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From: wex@milano.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.cooks,net.veg
Subject: Answer to what's so bad about MSG
Message-ID: <905@milano.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Feb-86 11:44:55 EST
Article-I.D.: milano.905
Posted: Fri Feb 14 11:44:55 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Feb-86 03:17:41 EST
References: <3895@glacier.ARPA> <242@imagen.UUCP> <11846@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <11851@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
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Organization: MCC, Austin, TX
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Summary: MSG reactions in humans
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In answer to Mike Liang's question about MSG:  I don't know of any scientific
studies that have been done, but I have seen and experienced several reactions
in people who have eaten MSG:

 - in myself, MSG produces nausea, hot flashes, and a burning sensation at the
   back of the neck.  If taken with other things I'm allergic to, it causes a
   feeling of constriction in my throat.

 - my wife reports that MSG makes her dizzy and gives her headaches and
   a ringing in her ears.

 - one friend had a reaction similar to that of too much alcohol (eg lowered
   inhibitions, loss of muscle coordination, slurred speech, etc).

 - also, MSG can have an additive effect on caffeine, causing muscle shakes,
   nervousness, hyperactivity, etc.

I have found that (esp in Chinese restaurants) MSG is most heavily concentrated
in pork.  The "drunk" and hyperactive people were heavy pork-eaters.  There is
less in beef or chicken, and almost none in fish/seafood.  I'm not sure if
this has to do with the meat or with the sauces.

-- 
Alan Wexelblat
ARPA: WEX@MCC.ARPA
UUCP: {ihnp4, seismo, harvard, gatech, pyramid}!ut-sally!im4u!milano!wex
"Once in a while, you get shown the light.
 In the strangest of places, if you look at it right."