Chinese food is the most popular form of fast food, especially among the youth. The complete flavor with the tang of the combination of sources is the go-to for many. Soft dumplings, with spicy and church chilly potatoes, with the sides of a range of noodles, could make anyone hungry.
Street food is not considered healthy as a whole, but the Chinese variety especially holds a bad reputation due to one of the ingredients, this ingredient is monosodium glutamate or MSG.
MSG is the umami flavor behind all the food that makes them so addictive and delicious. But it is said to cause. Many health issues such as bone damage, headache, weight gain, numbness, muscle tightness. Shortening and difficulty breathing, dizziness, weakness, and even loss of consciousness. This group of symptoms is called “Chinese restaurant syndrome,” later named “MSG symptom complex”
Origin story
This all started back in the 1960s when Dr. Robert Ho Man Kwok experienced sickness after indulging in Chinese food. On his self-analysis came to the conclusion that his illness was to be blamed on the ingredient of the food, specifically, alcohol, sodium salt, or MSG.
On this basis, he wrote a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine, warning people against the effects of MSD on mind and body. This created a racial bias against Chinese immigrants and food.
More research was set on this topic by different associations, and they all concluded the same result.
The result:
Many scientists and doctors did research on the effect of MSG on the human body for long term and short term, and they all concluded one thing.
The effects of MSG are different in every individual, just like for any other spices and food. Everyone has a different spice tolerance, similarly, the body's function to the digestion of monosodium glutamate is different.
Some people feel palpitation of the heart and in case of heartbeat, but others may not experience anything. This is caused by differences in lifestyle and preexisting health conditions.
This concludes that the accusations by Dr. Robert Ho Man Kwok were false and biased that gave wind to the preexisting fire of Asian racial bias. This means that the MSG is not harmful when consumed in moderate amounts, like any other spice.
In further research, it was stated that MSG is not associated, Weight gain, asthma. Headaches or brain damage as stated by some racially-biased research.
Advantages of MSG
MSG is monosodium glutamate, which is a combination of salt (monosodium) and amino acid (glutamate) that help in building protein blocks. This makes it a perfect substitute for salt for patients with high blood pressure.
If you want to cut your salt intake, substitute the salt with MSG to keep the flavor.
