Think Your Avoiding MSG? Know All Their AKAs
By Dr. Michelle Lim, D.C.
As a Filipino American, I sure do love my Sinigang*. However, it’s impossible to make this delicious soup without Mono Sodium Glutamate, or commonly known as MSG.
Sinigang is made with the tasty additive, MSG
Talking to one of my patients today made me realize that the general public might not know that they’re ingesting MSG, even if they’re consciously trying to avoid it. After being told that the popular Filipino soup contains this neurotoxin, my patient’s response was: “Well the tamarind packet doesn’t say it has MSG.” So this inspired me to write about MSG and its lesser known synonyms. This wolf hidden in sheep’s clothing can go by:
Acid hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Acid-hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Autolyzed Yeast
Hydrolyzed corn protein
HVP
hydrolyzed casein
hydrolyzed collagen
hydrolyzed collagen protein
hydrolyzed corn
hydrolyzed corn cereal solids
hydrolyzed corn gluten
hydrolyzed corn gluten protein
hydrolyzed corn protein
hydrolyzed corn soy wheat gluten protein
hydrolyzed corn/soy/wheat protein
hydrolyzed cornstarch
hydrolyzed gelatin
hydrolyzed milk protein
hydrolyzed oat flour
Hydrolyzed Plant Protein
Hydrolyzed Protein
hydrolyzed soy
hydrolyzed soy protein
hydrolyzed soy wheat gluten protein
hydrolyzed soy/corn protein
hydrolyzed soy/corn/wheat protein
hydrolyzed soy/wheat gluten protein
hydrolyzed soya protein
hydrolyzed soybean protein
hydrolyzed torula and brewers yeast protein
hydrolyzed vegetable protein
hydrolyzed vegetable protein powder
hydrolyzed wheat
hydrolyzed wheat gluten
hydrolyzed wheat gluten protein
hydrolyzed wheat protein
hydrolyzed whey and casein protein
hydrolyzed whey peptides
hydrolyzed whey protein
hydrolyzed whey protein concentrate
hydrolyzed whey protein isolate
hydrolyzed yeast
hydrolyzed yeast protein
MSG
partially hydrolyzed beef stock
partially hydrolyzed casein
partially hydrolyzed guar gum
partially hydrolyzed soybean
partially hydrolyzed soybean oil
partially hydrolyzed whey protein
Plant Protein Extract
Textured Protein
Yeast Extract
So don’t be fooled. This widely used food enhancer may hold its reputation in Chinese food, but it’s more common than you think.
These ingredients often contain MSG or create MSG during processing:
Flavors and Flavorings, Natural Chicken Flavoring, Natural Pork Flavoring, Natural Beef Flavoring, Broth, Stock, Soy Sauce, Malt Extract, Maltodextrin, Corn Starch, Citric Acid, Powdered Milk and anything Protein Fortified just to name a few.
MSG is a neurotoxin, or excitotoxin, meaning that this chemical causes brain cells to become overexcited and fire uncontrollably, leading to cell death. It has potential for inflicting permanent damage to the brain and nervous system. These chemicals also cross the placental barrier, harming the brains of unborn children.
The FDA admits that “short-term reactions” known as the MSG Symptom Complex can occur in certain groups of people, namely those who have eaten “large doses” of MSG or those who have asthma. Adverse side effects include:
Numbness
Burning sensation
Tingling
Facial pressure or tightness
Chest pain or difficulty breathing
Headache
Nausea
Rapid heartbeat
Drowsiness
Weakness
MSG has also been linked to headaches, migraines, obesity, fatigue, depression, disorientation, heart palpitations and tremors which can be fatal.
According to Dr. Mercola, sticking to a whole fresh foods diet can pretty much guarantee avoiding this toxin.
*Sinigang: A Filipino soup made with Tamarind broth. It’s salty and mostly sour in taste, with meat (fish, chicken, beef or pork) and vegetables (usually bok choy, okra, carrots and/or potatoes).
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