This article is not about the famous arena Madison Square Garden in New York City. It is rather a heads up about the concentrated form of sodium known as MSG. Look at the ingredients on the back of your chip bag, or the label on the soup can. It’s right there in black and white. Monosodium Glutamate. And if that isn’t enough for you, you can always sprinkle some Accent on your favorite frozen TV dinner or take-out Chinese or chicken. Hmmm…can I have some more MSG?
Long known as the Viagra of flavor enhancers, Monosodium Glutamate is a flavor enhancer that contrary to popular belief has not been used in Asia for centuries. It is naturally present in many foods but it was first isolated in a laboratory in Japan in 1908. It began its use in the US in 1948 and some say the food has never tasted so good.
Others have reactions to foods laced with MSG, myself included. Headaches, sweating, tingling, heart palpitations, nausea and my worst nightmare, diarrhea. (Warning, after ingesting MSG and you have an erection for four hours, contact a doctor). Forget the Prilosec or the pink bottle. After a meal with MSG in it, I’m on the throne longer than Queen Elizabeth has been.
It is true that Monosodium Glutamate does enhance the flavor of food, and as I said, many foods have MSG naturally. When preparing food at home there is no need to use the red and white bottle. Use parmesan cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, grapes or wine along with plums, broccoli, spinach or peas. All of these have MSG in them naturally, just not enough to give you a reaction.
Salt and sugar is not a substitute for Accent. Instead use fish sauce, Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce. Onions, tomato paste even dried seaweed also are excellent substitutes.
So stay out of the bathroom after eating and put the accent on foods naturally.
Happy eating everybody.
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