What will happen if you eat too much MSG?

We often hear people say that we should eat less MSG and that MSG is harmful to the body, but in fact, eating MSG properly is good for the body, and only when the amount of MSG ingested exceeds the maximum limit, it will have adverse effects on the human body. We can see what kind of adverse health effects MSG can have when you eat too much of it.

Causes thirst

MSG can make you feel thirsty when you eat too much MSG. This is because MSG contains 12% sodium, and once you eat too much MSG, the intake of sodium ions will increase accordingly, which is the same as the salt we usually eat, and you will feel thirsty when you eat too much.

Affect the absorption of minerals

Increased levels of glutamate in the blood can limit the body's use of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium and copper. In particular, glutamate can combine with zinc in the blood to produce zinc glutamate that cannot be utilized and is excreted, leading to zinc deficiency in the body.

Damage to eyesight

Excessive intake of MSG is a vision killer and can lead to a decrease in protein and uncontrolled growth of the eye axis. MSG also reduces taurine in the body, affecting retinal development and even producing temporary blurred vision in some people after consuming MSG.

Suppresses nervous system function

The main component of MSG is monosodium glutamate, which is broken down during digestion to produce glutamate, which is catalyzed by enzymes in brain tissue and can be converted into an inhibitory neurotransmitter. When the amount of this neurotransmitter in the body reaches a certain level, a series of symptoms such as dizziness, headache, drowsiness and muscle cramps will occur. Some people may also experience agitation and panic, and some people with more sensitive constitutions may even feel sore bones and muscle weakness.

Affects the growth and development of young children

Monosodium glutamate affects the body's absorption of zinc, which is an important nutrient for the physical and intellectual development of infants and young children, so be careful with MSG for children under three years old. In addition, the inhibitory neurotransmitters produced during the metabolism of monosodium glutamate inhibit the secretion of thyrotropin-releasing hormone and parathyroid hormone-releasing hormone by the hypothalamus. Parathyroid hormone is the most important hormone used to regulate blood calcium and phosphorus, which reduces calcium loss from urine and promotes intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus. If there is insufficient secretion, calcium and phosphorus will be lost in large amounts and the growth and development of bones in young children will be impaired.

Who should eat less MSG

The World Health Organization has set an MSG intake of 120 mg/kg per person per day for adults. In other words, a 50 kg adult can consume a maximum of 6 grams of MSG per day. People over the age of 60 are particularly sensitive to sodium intake, so the elderly and those with hypertension, kidney disease, edema and other diseases should especially eat less MSG. Young children under the age of three should eat MSG with caution; lactating women and pregnant women are advised to eat less MSG.

How to eat too much MSG

Occasionally eat a lot of MSG food is no big deal, you can drink more water, dilute the concentration of MSG in the body, but also to increase urine, accelerate MSG excretion. If you still have nausea, vomiting feeling, you can eat some fruits and vegetables or yogurt to press a pressure. If the nausea and vomiting is serious, it should be considered a gastrointestinal disease and needs medical attention.