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Home » Food and drink » Reader Submission: 'Monosodium Glutamate (Ve-Tsin or E621) Not Unhealthy'
A while back I watched a video on Facebook that I thought would be interesting to share it here. Especially since MSG is also used a lot in food preparation in Thailand and many people believe that it is bad for your health.
It concerns MSG (MonoSodiumGlutamate) or known in the Netherlands as Vetsin. It's a flavor enhancer.
After many tests, it has been scientifically proven to be safe to use, especially with a low-salt diet. In fact, it reads like a good salt substitute.
www.asian-ingredienten.nl/ve-tsin/ and below an interesting video about it.
Of course you will also find enough videos on YouTube that claim the opposite, but these are often not videos based on proven facts.
So if you don't want to eat Thai food for that reason, maybe this will help you to enjoy this cuisine.
Submitted by Jack S.
– Reposted message –
I myself also think that it is not too bad with the dangers of MSG, although I would limit it just like eating a lot of salt and sugar. This is what scientists say:
Side effects of sodium glutamate
Past studies describe that asthmatic individuals could experience asthma attacks after consuming sodium glutamate in food. As a result, studies were conducted to establish the link between sodium glutamate and asthma, and to investigate the toxic effects of this compound. However, no scientific evidence for this claim could be recorded. In these studies, people with asthma showed the same response to sodium glutamate-rich foods as to placebos.
Similar studies were conducted with people who reported experiencing headaches, dizziness or other subjective symptoms from consumption of the flavor enhancer. Often the complaints could be explained by the increase in sodium content and too little moisture. Again, no scientific link between the substance and the symptoms could be demonstrated.
A summary of the various studies on the effects of sodium glutamate on health was published in 2000. The final conclusion of this review was that due to the lack of scientific evidence of harmful effects, the substance could be considered a safe food additive. Only when the pure substance was ingested in large quantities, subjective symptoms were observed in people who considered themselves to be hypersensitive to this substance.
In general, it can be concluded that the intake of glutamate is safe. A good ingredient declaration allows people to choose whether they want to consume it or not.
Source: Food-Info.net an initiative of Wageningen University, The Netherlands
I was asthmatic in my youth and - when I eat Vetsin - I suffer from a shortness of breath that I haven't had in about 50 years. I don't need scientific proof to determine that I can't stand it.
My heart is apparently not aware of all those scientific studies that can never prove connections. My palpitations always worsen after eating E621.
What AsiaMananiac says may very well be due to MSG, this "palpitations" phenomenon is common when large amounts are added to the food. Some Thai put in too much and those who are somewhat sensitive to it sometimes experience palpitations at rest, eg in bed at night.
When consuming dishes where MSG is used as a flavor enhancer, my Thai wife always has swollen eyelids every other day.
However, I don't know about the amount of MSG used in those dishes.
I myself am not bothered by that.
It could therefore indeed indicate that some people, regardless of race and/or gender, may be hypersensitive to it.
My wife has a swollen upper lip Patrick.
A few years ago on Flemish TV (and seen it myself): people, who THOUGHT it contained MSG, reacted exactly as if they were allergic to it. With products that DO contain it, but at high and low this was denied, all those phenomena did NOT occur.
In other words: at least with these subjects: 100% psychological.
But that some could indeed respond to this… of course! Own tests - but blindly - on your own body overrule everything.
By the way: you will also die from an excess of water.
In itself, monosodium glutomate is not harmful to health. However, one is more sensitive to some side effects than the other.
But the problem is the dosage of this drug. I have been amazed at the amount that is added to a portion of food in some restaurants in Thailand. But I also know restaurants in the Netherlands that add this substance very generously.
My blood pressure increases by 3 points in 2 weeks. From 14/9 to 17/10 ! And a dry mouth all night long. It's a filth.
You say: “Of course you will also find enough videos on YouTube that claim the opposite, but these are often not videos based on proven facts.” But the video you add yourself does not seem to me to be entirely based on scientific research.
The video shows enough that, just like with everything, too much is not good. There they inject mice with an overdose, which of course causes reactions. Sugar, salt, pepper, chili and whatnot, is also harmful to health. He put one teaspoon in his dish that he let his housemates taste.
There was also talk about the origin of this disapproval of MSG. Numerous myths have been created in such ways, which are taken for granted by large segments of the population. It is not based on facts.
What does alcohol do to your brain? Or cigarettes with your lungs? In contrast, vetsin is more harmless than sugar. Only in my non-scientific opinion it probably has such a good effect that many people think there must be something wrong with it. It's never bothered me and if it improves the taste of something and I can add less salt or sugar, I'll gladly use it.
Nice story Sjaak but I'm coughing like hell from this stuff and so avoid it as much as possible.
During my stay in Thailand for the past 6 months I had severe asthma attacks after eating meals with added fats… so never again. And why… with a well-prepared meal without fat, you absolutely cannot taste the difference with the same meal with version.
Adri
I also have those heart palpitations and a rushed feeling, for many years now when I went to eat or pick up at the Chinese or Indonesian restaurant.
Heart rhythm disturbances also followed in my case after eating food prepared with MSG. Perhaps not scientifically demonstrable, but for me the connection was a “one to one correlation”.
Just because you don't get sick or get side effects from it doesn't mean it's healthy.
It is chemical, synthetic, so for your body it is poison.
So anything chemical or synthetic is that bad anyway? Then you never take any medicine?
Silly comment, you take that medicine because you need it. You don't need vetsin and a good cook doesn't need it either. It's just used for convenience, throw in some vetsin and it tastes better anyway 🙂
from many sources and from some personal experience I know that the product is not well suited for everyone. That says enough, doesn't it?
Dear readers,
A few years ago I read the book De Zoete Wraak by Drs. John Consemulder (including neuropsychologist & bio/consciousness scientist & research journalist). Because of this I have a different opinion than most people who have a positive opinion about it. Given the true face of the pharmaceutical and food industry and manipulated governments (revolving door politics - they are the ones responsible for the control and safety of our food laws). MSG, also known as sodium glutamate, has been shown to be neurotoxic and carcinogenic in many research reports. My common sense therefore tells me to avoid this substance like the plague. Under the guise of I don't need it and prevention is better than cure. I haven't had a migraine for several years now and why would that be? In the meantime I have qualified as a Healh and Wellness Coach and during the course I followed it became clear to me once again that these synthetic substances go right through the blood/brain barrier with all the adverse consequences that entails. Do your own research and I wish you luck with your choice.
http://www.healingsoundmovement.com/news/125/nieuwe-boek-de-zoete-wraak-aspartaam-en-de-farmaceutische-en-voedingsindustrie-nu-via-ons-ver.html
Yes completely true and very good explanation. MSG 621 and many others with Euro numbers, in the 620 series are, “Neuro Toxins*”. Even the Japanese who marketed this for WW2 admit that this* is so. A warned person …….etc.
My own experience is for me something that has not been proven, and where the opposite has not been proven either.
The large dosage can be explained by the fact that less of the more expensive salt needs to be added for a heartier taste.
And in large quantities it will taste sweet (I've heard). This also makes it a cheap sugar substitute.
As long as it's clear it's in there, I can avoid it. But it does seem to be being put into more and more products.
It gives me stomach ache. I always ask that that be omitted and then they do.
Good quality meat does not need a flavor enhancer, taking good care of your product and baking it correctly or whatever way you want to cook it.
harmen, Chef Majorca.
Small addition, restaurant Paparazzi, and restaurant Rancho el patio…Mallorca.
MSG is now in almost all products in the supermarket. Often other names are used to mask the bad name. Like natural flavors.
Why put things in food that don't belong there? In this case because it makes it tastier. So you will also eat more. And Unilever will benefit from it. So it is a myth that it is only in Asian food.
People in Asia love MSG, it is in many (most) dishes.
Some years ago I started having an allergic reaction; undergo some investigations.
MSG was not named as a culprit after those studies.
The problem remained: sensitive skin, itching, rash. Creams, ointments, lotions, everything had and lubricated.
Since then I've been checking labels even more closely about ingredients in the food, asking restaurants if anything contains MSG. Now that I consciously pay attention to that and avoid MSG, I have not had sensitive skin, itching and rashes since that time.
MSG in phonetic Thai: Pungsherot.
For some people, too much MSG can cause (violent) reactions. A long time ago a warning (no idea if it was also a law?) was issued to Chinese restaurants in the Netherlands to be cautious. Heart palpitations, shortness of breath, high blood pressure and things like that were uncommon at the time. But the stupid thing is, this remarkable stuff, monosodium glutomate, has no more effect on the taste the more you use it. In fact, a little bit is always enough in a dish, no matter how much is in your wok.
My memory is not so sharp anymore, but I think the powder makes the papillae on the tongue more receptive. That already happens with just a trace of that connection. It is a kind of on/off switch and certainly not an adjustable volume knob. A little bit is always enough But that seems so strange to people that people tend to use more and more of it. But the possible reactions of the body do increase the more you consume.
If I eat Chinese or Thai in a restaurant I can't sleep the night.
My mother had the same symptoms.
Fortunately, my Thai wife does not use it, but her friends do.
I consciously do not eat.
If I do go to a restaurant 1 time, I know that afterwards I will get a huge thirst and lie awake all night.
Why use this mess, the food is already delicious without it, just pure nature!
When using MSG, I invariably experience a period of flat stools to severe diarrhea. Not a pinch of dosage, but the excess that people often use when preparing the dishes. The Asian cooking heroes also use it to camouflage doubtful products. A teaspoon of MSG is cheaper than throwing out questionable foods.
Quote: After many tests, it has been scientifically proven to be safe to use, especially with a low-salt diet. In fact, it reads like a good salt substitute.
Mono Sodium Glutamate
Sodium is English for Sodium.
And Sodium is also that stuff that is in salt - or rather, what salt consists of, among other things - that raises your blood pressure.
So it seems to me that it is not suitable for a low-salt diet.