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Hidden MSG Ingredients: 90 You Should Avoid

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You’ve seen the signs and labels stating “No MSG” at your favorite take out place or on food in the grocery store aisles, but that warning doesn’t mean exactly what you think it does. Here are hidden MSG ingredients you need to avoid.

The FDA does not require manufacturers to label these foods MSG unless the “added ingredient” is 99% pure MSG. -Dr. John Douillard DC

This means you can still be consuming MSG even if it’s not labeled as containing it. In addition, if pure Monosodium Glutamate wasn’t added, the label can still claim “No MSG.” How is this possible? Well, MSG is in over 40 FDA approved ingredients and I’ve found even more that commonly contain MSG. It’s genuinely regarded as safe (GRAS), but that doesn’t mean it’s been proven to do no harm.

What is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)?

Most people know to avoid MSG, but not everyone knows what the additive is. Monosodium Glutamate is a flavor enhancer and a non-essential amino acid. This means our bodies produce glutamic acid, so it is not essential to our diet. Although, glutamic acid is found in the human body, among living organisms, it is not the same as MSG. When MSG is produced it is accompanied with impurities in the form of by-products. You will not find MSG in naturally occurring whole foods, like fruits.

Why is MSG dangerous?

MSG is an excitotoxin which overstimulates our nervous system. In animal studies MSG was shown to damage the neurons in the brain of mice. High levels of excitotoxins have been linked to brain tumours, diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, brain damage, learning disorders and behavioral problems. In addition to these serious health risks, Dr. Russel Blaylock, neurosurgeon and author of Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, says:

Excitotoxins have been found to dramatically promote cancer growth and metastasis… [MSG] also causes a cancer cell to become more mobile, and that enhances metastasis, or spread. When you increase the glutamate level, cancer just grows like wildfire….

There are short term consequences from consuming MSG as well. Even if the affects aren’t apparent immediately, sensitivity can build up in our bodies.  Those who are sensitive to MSG reported symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, cold sweats, irritability, heart palpitations, and even an asthma attack. Just as MSG tricks your brain into believing food has more flavor, it also fools you into thinking you’re still hungry. This encourages overeating because your brain essentially doesn’t get the message that you’re full.

What to look for on the label:

The E indicates a known excitotoxin, but this portion may not appear on the label.

Always indicates MSG

  • Calcium Glutamate (E 623)
  • Glutamate (E 620)
  • Glutamic Acid (E 620)
  • Magnesium Diglutamate E625
  • Magnesium Glutamate (E 625)
  • Monoammonium Glutamate (E 624)
  • Monopotassium Glutamate (E 622)
  • Monosodium Glutamate (E 621)
  • Ajinomoto
  • Anything autolyzed (though the word may be omitted)
    • Autolyzed Yeast
    • Autolyzed Plant Protein
    • Autolyzed Yeast Extract
  • Calcium Caseinate
  • Gelatin
  • Anything hydrolyzed (though the word may be omitted)
    • Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
    • Hydrolyzed Whey Protein
    • Hydrolyzed Corn Gluten
    • Hydrolyzed Vegetable Broth
    • Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
    • Hydrolyzed Corn Protein Concentrate
    • Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Concentrate
  • Natrium Glutamate
  • Anything protein
    • Pectin Soy Protein
    • Plant Protein
    • Soy Protein
    • Soy Protein Concentrate
    • Soy Protein Isolate
    • Textured Protein
    • Textured Vegetable Protein
    • Whey Protein
    • Whey Protein Isolate
    • Whey Protein Protease
  • Sodium Caseinate
  • Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
  • Umami
  • Vetsin
  • Xanthum Gum E415
  • Yeast Extract
  • Yeast Food
  • Yeast Nutrient

May indicate MSG

  • Barley malt
  • Bouillon
  • Brewer’s yeast
  • Broth
  • Carrageenan (E 407)
  • Citric Acid, Citrate (E 330)
  • Anything containing enzymes
    • Protease Enzymes
  • Anything enzyme modified
  • Anything fermented
  • Any flavors or flavoring
    • Natural Beef Flavoring
    • Natural Chicken Flavoring
    • Natural Flavor(s)
    • Natural Flavoring(s)
    • Natural Pork Flavoring
  • Malted Barley
  • Malt Extract
  • Maltodextrin
  • Nutritional Yeast
  • Oligodextrin
  • Pectin (E 440)
  • Protease
  • Anything protein fortified
  • Seasonings 
  • Soy Sauce
  • Soy Sauce Extract
  • Stock
  • Torula Yeast
  • Anything ultra-pasteurized
  • Whey Protein Concentrate

Suspected indication of MSG or processed free glutamic acid

  • Brown Rice Syrup
  • Corn Starch
  • Corn Syrup
  • Dextrose
  • Anything labeled Enriched
  • Modified Food Starch
  • Lipolyzed Butter Fat
  • Most things labeled Low Fat or No Fat
  • Milk Powder
  • Reduced Fat Milk (skim; 1%; 2%)
  • Rice Syrup
  • Spice(s)
  • Anything labeled Vitamin Enriched

Additives that are only used in conjunction with MSG

  • Disodium 5’-guanylate (E 627) or Disodium Guanylate E627
  • Disodium 5’-inosinate (E-631) or Disodium Inosinate E631
  • Disodium 5′-ribonucleotides (E 635)

How to Avoid MSG

It can seem overwhelming to search packaging labels for some of these hidden ingredients. the good news is, there is no MSG in unprocessed whole foods. If you cook your meals at home from scratch, you can monitor the contents and seasoning to ensure you aren’t eating hidden MSG ingredients.

sources:

http://saynotomsg.com/basics_list.php
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html
http://www.drrisley.com/html/excitotoxins.html[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

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