Is MSG Good for You?

Bad,

why is it considered beneficial to health? Because it can promote appetite, thereby enhancing the absorption of nutrients in the human body and improving immunity.MSG contains a large amount of glutamic acid, which is an amino acid required by the human body,

However, MSG should not be added at high temperatures; its sodium glutamate will form pyroglutamates, which are carcinogenic. Moreover, consuming too much MSG is also not good. When MSG intake exceeds a certain amount, this inhibitory neurotransmitter can cause various neurological functions to be suppressed in the human body, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, and muscle spasms;Some people may experience irritability, palpitations, and restlessness;People with more sensitive constitutions might even feel bone pain and muscle weakness. Additionally, excessive inhibitory neurotransmitters can also inhibit the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone by the hypothalamus, hindering skeletal development, especially in children.

Eating too much MSG often makes people feel thirsty because MSG contains sodium; over-consumption can lead to high blood pressure. People over 60 are particularly sensitive to sodium intake, so elderly individuals and those with hypertension, kidney disease, or edema should especially reduce their consumption of MSG. When MSG is consumed in excess beyond the body's metabolic capacity, it can cause an increase in blood glutamate levels, limiting the utilization of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and copper by the human body.

Especially, glutamate can bind with zinc in the blood to form non-utilizable zinc glutamate which is excreted from the body, leading to zinc deficiency. Zinc is an important nutrient for physical development and intelligence of infants and young children. Therefore, infants and children as well as mothers who are breastfeeding should avoid or limit their consumption of MSG. Additionally, Japanese researchers believe that long-term overconsumption of MSG may lead to thinning of the retina, vision decline, and even blindness. Furthermore, Japanese researchers suggest that excessive long-term consumption of monosodium glutamate (MSG) may lead to thinning of the retina, vision deterioration, and even blindness.