What happens if you eat too much MSG? Six harmful effects revealed

MSG is a condiment that is used in large quantities in food in restaurants. Eating too much MSG is unhealthy. The monosodium glutamate contained in MSG is very harmful and can cause high blood pressure, fetal malformations, blurred vision, etc.

1. The main ingredient of MSG is monosodium glutamate , which can be decomposed into glutamate during the digestion process. The latter can be converted into an inhibitory neurotransmitter through enzyme catalysis in the brain tissue. When too much MSG is consumed, this inhibitory neurotransmitter will inhibit various nerve functions in the human body, resulting in a series of symptoms such as dizziness, headache, drowsiness, muscle cramps, irritability, and panic. Some people with more sensitive constitutions may even feel bone pain and muscle weakness. Moreover, too much inhibitory neurotransmitter will inhibit the secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone by the hypothalamus of the human body, hinder bone development, and have significant harmful effects on children.

2. Because MSG contains sodium, excessive intake will often make you feel thirsty and can easily lead to high blood pressure. People over 60 are particularly sensitive to sodium intake, so the elderly and those with high blood pressure, kidney disease, edema and other diseases should especially eat less MSG.

3. When too much MSG is consumed, exceeding the body's metabolic capacity, it will also lead to an increase in the glutamate content in the blood , limiting the body's utilization of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and copper. In particular, glutamate can combine with zinc in the blood to produce unusable glutamate zinc which is excreted from the body, leading to zinc deficiency in the human body. Zinc is an important nutrient for the physical and intellectual development of infants and young children. Zinc deficiency can lead to mental retardation, night blindness, late puberty and adult dwarfism, so infants should be fed with caution.

4. Excessive intake of MSG is a killer of vision. It can lead to a decrease in protein and cause uncontrolled growth of the eye axis. MSG can also reduce the body's taurine and affect retinal development. Some people even experience temporary blurred vision after consuming MSG.

5. After consuming too much MSG, the glutamate content in the human blood will increase, which will hinder the absorption of calcium and magnesium, causing short-term symptoms such as headaches, heart palpitations, nausea, etc., and also have adverse effects on the reproductive system.

6. Excessive consumption of MSG will make people dependent on it. Foods that do not contain MSG will feel tasteless, and it will also hinder the absorption of other nutrients.