What Is MSG?

MSG or monosodium glutamate is a popular food enhancer commonly used in Asian food (particularly Chinese) and is now added to thousands of processed foods.

MSG is the short form of Monosodium Glutamate. It is a salt of the amino acid named glutamic acid. When this salt is consumed the chemical processes inside the body converts it into glutamate. This substance is found in considerable quantities in foods containing high proteins content. This substance is extracted form vegetable sources and looks like coarse white salt. It is often used as a food enhancer particularly in Chinese dishes.

It is used for seasoning as well as bringing out the natural flavour of foods. But it has been seen that this substances can cause certain health problems such as migraine headaches and other symptoms like perspiration, tighness, pressure in the chest and face etc. these symptoms are found in people susceptible to MSG within a time period of thirty minutes which is the time that a body takes to absorb this substance.