended up in the emergency room after forgetting to tell the cook to hold the seasoning. I went into anaphylactic. I started out long ago with migrains and diarhea after consuming MSG but I still always felt terrible with stomach pains, nerve pain, gluten problems, etc. Then after consuming MSG the symptoms became worse, I started having siezures. This last time obviously was really scary and life threatening. Even as careful as I have been reading labels I had no idea that I was still consuming some type of MSG nearly everyday even though at home I have only organic foods since 2009.
I will be eating only one ingredient natural unprocessed foods from now on. It’s not going to be easy because I travel alot. I never want to end up in the hospital again!
sharon says
Does anyone know of any protein powders/shakes that do not contain MSG? I get severe migraines from it, but have been using the EAS shakes. The second ingredient is milk protein concentrate. I know that is said to contain MSG. I have never had a reaction to them (that I know of) but just because I don’t notice a reaction, doesn’t mean my body isn’t having one. I have a sensitive system and want to take care of it. I have also started trying a brown rice protein powder with no known reaction. Please share what you know about a safe, quick protein source.
John Douillard says
We have a great product http://store.lifespa.com/whey_pure.html Whey Pure is a concentrate not an isolate so it has nothing similar to MSG in it.
D.C. Gay says
John,
Before I begin, I have a PhD in Biochemistry and have studied proteins and amino acids at the atomic level professionally for years. With all due respect, your article on MSG is replete with errors and misinformation. D-glutamate or D-glutamic acid is not used as a flavoring agent by any commercial enterprise because it is tasteless (“The Taste of Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins”, Juerg Solms, J. Agric. Food Chem., 1969, 17 (4), pp 686–688). L-glutamate or L-glutamic acid is widely used as a flavoring agent due to its umami taste. Any food that contains protein has a 100% chance of containing L-glutamate in the protein chain. That chain will be degraded in your body to individual amino acids, thus releasing L-glutamate as a free amino acid. Since our bodies also contain free sodium ions, the negatively charged L-glutamate and positively charged sodium ions will attract and form an ion pair. So to any one reading this who is afraid of MSG, every time you eat protein, your body will automatically generate MSG until it decides the best fate of the free L-glutamate. MSG is not only safe, it is impossible to avoid. Regarding the article in particular, the statement “…glutamic acid does not exist as free glutamic acid in the body…” is incorrect, blood plasma contains approximately 0.06 mM glutamic acid (“Intracellular free amino acid concentration in human muscle tissue”, J. Bergstrom, Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol. 36, No. 6, June 1974.) The statement “The process of freeing the glutamic acid from the protein chains is what causes the toxicity.” is not only nonsensical, but you seemingly contradict yourself a few sentences later with “In a healthy body, proteins are broken down in the stomach and small intestine by hydrochloric acid (HCL) and digestive enzymes.” If our bodies break down proteins and release free amino acids (including L-glutamic acid) for protein synthesis, why would this process “cause the toxicity”? Another reason why D-glutamic acid is not in food: “The D-glutamic acid, on the other hand, is made in a lab and the body does not seem to recognize it.” If D-glutamic acid has to be made in a lab (which is correct), how could it be profitably added to foods? L-glutamic acid is not only abundant, it is contained in every life form. The MSG added to foods is L-glutamic acid, not only because it tastes good (as opposed to tasteless D-glutamic acid), but it is readily accessible and easily acquired from our environment. Just look at the prices for D-glutamic acid and L-glutamic acid sold by the world’s largest supplier of chemicals (http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sigma/g1001?lang=en®ion=US , http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/aldrich/w328502?lang=en®ion=US) For about $500, you can get 0.1 kg of the D-isomer, or 25 kg of the L-isomer, a 250 fold difference in price! The statement “While processed proteins are most commonly found to contain D-glutamic acid, most processed veggies, grains, beans, fruits will also contain free D-glutamic acid.” is also nonsensical. What food processing method are you aware of that is capable of racemizing L-glutamic acid into D-glutamic acid? In fact, if you asked a team of biochemists with a fully functional laboratory to produce a protein that contained D-glutamic acid in place of L-glutamic acid, you’re looking at spending hundreds of thousands of dollars and waiting months for a few milligrams to be produced. Why? Because D-glutamic acid is not recognized by any tRNA ligase, and so the protein chain would have to be synthesized in vitro, by hand, amino acid by amino acid. If you maintain that your article is still correct, please provide your readers with the following: (1) a citation from a scientific journal that shows ANY food processing method is capable of racemizing L-glutamic acid to D-glutamic acid, (2) a citation from a scientific journal that shows D-glutamic acid is toxic to mammals, and (3) a rational reason as to why a food production company would incorporate D-glutamic acid into processed foods when it is tasteless and 250 times more expensive than the L-isomer of glutamic acid. I look forward to your response.
Kindest Regards,
D.C. Gay, PhD
L says
Do not come on here an lecture us with your bs! 1 you miss read what he said at the beginning. 2 most of us on here suffer from even the smallest amounts of MSG! So with all do respect kiss off!!!
Joe Roberts says
This is useless. “To avoid MSG, avoid 99% of all food.”
Thanks for your help
Ana says
Yes !! I am agree 100%with you !
christina says
So in sneaking in msg what else is it called on the label or what is high in msg, I know it has some other names but I know it is also hidden inside another name that wont tell you it has hidden msg. that is what I need to know im trying to make a list of what to avoid on the label, but cant seem to find just a clear concise all of these have msg even if it doesn’t say it.
Chandra says
HERE YA GO, Ibknow first hand by the way-good luck!
Hidden names for MSG and free glutamic acid:
Names of ingredients that always contain processed free glutamic acid: (7)
Glutamic Acid (E 620)
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
Autolyzed Yeast
Gelatin
Textured Protein
Soy Protein
Soy Protein Concentrate
Soy Protein Isolate
Whey Protein
Whey Protein Concentrate
Whey Protein Isolate
Anything “…protein”
Vetsin
Ajinomoto
Names of ingredients that often contain or produce processed free glutamic acid: (7)
Carrageenan (E 407)
Bouillon and broth
Stock
Any “flavors” or “flavoring”
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
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”
End-we think…
Roberta says
Add Roemary extract to the list!
Also a new suspect: spice extract
Josie Guarino says
Hi Dr. D
I eat veggie burgers all the time but in your article on MSG it’s one of the foods you say to avoid because of MSG concerns. I buy what I thought were high quality veggie burgers. They are Hilary’s Hemp burger and Dr. Praegers, both of which just list vegetables and millet as ingredients, nothing else that resembles MSG. It’s unclear to me, are you saying they could have used MSG in their products and not label it at all not even under another name? Please explain because I really like these two brands of veggie burgers I thought were of the highest quality. Best, Josie
John Douillard says
Hi Josie, I would recommend contacting the company directly to see if they use any MSG as a processing agent for their ingredients. It’s worth noting, however, that many health food companies will label their products stating that they do not use MSG for processing.
Be well,
Dr. John
S says
Thank you Dr. John for all the work you do to inform us. Is L-glutamic acid the same thing as L-glutamine that is giving to people with leaky gut, to repair the lining of the gut? What are your thoughts about taking L-glutamine for leaky gut?
Thanks.
John Douillard says
L-glutamine is a healthy repair agent for the gut while glutamic acid is the exit toxins that is basically MSG.
Be well,
Dr. John
Tina Huston says
Yep, yep, yep. And our government agencies allowed these toxic chemicals into the food supply for the sake of increasing shareholders’ profits on the NYSE, whether it be through the public food companies, farming, or the healthcare industry. The good news is that people are waking up to this. The bad news is that there is a large group of people who still want healthcare for “free”, (which it’s not free), and don’t want the responsibility and labor of having to fend for themselves properly. What they don’t consider is that if it’s provided for “free”, then they really don’t have a say in what they are receiving. If they fend for themselves, they have a full say in what they are receiving. If they purchase a competitive product, then they also have a say in what they are receiving. A universal truth is that there are no free lunches, gang, the universe tells you to wake up, get off your laurels, and do something productive with the functional brains and bodies we’ve been given. That’s how the universe is designed. Free healthcare and government regulation is a very slippery slope. Don’t devalue and forfeit your own good judgment and capabilities in the name of daydream that is too good to be true.
JR says
wow Tina – you think big pharma and for-profit healthcare has your best interests at heart? Just like the mega-multinationals who make cheap food MSG enhanced (to make poor quality taste good) has your best interests at heart?
A good national health-care system doesn’t take away your choices, it just means that when your heart needs help you don’t need to sell your house to get it.
In Canada an emergency has you taken care of right-now; while non-emergency may be a longer wait in Canada than a ‘for profit’ system; but in someplace like New Zealand which also has a healthcare-for-all system there is virtually no wait.
If I get injured or sick while traveling in the USA I get myself back home to Canada as quick as I can to not get gouged by big-money-healthcare..
Stephen says
This is completely pointless, it says there are sneaky names for MSG, I’m allergic to it and would like to know the other names for it so I don’t end up vomiting all over the place with a skull splitting migraine. However, I read this entire article and didn’t find a single other name for it. So thanks for wasting my time to whomever created this article. If anyone knows the Actual other names please let me know.
Deb says
Check trackbacks link below…it’s all there:)
John says
Dr John Bergman also shows you the other names of MSG and its derivitives on his YT channel. There are about 40 other names/products on one video. His website is on there and its got a massive amount of info. About lots of dis-eases.
Tina Huston says
Stephen, it doesn’t matter whether the names are provided. You and everyone else have been sold a bill of goods…a lie, as to how and what to eat. Human beings are designed to eat a certain way…a way that was natural established for thousands of years. All of these chemicals that have been put into the food supply are making us sick and addicted to the chemicals. That’s why you’re so frustrated and pissed right now. It doesn’t happen over night, but you can completely change the way you eat and find beauty in the food you were meant to eat. You won’t need to know the names of the chemicals because you will reach for whole, organic foods where the names of those chemicals is a non-issue. Learn how to cook, stay on the outer perimeter of the grocery store when you buy food, don’t eat packaged foods. Give it time to heal and keep following Douillard’s videos. The guy knows what he’s talking about. You’ll learn little bits at a time, and you can make manageable changes. Go get ’em, Stephen.
Katie.R says
Have a look on YouTube for ‘Dr. Russell Blaylock: Excitotoxins – The Taste That Kills’… Its about an hour long but worth a watch (about MSG intake). Definitely opened my eyes.
maha says
is the orange,lemon are not good as citric acid. shall I delete it from my ASD child also shall i not give my child any kinds of vitamins that contains citric acid?
Helen says
My Dr said I had IBS (Irritable bowel ); Told him it was from foods w/MSG. Within 20 to 30 min, I am bent over double w gas, cramps, nausea, & diaherra for 2 to 4 hrs, after eating even a small amt of anything w/MSG as an ingredient! I never hear anyone say they get diaherra from MSG except a friend. My only relief is 6 to 7 Xstrength 750 Tums, taken over the next 30 minutes. Is there any other help?
I’m very careful not to eat MSG but didn’t know a lot of the hidden names u have so kindly given in these articles. Thank u so much.
I hope people diagnosed w/IBS will analyze what they just ate for MSG, & I believe many will know it’s not IBS! I refused to take the 20mg of Bentlyl the Dr gave me, due to dangerous side effects! Thanks again….
Michele says
Those are my EXACT symptoms…I always know msg was in something I ate. Pizza Hut pizza, Chinese food, and some restaurant salad bars rip my guts apart!
Matt says
I have the same issues with MSG consumption. It started out when I was about 13 years old. They did not no what was wrong with me and even one doctor thought I had an ulcer. Eventually, I got lucky and saw a doctor who suggested it could be a food or food additive sensitivity. I removed things from my diet and then reintroduced things. I found the MSG to be the cause. I am fine now as long as I avoid MSG and it’s derivatives.
Char says
Thanks so much for this article. My 15 year old son was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The doctors prescribed tons of medication to control the disease.
It did not help. He said there’s no cure and it is a lifetime sentence. I refuse to believe that. I decided to get answers on my own by reading articles on search engines, Watchinh YouTube about others with colitis and reading testimonials.
It was then that I realized that, the process foods and all these additives were completely destroying my sons gut. The food choices were the culprit and they sneaking labeling.
I am in the process of changing his diet to a more organic, no gmo, grass fed meat, no antibiotic, etc… No more process food & again, no sneaky additives. We are going back to basics and will eat only food that his great grand parents will recognize as food. No packaged anything. Thanks again for this article. It is life changing!!
Jean Paro says
YOU GOT IT!!!! Like our grandparents ate is the key!!! NO packages!!!
LA Rosen says
In addition to whole, real food, your son may benefit –as did my husband — From the FODMAP Elimination diet. This science-based diet identifies levels of short-chain carbohydrates in foods to be avoided or restricted for people with IBS, Crohn’s, colitis and other gastric or autoimmune disorders. Grest Facebook support and info groups, usually moderated by trained dieticians. There’s an app from Monash University and many great books and blogs with helpful recipes, shopping tips, and other key info. GAME CHANGER for us after long-ago bout with food poisoning left us both with many food aversions and health issues. Can also be triggered by antibiotics, among other causes. The diet is a treatment while still working to identify and repair underlying problem, such as leaky gut. As hard to avoid FODMAP as MSG and there is some overlap between the twtweaking clean should not be such a great
Joshua says
If you want a good book for changing your diet to whole foods then read ‘The Zone’ by Dr Berry Spears. He has several books. The one that I like the best is ‘The Top 100 Zone Foods’.
Dude says
I’ve never seen “ajinomoto” among the ingredients of a product made in North America. Any examples?
“Ajinomoto” is a name for MSG that speaks volumes to someone Japanese. In Japan it is a brand name synonymous with MSG, the way “Kleenex” stands for tissue paper in in the USA and Canada. Pure MSG crystals are sold under this brand name.
People who are sensitive to MSG understand it in terms of not being able to to tolerate “ajinomoto”.
If you want to ask in Japan whether a restaurant uses MSG, you can use this word: “Ajinomoto o tsukaemasuka?” (do you use MSG?)
So in the cultural-linguistic context fro which it originates, it isn’t “sneaky”.
What IS sneaky is that some Ajinomoto containers have a cute round shape with the face of a panda bear. 🙂
danwat1234 says
Calcium Caseinate has MSG? Then milk has MSG in it, since it is around 80% Calcium Caseinate protein and 20% Whey protein.
John Douillard says
Because free glutamic acid is a byproduct of processing proteins, calcium caseinate (a protein derived from casein) contains a considerable amount of glutamic acid – 17%. This is a result of processing casein from its natural state into calcium caseinate.
Calcium caseinate is used in many coffee creamer products and instant cream based foods that require a rapid dispersion in water, so it can be avoided if you stay away from highly processed foods and shelf-stable dairy products.
Helen says
Strange . I can drink Kroger skim milk, but not their buttermilk. Skim has only milk, vit A palmitate, D3. Since ingredients are listed as to highest volume first and lowest amt last, vit A palmitate must not be strong enough to trigger diaherra in me. I take D3 supplements anyway.
The low fat buttermilk is FULL of the hidden MSG. The Kroger cultured Buttermilk has a few less. I usually buy low fat to cook with.
I beginning to think the FDA doesn’t really care anymore or maybe they never have.
sue says
One of the most important health issues you didn’t state regarding MSG is that it is a major contributor to atrial fibrillation (a-fib) a considerable heart arrhythmia. Thank you for your article and the list of MSG’s hidden names. I was familiar with many but surprised at many others. We also need to be aware of the signals our body does give us when we eat something it doesn’t like, especially in our children. Thank you again.
Melanie says
I can always taste msg… even when it isn’t recognizable on the label. It produces a burning sensation in my mouth and throat after a few bites of the food that contains it. Doritos do it to me badly. Last night we had brats – which said they were msg-free. I got that burning sensation, and my aunt mentioned that they disguise msg under other names, which I had no clue about. That’s when I found your article. Thank you for the valuable information!
Melanie says
I can always taste msg… even when it isn’t recognizable on the label. It produces a burning sensation in my mouth and throat after a few bites if the food that contains it. Doritos do it to me badly. Last night we had brats – which said they were msg-free. I got that burning sensation, and my aunt mentioned that they disguise msg under other names, which I had no clue about. That’s when I found your article. Thank you for the valuable information!
tru leigh says
I have Restless Leg Syndrome. Most of the time it’s only mildly annoying and doesn’t bother me much. One night I made some Spanish Rice I got from the dollar store. I noticed the first ingredient was MSG. That night I woke up feeling like my legs were on fire. I don’t have to be a rocket surgeon to figure out the connection.
Lisa says
That’s exactly what it does to me. What is happening is that it’s attacking your very large nerve, the sciatic nerve. This goes down your back and splits at your tailbone down into the back of both legs. Yours and my legs get so twitchy and for me painful, we get diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome, Sciatica and the REAL culprit is the MSG poison attacking it.I got so debilitated I could hardly sit, never slept well (4 hours at most at a time), my feet swelled grotuesqly, I broke out in hives in patches especially on my lower legs before I finally figured out what the cause was. It’s not Restless Leg Syndrome, you are being poisoned.
Moonyean Fairley says
I have been unable to find organic milk and milk products that are not ultra pasteurized. I do not understand the connection with msg except that maybe something in the processing that makes them undesirable. I certainly can see that ultra pasteurization destroys anything that is good in the milk. Now I have to decide which is better non organic milk or organic milk that is ultra pasteurized.
Thank you so much for all your hard work to compile this information.
Moonyean
John Douillard says
Hi Moonyean,
You might find this article helpful: https://lifespa.com/stop-eating-dairy-until-you-read-this-report/.
Kalona Super Natural dairy products are non-homogenized and vat pasteurized so they are a great option if you can find them. Most major health food stores now carry the brand.
Melissa says
You clearly are a junk food junkie mcdonalds eating government experiment guinea pig. Msg and aspartame and acesulfame the new word for aspartame is not good for us or our children. Clearly it don’t effect most of us an what we ate as a child most people feed their children, but 30 yrs ago the government didn’t put a bunch of crap and additives to our food like they do now. Which is why their are more outbreaks and reactions to it. Te government is using our food as an experimentation and 99% of people don’t have a clue. Te food companies allow it cuz they get paid more. Most don’t care about the well being of others and most people don’t link the two together. But I know because wen I did learn about it I do my absolute best to keep my child away from all the junk and occasionally I miss a few. But now that FDA approved companies to only add natural flavors and spices instead of msg or any ingredients that contain msg and they say it’s an enhansor is all is false advertisement! Now I am scared to buy anything with anything that has those words in it and I even call the companies and list off msg ingredients and most of the time they say no even though they dot have a clue and I just don’t buy it. I was buyin bolt house farms ranch dressing for the past 3 yrs and it had originally no spice or natural flavors added until awhile ago and I calle and listed off ingredients they said was not added but now I read the back of the label it it has disodium guanulate and disodium insinuate. Which are 2 main ingredients with msg. In my understanding with msg, the more ingredients that are added containing msg are higher content then if they were to just add msg itself. So anyways, keep scarfing down mcgagmes eating Doritos and Cheetos and drink your 2% milk and diet sodas. Tell me in about depending on your age say 30 yrs if you ain’t got cancer or diabetes or severe headaches and then come back and apologize. You need to school yourself on government control and really it’s all just common sence. Most people don’t have that gift though. So good luck.
Helen says
I drank a12 oz glass of low fat, Kroger Buttermilk about 6 mos ago, as I was learning about all these hidden additives that become MSG when processed! Severe diaherra for an hour, as usual. DIDN’T KNOW THEN THAT Carrageenen was the culprit. I used to drink 8 oz w no problem but have not been brave enough to try a smaller glass, this time. Not worth it. I’d rather “do without ” than have diaherra for an hr. Most of you are not saying if u throw up or have diaherra. Honey, I’m calling it “what it is”, along w the gas and stomach pain that lasts awhile!
Sherine Campagna says
Is there anything we can do or take to get the built-up Glutamic Acid out of our bodies?
lin says
I read somewhere that our bodies need glutamic acid (amino acid). I’m not a fan of msg because of the deception that comes along with it. You could be eating rotten food but the msg will make it taste good. I’ve also had personal negative health experiences while eating food with msg which has actually made me terrified of all proteins because they could be potential allergens. However, I still try to be reasonable because the body is made up of proteins and they are necessary for survival. My question is is natural msg really as harmful as manufactured msg & does concentration matter, for example liquid broths might have a higher concentration & therefore a worse effect than solid potato chips?
John Douillard says
Hi Lin,
There are potential issues when glutamic acid is isolated from other amino acids as they can convert into MSG. Plus, any form of MSG can be an irritant to the gut and is best to avoid particularly if you have a sensitive digestion.
Barb says
I have seen in several websites that Taurine can be an antidote for MSG. Don’t know if it works personally, but might be worth checking it out. Seems MSG depletes Taurine in the body so supplementing with it makes sense. This website seems to explain it a bit better than I can: https://healthwyze.org/reports/141-how-msg-monosodium-glutamate-is-hidden-in-your-foods-and-its-antidote-taurine
Barb says
Also just saw that ginger may also be an antidote. https://suenawilliams.wordpress.com/2016/06/08/the-msg-antidote-revealed/
But the best attack is to just avoid MSG.
lin says
What about the whole foods that contain natural msg such as tomatoes and grapes? If you avoid those foods too you end up eating nothing. I’m very sensitive to msg but when I eat food containing hydrolyzed vegetable oil I don’t notice a reaction but now after reading this article I’m only going to walk away with anxiety because majority of foods in the grocery store contain one or more of these ingredients & you have to eat to survive! Nuts for a fact can be life threatening for some people and for me I couldn’t eat food containing stock or broth but food containing ANY flavours or flavourings then how do you even eat ice cream???
Michele says
I am one of those that gets massive headaches from MSG. I am trying to avoid processed food. Yet life is boring without ice cream. I bought myself an ice cream maker and have been making my own. And now, I’m having a hard time finding cream without added ingredients like Carageenan! When does it stop being an individual problem and we start holding the food producers accountable?
Also, try Haagen Daz vanilla or chocolate ice cream (not the other flavors).
Keith says
I too suffer from food migraines. The milk and cream must not be ultra pasteurized. In Oregon, we have Umpqua Dairy which I can have their whole milk, half and half and whipping cream. At Walmart, I can have the Daisy sour cream. Life can be good but you must find the right items and tell others.
Vivis says
Here is another sneaky product that sends me to ER with explosive diarrhea and projectile vomiting….Takes 18 to 36 hours to get out of my system with IVs, allergy meds, and anti emetics. The stuff is called annatto. It is used to color ice cream, packaged cakes, cookies, puddings, cheeses, etc. The plant itself is poisonous. You would think the folks would realize the part of the plant they use is poisonous as well. I am severely allergic obviously…..Watch the kiddos eating those chips powdered with cheese dust and using cheez-whiz or Velveeta processed cheese. It can really cause major problems with little kids. My 2 cents…Great article and am enjoying everyone’s input.
Ana says
YES!!!!! I am Agree with you . If everything has one
Of this names in the list Of ingredientes. What suppose we have to eat for surviving when you live in s city .
Also I think that the writer of this article should write what we could eat to survive . Or may be we have to move to the forest and sow the field.
In my opinion this article without options the only that give me is anxiety and depression.
Debo says
I am very sensitive to MSG. It is a challenge at first as you learn what you can and cannot eat. I eat mainly whole foods and real all labels. Manufacturers are getting better at providing options without all the bad ingredients. My pay off for all this “work” is that I feel GREAT! Noore migraines, no more jitters, no more feeling like all the blood has been drained out of my body and I can’t move. Plus many more symptoms. I’d rather do a little more effort in checking my foods than feeling like crap and being unproductive and sickly all the time. It is soooooo worth it. There are too many toxins in our foods.
Eric says
It is a lie that MSG has been linked to any disease. The scientific community has scrutinized it closely for years since the panic first started trending. Before believing people who literally make their living by lying about things to try to scare you so you will by their snake oil, do a quick search of the scientific literature.
Check out this very easy to understand video about MSG:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLxxnk5MI74
It isn’t linked to any disease people, don’t believe this snake oil salesman.
John Douillard says
Hi Eric,
Thanks for the link. Interesting that in the video link you provided, MSG is compared to aspartame which is another product that has some very scary research behind it as well as plenty of studies saying that it is safe.
For every study saying that a product is unsafe, there is another one stating the opposite. As consumers, we just have to make a choice and decide who we want to trust and what type of food we want to eat.
deanna says
NIce of you to be nice about that John. Hey Eric.. Please dont believe that hype. MSG is toxic~
Kim says
Remember the “tree in the garden” baring the knowledge of good AND evil. Our instructions were to not touch it or even look at it for in the day you do, you will surely die. So, when something is good one minute and bad the next, we ought just stay away from it.
Martha Alice Williamson says
I am aware of the hidden names of the many types of msg but needed to check again. Thanks for this article. It took me years to figure out food causes problems. I get severe leg cramps from these ingredients. Malt extract got me this time. I don’t always think and read first. I can’t believe they have to add this stuff. I even found it in a bag of almonds.
Jaime McMullin says
Hmmmm, either you are living with blinders on or someone is paying you to write comments like these. Look around, people are sick, very very sick. The rates of disease is exploding leaving doctors scratching their heads wondering why. Now compare the rates of disease with putting additives in our foods along with pesticides and gmos and no one has to wonder any longer!
You say this guy is selling snake oil? Really? Everyone needs to make a living but are you really going to defend a billion dollar industry that stands to lose millions from people simply becoming aware and changing their diets? Then try to shut down a small guy who doesn’t stand to make a whole lot by writing an article on how we should cut chemicals out of our diet?
By the way, it is a common and well known practice among scientists that you give rats msg to make them fat in order to study weight loss drugs, obesity and such.
Helen says
I heard aspartame (MSG)gave the rats cancer. Every time I eat anything w MSG I it, I have 20 minutes to find a bathroom. I am bent over double with stomach pains, take up to ten 750 Ultra Tums, to stop the pain. I make 4 to 6 trips to the toilet, nauseated, with diaherra. It stretches out over about an hrs’ time– not a fast elimination!! Don’t tell me it isn’t toxic.
I try to read labels & watch everything I eat. Had 1 sm chicken sausage at Denny’s yesterday. Wonderful taste, best buttermilk pancakes ever. Barely made it home.
Then tonight, same thing w a processed fettuccine mix.
My stomach feels like a punching bag, I am weak, tired, and almost ready to give up eating anything!! I spend hrs reading labels in the grocery store. I thank you for these articles, Dr John. Stomach still hurting & mouth tastes bad from so many Tums–but they are only thing that helps!
Jean Paro says
Cook your own foods. Natural ones. I buy Organic potatoes, and meats, veggies. That’s my diet. or I GET SICK!!! Don’t eat out!!!
kim says
yes I agree !! the best way to monitor and control your own health
Nancy Rodriguez says
That what I eat, meat and veggies. Less stomach problems and no weight gain.
Patty says
I am pretty sure aspartame is not msg. One is an artificial sweetener the other is a flavor enhancer.
barbara rapp says
Aspartame is known to trigger a seizure for those with epilepsy or trauma to the brain.
Mark says
Aspertame (Nutrasweet) is a very strong trigger for Migraine and Cluster Headaches. I avoid it like death! Three decades back, when Nutrasweet came out (rushed through the FDA in a truncated timetable), I immediately experienced the affects after purchasing a pack of gum, and observing to my pleasure how chewy and flaverful the gum was. . . . I was almost immediately overcome with a powerful migraine that lasted over two days! Moreover, a short while later, the American Diabetes Assn sent my father-in-law, a type two diabetic, a pamphlet warning of the deliterous affects of this chemical for diabetics.
Also, for me, MSG is a very potent trigger for migraine.
Thanks for addressing such a well written article on the incidiousness of dangerous chemicals in our foods. As a retired manager, I can’t help but wonder about the motivation of big business food companies utilizing such poisons and hidden tactics. I recently noted, to the best of my searching, ALL carbonated diet beverages (with the notable excention of Diet Rite) contain aspertame. I can’t help but wonder, despite their claims for “taste,” if the real motivator is bottom line profits. I can only surmise the price for aspertame is simply less than sugar and other “natural” no/low cal sweetners. Ultimately, profits before health is an unsound business plan.
chris says
It makes more sense to listen to your body than to believe what industries with vested interests tell you.
EducatedConsumer says
Actually, Eric, it is widely known and accepted by the medical community that MSG is a neurotoxin and causes, among other illnesses, severe migraines. I know this to be true because my throat starts to itch and close up, my tongue tingles, and I get severe migraines every time I am exposed to MSG, which last approximately 2-3 days, while the food and the MSG it contains works its way out of my system. Avoidance of MSG in most packaged foods is nearly impossible, what with all the tricks and aliases the food manufacturers use to disguise the fact that MSG has been added to their foods. I am reduced to purchasing only single ingredient foods and preparing meals at home, or carefully vetting food labels each and every time buy a product (just because a food doesn’t contain MSG one day doesn’t mean the manufacturer won’t add it down the road – that has happened to me more times than I can count).
MSG alergic says
When I was a child, my mother would tenderize our Sunday night steaks with lots of MSG. I remember the large gray container with the big white “MSG” lettering. This was the late 60’s and early 70’s. I also remember that I would get a debilitating headache within a couple of hours after those steak dinners. Being a child, I never figured out the connection, and neither did my mom or dad. My mom simply thought I had inherited migraines from my grandmother. One summer during college, I taught English in Taiwan with some other college students. We found a hole-in-the wall restaurant that had the best tasting sweet-n-sour pork. We went there every Saturday. And every Saturday, a couple hours later, I had a massive migraine.. We had an house mom from Australia who started quizzing me about what I had been eating whenever I got a headache. She educated me about food allergies and food allergy triggers. She knew MSG was a major trigger for headaches and she knew that the local restaurants in Taiwan used massive amounts of MSG in their cooking. It’s what made everything taste so good. The memories of getting sick after Sunday night steak dinners were stirred up and suddenly, it all made sense. From that day forward, I learned how to avoid MSG and many years later came across lists of the hidden MSG ingredients to avoid as well. It’s getting harder and harder to buy anything that is processed that is free from these hidden sources of MSG. Just last night, we had some Beef Steak Appetizers from Costco that taste great. No MSG listed in the ingredients. In the middle of the night, I awoke with a terrible headache. 12 hours later, the headache is still raging, even as I write this comment. I just checked the ingredients again: #1 in the list: Beef and Modified Starch Product. Lots of mentions of Modified Corn Starch. The sauce includes yeast extract and modified food starch. I know I have to be more careful and remember these hidden sources.
Susan Green says
Glad to see this comment as I thought Dr. D.’s article was going to include all of the other name’s for MSG.(natural flavorings). It is interesting that organic products like beef, chicken and vegetable stocks list “natural flavorings” which can cause the same issues as MSG.
Michele Ruiz says
Those of us who are highly sensitive to msg, (in it’s many disguises) and have had violent reactions, are the only “proof” I need. I get severe migraines and vomiting as well as lose one to two days of my life anytime I ingest it. I read all ingredient labels now and can only eat out at restautants I have personally taken the time to ask for ingredient lists before ordering. You cannot rely on the restaurant to know if their food contains this lab produced chemical copy of monosodium glutamate or not. (By the way, I do not have this reaction to naturally occuring msg, as my body recognizes it and knows how to process it) Most people are not educated about it. My cousin almost died from eating a bag of doritos. She had to be rushed to the hospital by ambulence and revived. It is an indisputably dangerous product that needs to be banned. Although everyone either, does not have a noticeable reaction to it, or they just aren’t making the correlation it is still poison and should not be added to our food.
Helen says
Michele, I live in Ga & ate beef steak tips at O’Charley’s 4 yrs ago. The longest, most painful diaherra I’ve ever had. Called them the next day. Went back & they gave me a 3 page listing of all their servings. It annotated which foods had MSG. Of course, the beef tips did. I’m also allergic to any meat tenderoziers. The Mgr told me, that by law, if a customer asks, they have to provide you with a list of their foods w MSG. I keep it in my car. A large majority of their food had MSG in it–even Salmon/Talipa. Don’t know if the law was only in Ga, but doubt it. Research it.
Evelyn Vergara says
Well if most of all products that we are buying at the stores contains hidden MSG I think the best that we can do to avoid MSG We must buy Fresh produce and we will be the one to make our own Milk like Almond Milk, Coconut Milk, Cashew Milk. Avoid buying packaged foods in freezer and Avoid all processed meats, processed vegetables and all kinds of Chips, Cookies, Bisquits. We must be Careful to what we are buying at the stores Now a days. We must be Smart in buying our Foods and We must eat Healthy Foods Always if we want to Be Healthy.??????? Always Bear in your Mind Always EAT FRESH AVOID JUNK FOODS THIS IS THE SECRET TO BECOME HEALTHY.
Mark says
Just be aware nuts of any kind are potent migraine triggers for many people, myself included.
Mary Hunter says
Cause and contribute…..CONTRIBUTE- if you weaken something enough it can become a CAUSE. Keep challenging the “body machine” and you will have issues.
I am one of those that is HIGHLY sensitive to MSG etal….I avoid it at all costs.
One should not be so quick to condemn valuable information just because !
i.e. B12 shots are quickly administered by doctors…..Cyanocobalamin.is the B12 that doctors use….this one contains a molecule of cyanide and keeps accumulating in the body….sound healthy? Don’t think so. Methylcobalamin is the superior B12 yet 99% of doctors continue to inject one with a molecule of cyanide ! ! It’s cheaper and a great money maker
Debo says
Thanks for this information. I didn’t know this.
Kristen says
Yes! I had a seizure once immediately following a B-12 shot! I believe they also contain toxic preservatives similar to those in vaccines…if anyone has further info on this topic I’d love to discuss and connect the dots!
Victoria says
As a 56 year old woman whose body and brain and life were literally destroyed by MSG, I have to say it’s idiots like you that kept me from getting the help I needed in time. Every fiber of my being wants me to tell you to rot in hell, but I know that is only because you, figuratively, are standing in front of me representing all the other so-called clueless experts who allowed me to suffer without mercy nor remedy and for so long. Thanks to doctors who are educated in the powerful effects and dangers of Aspartame, Monosodium Glutamate, and High Fructose Corn Syrup, my life is much better now, but it took thirty years of know-it-all, self-proclaimed expert idiots like yourself before the doctors and scientists with the truth finally reached me. I will never let a liar like you near me or anyone I love again. Your lies destroy what could be beautiful lives. Please find something more product to do with your time; perhaps I should say something more responsible to do with your time.
Randy rudd says
Amen – preach it !!
These smug food/medical pundits are clueless………..or maybe they aren’t (if you follow me)
Randy rudd says
You,sir, are the “snake oil” salesman. I’ve had a severe aversion to msg for years. It exacerbates my symptoms of brain cancer as well…….
Jimmy says
Yeah it’s not snake oil. But if you haven’t suffered a debilitating migraine. Then your talking out your arsenal!!.
Marilyn says
This link had to be submitted by someone who never had a reaction to MSG or derivatives. I am in my seventies and by trial and error found out that I was getting migraines from MSG when I was in my twenties – even before it became a big issue in the news. Even though I stayed away from MSG, I would get hit sometimes by surprise. One day I drank some Good Night Kisses hot chocolate and the next day I had a violent headache. I didn’t relate the headache to the hot chocolate, and by the next evening the headache went away. I made another cup of hot chocolate, and after about four or five sips the headache came back just as powerful as it was the night before. When I was able to, I researched every ingredient on the box, and found that Sodium Caseinate seemed to be the culprit – even though I had never heard of it before. I know many, many people who have reactions to MSG, and maybe we just don’t notify the government enough. No matter how many scientific studies they do, they are definitely missing something because too many people are missing too many days of productive life with unwanted elements that are put into our food supply. When you are sensitive to MSG the headaches are horrible and disabling.
X says
Eric, you go right ahead and eat MSG. I’m done going to the ER because of this stuff poisoning me. Hasn’t happened once since I started avoiding it.
andrew trainer says
Thanks for this information. I got exactly what I came to look for. A better awareness of how to avoid this stuff among so many safe names used to disguise it. Thanks.
Joni says
Thank you for the information very easy to understand. I found this site when I was trying to find out what the different names for MSG were. Just recently I found a article on what different effects MSG can have on a body and several things are things that I am experiencing like Restless leg syndrome, insomnia, fatigue, fibromygia just to name a few. So I have been trying to avoid foods with high MSG and its helped drastically this info from your site will make it easier to identify msg Thank you
Rachelle says
joni, in your laundry list of things that MSG causes, you didnt mention migrains! I get severe migraines from the stuff! lucky you if you dont, they are a killer!
Donna DeBrango says
When I was younger I was getting a weird rash, which was linked to MSG. It looked like triangles and squares, very wierd. I went MSG free and the rash has never come back. I am careful now.
Sandra baird says
I have fibromyalgia and just a little msg makes me hurt so.bad
Ishmael Yusuf says
Hi John,
One of the best articles on this topic I have ever read. Many people out there are suffering and they can’t seem to explain the cause of their symptoms. For example people who moved from African to America and are now eating foods that are alien to them. Your information here helps so many even though you may not see it apparent. Thank you very much for sharing such details.
MSG is now all too clear in my understanding.
Many thanks and shukrans,
Ishmael
Stephanie says
Having lived in a few African countries for a few years I discovered that you can buy MSG by the bag full in the grocery stores. So, Im assuming it is quite frequently used.
Sue says
You can buy it in the US on the spice aisle in the grocery store. It’s called Accent. Ingredient: Monosodium glutamate.
Rusty-Anne Goodworth says
Yes, it is, mostly in Asian countries. I used to use it in place.of salt, now I get very ill, am in extreme pain and swollen (like the marshmallow man in Ghost busters) for 10 days …bad stuff. I believe China has outlawed it a couple of years ago. It eventually causes heart attack.
kathleen stagney says
First, thank you for providing this information. It was a surprise to see that even ORGANIC foods can have MSG or derivatives. Please keep spreading the word about these toxins which SEEM to pervade our food. Is there any other source that will give information about the harmful additives (chemical or other ) ,commonly put in our foods ? Also, are there other sources for the lists of “safe names ” used for these toxins ? Thank you for your time and research. We need more education about this.
wil g. says
BBC did a documentary on ‘The Men Who made us Fat” which you can find on youtube. It was quite well done exposing how high fructose corn syrop has a hormone supressing side effect causing us to continue eating whether we want to or not. It would be interesting to know how similar hfcs is to msg chemically. It too is prevelant in a lot of the food we eat under different names.
Eric says
i take whey protein isolate and never have the same reaction when consuming monosodium glutamate. If fact I feel pretty good taking whey protein as opposed to MSG that makes me feel fatigued and sickly. Are you sure whey protein has MSG?
John Douillard says
Hi Eric,
Yes, MSG is commonly sneaked into whey protein formulas. There are brands out there without it though, so you may have found a good brand without it.
John
Con Artist says
I have been using Bodytech Whey Tech Pro 24 Vanilla & Chocolate….it tends to constipate me….I cannot take it every day. Tastes great and I add to smoothy with fruit and vegies. I have to take extra magnesium at bedtime when I take it I found to avoid constipation. Do you know anything about this product?
John Douillard says
Hi,
I have not used that product. If it constipates you, you might want to consider getting your protein from whole food sources or another protein powder. Taking magnesium to counteract the constipation can ultimately dry out the intestinal villi and create dependency.
Valerie says
If the villi fry out, then do we get more constipation? Thanks
Trudi Ahart says
I use a plant based protein powder called Epic. How do I know if this is a problem? Also, my natural path dr has me using L-Glutamine powder. daily…is this the same as what you are talking about to avoid?
LifeSpa Staff says
Hi Trudi, thanks for reaching out. Glutamic acid is not the same as glutamine but they can both convert into each other. Glutamine is a naturally occurring amino acid and critical for optimal health particularly the health of the muscles and skin thus used to support healthy intestinal skin as a supplement. Too much glutamine can convert in too much glutamic acid which can convert in glutamates or MSG which as a flavor enhancer acts as as a neural stimulant. Many folks as a result of a weakened intestinal barrier become over sensitive to glutamates.
William Poe says
besides all of the stuff mentioned here in the article and the comments; I have lymph-edema and MSG will kill me as is retain fluids so bad that my chest and abdomen fill up so bad that I cant breath. I have to hospital and recieve a catheter and several injections of Lasex.
Lori says
What brand do you use ?
sara says
As a vegan, protein powders and soy products are part ofmy daily life. Do you mean to tell me that any product containing “soy protein isolate” and/or “yeast” contains MSG? I just searched through most of my food products at home and these products are in everything; if hidden labels are disguising toxicity then how is it possible to avoid Msg without eating a strict WFPB diet?
Laurie says
You answered your own question! Eating a WFPB diet (essentially nothing with a label), and you get all the goodness with far less toxicity.