Normally, eating or consuming MSG from everyday food does not have any negative or serious health effects, and does not cause hair loss or baldness as many people believe. This is because MSG is a type of sodium. When it enters the body, it is no different from consuming salt.
But sometimes and in some people, consuming too much MSG can have adverse health effects, as follows:
Causes MSG Syndrome
MSG syndrome is a condition in which the body is hypersensitive to MSG. It can occur when the body ingests more than 3 grams of MSG per serving and results in headaches, facial tightness, flushing, numbness in the face and neck, rapid heartbeat, drowsiness, chest pain, and nausea.
These symptoms are usually mild, temporary, self-limiting, harmless, and do not require treatment. However, be careful not to consume too much MSG, as scientists have not yet found clear information about how MSG causes these symptoms.
May increase the risk of high blood pressure
High blood pressure is a chronic health problem that can lead to a number of other chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
One study tested the effects of MSG on blood pressure levels in 1,227 men and women. It found that some participants had higher blood pressure after receiving MSG, especially women and people taking blood pressure medications. However, the study used a dose of MSG that was significantly higher than the average person would consume in their daily life. http://ufabet999.app Much more scientific research is needed to understand this issue.
Although studies on MSG and hypertension are limited, caution is advised, as MSG is a type of sodium, and scientific evidence suggests that consuming sodium supplements may increase the risk of hypertension.
In addition, some studies have found that consuming too much MSG may contribute to asthma, brain injuries, and other health problems, but the effects are not yet confirmed.
How to avoid the effects of eating a lot of MSG
To reduce the risk of health problems that may arise from consuming too much MSG, you may want to try the following:
- Limit the amount of MSG to the lowest possible amount, especially when cooking spicy food that often requires a lot of salt or fish sauce. Adding MSG will increase the body’s sodium intake.
- Reduce other types of sodium, such as salt and fish sauce, and reduce the amount of dipping sauce used with food.
- Try cooking with ingredients that naturally contain MSG, such as tomatoes, mushrooms, and cheese, which can add richness to your food and also benefit from the nutrients in the ingredients.
- Avoid adding MSG when cooking for children, as there is evidence that MSG may trigger asthma symptoms and affect children’s growth.
- Choose foods that specify that they do not contain MSG, or tell the restaurant that you do not want MSG in your food.
- Use spices to enhance flavor instead of MSG.
- Eat foods that are lightly or not cooked at all to reduce your sodium intake.
- Avoid and limit ready-to-eat and processed foods such as instant noodles, sausages, ham, bacon, canned foods, and snacks because these types of foods are high in MSG and sodium.
Although consuming large amounts of MSG occasionally does not cause serious harm, caution should be exercised, especially for those who have a history of MSG sensitivity or are at risk of high blood pressure. If you experience any abnormal symptoms after consuming MSG and your symptoms do not improve or become more severe, you should see a doctor for proper examination.