How do we recognize the additive glutamate ? Monosodium glutamate, the additive “chameleon”
Additives are chemical ingredients often used in our food. They are grouped into various families: dyes, preservatives, antioxidants, emulsifiers, flavor enhancers etc… for a total of about 900 compounds. What unites them is the way in which they were encoded, i.e. an abbreviation composed of two components: the letter E (Europa identifier) and a numerical identification code. In the labels we can find the name of the substance, its code or both. The first of which I would like to reveal the identity is the E621 also called monosodium glutamate (MSG), one of the most common flavor enhancers of synthetic origin.
Do you know when you feel the irresistible “desire” to finish a packet of chips in a moment? What drives you crazy is precisely the E621, in fact it has the action of exciting the taste buds and making you want to eat foods that contain it! The fact that a packaged food tastes irresistible, however, does not mean that it is just as beneficial to our health.
It only causes real dependence and contributes greatly to the obesity epidemic we are currently witnessing.
Do you know what foods monosodium glutamate can be found in?
Generically in processed foods; it is present in basically products that I will give you just a few examples:
- Chips
- Soups in envelopes
- Frozen foods
- Ready meals
- Candy
- Creams to spread
But be ware: on the label we will not always find written E621 or its name in full. This additive can also be hidden under different names such as glutamic acid, glutamate, hydrogenated vegetable oils or fats, hydrogenated proteins, gelatin, sodium and calcium caseinates, yeast extract or added yeast. In particular, any type of natural or artificial aroma that is often contains monosodium glutamate. Most international scientific studies have defined its neurotoxicity, new research by Dr. Blaylock (eminent American neurosurgeon and nutritionist) of 2007 confirms this, and shows that this additive aggravates cancer by amplifying tumors.
Side effects are varied, including weight gain, nausea, arrhythmias, hyperactivity, rashes, swelling in the legs, and much more. Let me tell you a curiosity: since this additive is widely used in Asian and Indian countries, some American restaurants have recently started putting up signs in restaurants that say “NO MSG HERE” (here no monosodium glutamate), to attract informed customers.
Now that you have become aware of it do not worry if you have consumed this additive hundreds of times, with or without side effects, now you have had some more information, use it to say yes or no when shopping or before consuming a product that contains it, whether you are in the supermarket or at a friend’s house. It is important to identify and avoid it!
