Glutamic acid, or glutamate, is a naturally occurring amino acid; amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Glutamic acid comes from vegetable and animal proteins and consists of 10 to 25 percent of proteins in food. Glutamate occurs naturally in foods that contain protein such as cheese, milk, mushrooms, meat, fish and many vegetables. Monosodium glutamate, or MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid. MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in many foods. The human body treats glutamate that is added to foods in the form of MSG the same as the natural glutamate found in food. As such, if you have an intolerance to one, you will have an intolerance to the other.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a glutamic acid or MSG intolerance include flushing, sweating, headaches, facial tightness, nausea, chest pain, weakness, and rapid heartbeats. You may also experience burning, tingling or numbness, particularly in the face and neck.
Foods
Eating at restaurants and fast food places may make you sick if you are sensitive to glutamic acid. Even restaurants that have signs posted stating "No MSG" may still serve foods that contain glutamic acid even if they do not use MSG as an additive. The natural levels of glutamic acid in food varies greatly, but is high in foods such as tomatoes, mushrooms and Parmesan cheese. Foods that often contain added MSG include soups, broths, gravy mixes, processed meats, salads, vegetable dishes, poultry, seafood, cheeses and milk.
Ingredients
When shopping at a grocery store, read the labels to find hidden sources of MSG and glutamic acid. Products do not have to list MSG on labels unless they specifically add MSG, not if they add ingredients that contain MSG. Monosodium glutamate might be hidden with terms such as "natural flavoring," "flavoring" or "spices." Other ingredients that always contain MSG include yeast extract, sodium or calcium caseinate, textured protein, hydrolyzed protein, and hydrolyzed oat flour, according to Dr. Thomas S. Lee and NaturoDoc.
Treatment
The only way to avoid the symptoms of a glutamic acid intolerance is to stop consuming glutamic acid. This includes foods with added MSG and MSG ingredients. Speak with your doctor or a nutritionist about eliminating these foods in a healthy manner that still allows you to eat a balanced diet with sufficient nutrients.
References
- Health Canada: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): Questions and Answers
- NaturoDoc; MSG: Hidden Sources; Dr. Thomas S. Lee
- Food Safety and Inspection Service: Food Safety: Natural Flavorings on Meat and Poultry Labels
- Food Insight; Everything You Need To Know About Glutamate And Monosodium Glutamate; October 2009
- MayoClinic.com; My Favorite Chinese Restaurant Has a Sign That Says "No MSG." What is MSG? Is it Bad for You; Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.; January 2010
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