Have you ever heard of monosodium glutamate? Find out why you should avoid this component

Monosodium glutamate, also known by the acronym MSG, is an additive that enhances the flavor of food. Its consumption is dangerous because, in addition to affecting our health, it tricks the mind, generating the feeling of wanting more of that particular food.

The ingredient was discovered by scholars in an experiment carried out in 1908 and drew attention for its ability to add more flavor. It is natural and is present in items such as tomatoes, mushrooms and some types of meat. But, with the studies, they managed to isolate glutamate, which became part of practically all industrialized products and ended up turning into a poison for the body. You know that snack you can’t stop eating until you see the end of the package? It certainly has monosodium glutamate in its composition.

This happens because all people have receptors on the tongue called taste buds, which, in contact with the food consumed, identify chemical molecules and send a signal to the brain, which gives the sensation of pleasure and taste. Here’s why to avoid it:

4 reasons to avoid monosodium glutamate

1. Decreases satiety: with monosodium glutamate enhancing flavor, any food it’s placed in will taste good. And not because it is tasty, but because it is a chemical substance that will trick your brain, making you lose the feeling of satiety and want to eat more and more.

2. It generates psychological damage: in addition, its consumption generates euphoria, tachycardia and can be associated with the development of more serious health problems such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It can also cause addiction.

3. Sabotages the diet: a common example that happens to many people is the attempt to go on diets, without ever achieving a satisfactory result, since they are eating without knowing that there is the substance embedded in some items. Thus, he ends up eating more and more, even if they are considered healthy foods, and he is unable to lose weight.

4. It causes migraine: Studies have already proven that, among the problems caused to the brain, is migraine, which tends to increase among people who consume large amounts of monosodium glutamate on a daily basis.

If you fit into any of these cases or want to improve your health, the tip is to reduce the consumption of foods that have monosodium glutamate in their composition. For this, when buying any industrialized product, read the ingredients – not just the nutritional table.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.