Ajinomoto E621 - Monosodium glutamate is bad for your health?

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Per Kevin

For those unfamiliar, aji no moto [味の素] literally means flavor essence. This company is famous for selling Monosodium Glutamate (E621) and related products responsible for the umami taste. Is this product bad for health?

MSG is intended to enhance the flavor of food Monosodium glutamate [E621] (ajinomoto) enhances the flavor of food and is often found in Japanese and Chinese cuisine, as well as processed products.

Several controversies involving monosodium glutamate appear on the internet. So many are undecided on whether or not it is advisable to use it in food. In this article, we are going to answer if Ajinomoto and monosodium glutamate derivatives are really harmful to health. 

How is Ajinomoto made? MSG?

Aji no moto is produced from a food fermentation process. Products such as fish, dairy products, tomatoes, mushrooms, meats and vegetables are rich in glutamate and umami flavor.

We use these foods daily in our food, thus giving flavor and taste to our meal. “Ajinomoto”, available in 30 countries, claims to be an amino acid made from “sugar cane”, but there may be differences and variations in some countries.

Monosodium glutamate is often used in restaurants and fast food to add flavor, which is why we find the snacks in these places so delicious. Just imagine how juicy a roast beef is, it gets much juicier when using E621 (code for monosodium glutamate), because this ingredient strengthens the flavor of the food.

The great problem is that some people associate monosodium glutamate with migraines, allergies, high blood pressure, and other diseases. Let's find out if this is true?

Ajinomoto - is monosodium glutamate bad for health?

Monosodium Glutamate Doesn't Hurt

First we must remember that everything in excess is harmful, even water. Not to mention that monosodium glutamate, the name says it all, has sodium.

People use monosodium glutamate to enhance the flavor of food, but also exaggerate with salt, as ajinomoto is not for seasoning food. In fact, the use of monosodium glutamate can make our meal tastier and healthier, if used correctly.

Ajinomoto has only a third of the sodium that is present in conventional table salt. If we balance the seasoning with salt, we can reduce the sodium present in the food.

Have you ever eaten in Japan? The Japanese don't usually season their food with a lot of salt, you won't really taste the salty food and you won't easily find sachets of salt in restaurants.

The Japanese season it with different types of condiments and herbs, and foods rich in umami or ajinomoto help to increase the flavor of this seasoning, making the food delicious without the exaggeration of salt that we have in our Brazilian cuisine.

If MSG really did harm, Japan would never be one of the countries with the highest life expectancy in the world. The controversial monosodium glutamate is a process that occurs naturally in tomatoes, cheeses and mushrooms.

Most Brazilians consume tomatoes every day, and they have never stopped using salt just because it has sodium. Of course we live in Brazil, so we don't know how the industries are really supervised here, after so many controversies regarding meat, it wouldn't be surprising if ajinomoto had some ingredient mixed in and with negative effects.

Ajinomoto - is monosodium glutamate bad for health?

Lies spread on the Internet about ajinomoto

Every controversy on the internet started only because of an article published in 2007 by the BJP. The article states that Monosodium Glutamate causes colon and gastric cancer. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove this.

The article also says that monosodium glutamate causes headaches, but what does that have to do with cancer? The fake article also says that monosodium glutamate has been banned by the world health organization, which is totally false.

In fact, the WHO has stated that MSG is in the safe category for food additives. You must know how lies appear on the internet and become widespread in our society. These lies are so widespread that even today there are people who think that Hello Kitty made a pact with a devil.

Remember that it is much easier for people to share bad news than good news. Probably if this article had been badmouthing ajinomoto, most would have already shared it on their social networks.

I'm afraid people won't share this article because I'm defending it, and that's not relevant for those who don't know. Many want to warn people of the danger of things, but end up spreading things that may not be true.

Of course, it is natural for a person to have an adverse reaction to this food, most Westerners have no idea of the existence of the umami taste. The food here is not usually rich in this flavor, so much so that when many people try oriental cuisine, they end up feeling sick or not liking it.

What is not bad for some, may be bad for others. Especially if it's excessive. E621 is really addictive, there are people who even eat pure aji salt.

Ajinomoto - is monosodium glutamate bad for health?

Other truths and lies about ajinomoto

Too much ajinomoto (several scoops) can actually cause side effects like dizziness and headaches. Just as we get sick from eating too much, we can get sick from eating too much ajinomoto.

Remember that ajinomoto enhances the flavor of food, if something is already strong without monosodium glutamate, imagine with it? The fact is: Take control, but don't blame MSG.

Some claim that the E621 neurons. Where do people get these crazy ideas? Is it not the Japanese who are reputed to be the smartest people in the world?

The Japanese have never had an epidemic of brain damage. We know that vitamin C protects our neurons against negative effects, so if you are afraid, just enrich yourself with vitamin C.

Several studies and tests have been carried out regarding Chinese Restaurant Syndrome and MSG which indicate that they are unrelated. Tests showed people who did not consume MSG complaining of symptoms of Chinese Restaurant Syndrome.

People stop using ajinomoto but forget the following fact: Most food proteins contain glutamate and are broken down by endopeptidases in the stomach and small intestine so that free glutamate is released. The same thing happens with monosodium glutamate that becomes free glutamate in your stomach.

Ajinomoto - is monosodium glutamate bad for health?

Should I use Monosodium Glutamate or not?

Therefore, just use ajinomoto in moderation and you won't have any health problems. In fact, there are so many things we eat that are thousands of times more concerning than Monosodium Glutamate.

Unfortunately, we cannot escape this generation of industrialized products or products full of pesticides and even poorly preserved, expired and full of chemicals that industries invent.

Everything today kills, so don't waste your time worrying! Even the plastic bottles of mineral waters release bisphenol. There's no way I can run away from cancer and death that is everywhere today!

So far all the research that talks about glutamate says that its toxicity is very low. It is necessary to consume something around 15 kilos to present 50% of lethality. Symptoms​ spread over the internet are found in only 1% of the population studied.

You can eat it if you don't have reactions! It doesn't matter if Glutamate is natural, remember that sugars are also natural, but still cause diabetes. Be in control! Always seek umami naturally!

And if you feel something and you're sure it was ajinomoto's responsibility, avoid him! Each person has a different organism, even more if you lack certain vitamins that protect your body. There are people who feel sick eating peppers, eggs, pork, it is not unusual for someone to feel sick after consuming glutamate.

We are not here saying that ajinomoto is harmless and can be consumed freely. Only that the studies related to the side effects of Monosodium Glutamate are a little misguided. Everything needs control! Have you ever had a problem with this amino acid? Do you use it in food? What is your experience?

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