The main component of MSG is sodium glutamate, which can be decomposed into glutamic acid during the digestion process. The latter can be converted into an inhibitory neurotransmitter by enzyme catalysis in brain tissue. When too much MSG is taken in, this inhibitory neurotransmitter will inhibit various nerve functions in the human body, resulting in a series of symptoms such as dizziness, headache, drowsiness, and muscle spasms; some people may also experience anxiety and panic; Some people with more sensitive constitutions may even experience bone aches and muscle weakness. In addition, excessive inhibitory neurotransmitters can also inhibit the body's hypothalamus from secreting thyroid-stimulating hormone, hindering bone development, and the impact on children is particularly significant. If you eat too much MSG, you will often feel thirsty. This is because MSG contains sodium, and excessive intake can lead to high blood pressure. People over 60 years old are particularly sensitive to sodium intake. Therefore, the elderly and people with diseases such as hypertension, kidney disease, edema, etc. should especially eat less MSG. When too much MSG is consumed and exceeds the body's metabolic capacity, it will also increase the glutamate content in the blood, limiting the body's use of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and copper. In particular, glutamic acid can combine with zinc in the blood to form zinc glutamate that cannot be utilized and is excreted from the body, causing zinc deficiency in the human body. Zinc is an important nutrient for the physical and mental development of infants and young children. Therefore, infants and nursing mothers should fast or eat less MSG. In addition, Japanese researchers believe that long-term excessive consumption of MSG may lead to retinal thinning, vision loss, and even blindness. So, how much MSG is appropriate for each meal? Researchers recommend that each serving should not exceed 0.5 milligrams. The severity of the side effects of MSG will vary depending on individual physiques. Adding too much MSG means that the sodium content of the dishes is too high, which is extremely detrimental to controlling blood pressure; it is too irritating and is not suitable for controlling cardiovascular diseases; For patients with kidney disease, too much salt can aggravate the condition.

So, don’t think of MSG as glutamic acid. The sodium in it has certain negative effects.