MSG Allergy and Monosodium Glutamate Sensitivity

MSG allergy is the reaction to food additive monosodium glutamate that is extensively used in many kinds of food. The MSG allergy include pain in abdomen, skin rashes and severe nausea. In certain severe MSG allergies one can even experience difficultly in breathing and also anaphylactic shock.

Monosodium glutamate actually is the flavor enhancer used in Asian cuisines. It is a white crystalline substance resembles sugar and salt. MSG does not have any distinct taste but it stimulates the taste buds to make our taste better for the food we are going to intake. Certain foods like Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Hydrolyzed Plant Protein, Textured Protein (Including TVP) are certain foods that definitely contain MSG. Sometimes in the list of ingredients it is mentioned under other name. So if you are allergic to MSG then do read the list properly before buying or consuming anything.

MSG Allergy

As per FDA there are many different MSG allergy symptoms like numbness, burning sensation, tingling, chest pain, headache, nausea, rapid heartbeat, drowsiness, weakness and difficulty in breathing.

Another one that is no so prominent but have been found is the obesity. Studies conducted on animals have shown that blood vessels constricts with the consumption of MSG. It acts as a calcium channel opener and increases the appetite by acting on hypothalamus. The free glutamic acid in MSG acts on pancreases that in turn produces insulin. Insulin further guards your body cell to digest and absorb excess of sugar. Under normal circumstances the excess of body sugar will trigger this action to get itself absorbed. But MSG starts this even when there is no extra sugar in the body. The cells will digest the present sugar making you hungry. In this way your food intake will increase leading to obesity.

With intake of MSG skin allergies like rashes, mouth lesions, numbness, tingling of the skin, dryness of the mouth, tongue and face swelling have been noticed.

Chest pain, tightness in chest, shortness of breath and asthma have been noticed in the list of MSG allergies.

Mood swings, headache of migraine, mental confusion, hyperactivity, sleepiness, insomnia are some neurological MSG allergies.

In cardiac MSG allergies atrial fibrillation, rapid heartbeat, slow heartbeat, fluctuations in blood pressure have been witnessed.

Nausea, vomiting, cramps in stomach, bloating and rectal bleeding are the gastrointestinal MSG allergies.

Monosodium glutamate sensitivity and MSG allergy symptom vary in severeness and type from person to person. In case of any mild or severe MSG allergy consult your doctor so that it can be studied in detail whether these symptoms are because of the MSG or not.