There’s so much misinformation out there in the world today, regarding absolutely everything. If you look back in time 50 years or even a decade away, the way we look at healthy versus unhealthy has changed drastically. It’s happened with a number of different foods and ingredients, but none other than MSG has been treated the worst. MSG or monosodium glutamate is a chemical compound used to enhance the flavor of food. There is a lot of stigma about it, with many saying that it’s unhealthy, takes away your energy, and makes you gain weight. But this misinformation is, well, untrue. We did some research to find out more why this has been said about MSG and the truth about the ingredient is. Keep reading for more!
Here’s Why MSG Is Not Your Enemy, According to Science
By now, many people have discredited the fact that MSG is the villain they’ve made it out to be. According to FiveThirtyEight, when MSG was first discovered in the early 1900s, many learned it was absolutely delicious. What it does is increase the umami of a dish. Umami is the fifth taste (like sweet, sour, salty, and bitter). It is a richness that is full-bodied and savory. Like when you eat a mushroom or have meat. It is super delicious! A Japanese chemist named Kikunae Ikeda discovered it in tomatoes, broth, asparagus, and more! He turned that into the seasoning we love today. It is a white powder. There is truly nothing wrong with it.
The real villain here is actually xenophobia. Many falsely reported feeling fatigued, sick or poisoned after eating food from Chinese restaurants during the 1900s. These were false accusations that many in the United States had because of their hate-fueled hearts. MSG is recognized as safe according to FiveThirtyEight and the research they’ve done. Because of this learned behavior, many still think there is a connotation between this flavoring ingredient and the cuisines that are filled with umami. There is not! But again, because of the hate-fueled rhetoric in the United States, it has become an issue. Please take a moment to unlearn this and enjoy all of the delicious food the world has to offer. This is a naturally occurring flavor that the Earth’s harvest offers to us.
