MSG

Question: What is MSG? Should I be avoiding it?

Answer: MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a flavor enhancer that is commonly added to food items such as canned vegetables, soups, Chinese food and processed meats. It has been used for decades in the United States and is "generally recognized as safe" by the FDA. Some people may have short-term reactions to MSG such as a headache, sweating, chest pain, shortness of breath or nausea, but symptoms are typically mild and don't require treatment. Other reports that have suggested that MSG may be linked to Alzheimers or more serious ailments have never been shown scientifically despite much research in this area. My personal opinion is this: if MSG bothers you (resulting in some of the above symptoms), avoid it. If not, don't worry about it -- there are enough other things on the food label to worry about!