Avoid MSG - healthier you

Let me just make this clear from the start: I’m not going to start buying “real” flour from a health shop, start baking my own bread or buy free-range products all the time (although I should). I’m simply having a looksee in my cupboard…and I’ll think about it a little…

MSG – what is the fuss about?

My (uneducated) knowledge about MSG is that it is something bad that is in food, especially processed foods, and that it slowly poisons your body.

When my first son was born I did try to cut out MSG as far as possible. The only products that I know are MSG-free are the Ina Paarman's spices  - so I buy those.

Other than that, when I am tired I just grab something out of a box in the freezer that I can pop into the oven. And I almost never look at the ingredients on the label.

Get some info

I googled MSG to see what all the fuss is about. I got information from two interesting articles, one by Dr Mercola and one by a neuro-surgeon called Dr Russel Blaylock.

It seems that MSG is a flavour enhancer (a form of  high concentrated salt) that is added to foods, e.g. frozen foods, canned foods, baby food, infant formula milk, etc. to give it a better and fresher taste.

Dr Mercola says that in reality MSG doesn’t really have a taste at all. It’s just a trick making you think food contains more protein and tastes better.

Dr Blaylock calls it “silent damage to the brain”. The side-effects of MSG are called the “MSG syndrome”. It can cause face flushing, heart palpitations, sometimes pain in the arms, GI discomfort, diarrhoea, migraines, eye damage, balance difficulties, shortness of breath, asthma attacks, fatigue, disorientation, arthritis, depression, numbness, burning sensation, tingling, nausea, drowisiness, weakness and behavioural problems in children. There is also a big risk for a developing fetus.

Over longer periods of time researchers saw destruction to major portions of the brain, possibly causing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other illnesses.

MSG in MY food?

What names under “Ingredients” on a product mean that it contains MSG?

·         Autolyzed Yeast

·         Calcium Caseinate

·         Gelatin

·         Glutamate

·         Glatamic Acid

·         Hydrolyzed Protein

·         Monopotassium Glutamate

·         Monosodium Glutamate

·         Sodium Caseinate

·         Textured protein

·         Yeast extract

·         Yeast food

·         Yeast nutrient

Then there are also ingredients that often contain MSG or create MSG while processing:

·         Flavours

·         Seasonings

·         Natural flavours (including beef, pork and chicken)

·         Soy sauce and soy protein

·         Bouillon

·         Stock

·         Broth

·         Malt extract, malt flavouring and Barley malt

·         Any modified enzymes or just enzymes

·         Carrageenan

·         Maltodextrin

·         Pectin

·         Corn Starch

·         Citric acid

·         Powdered milk

·         Any fortified protein

·         Anything ultra-pasteurized

In my fridge, freezer and cup boards...
I took some products out of my freezer, fridge and cupboard. I’m really interested to see in how many good (or bad) choices we are making when buying food.

A:  Cereals

1. ProNutro Whole Wheat Original

How often do we eat this: Me - 5 times a week
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

 

[Contains sugar and salt]

2. Jungle Taystee Wheat Bran

How often do we eat this: Me and my one son (Jaco) - twice a week
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

  

[No sugar or salt]

3. Nutrific high-fibre cereal biscuits

How often do we eat this: Husband - 5 times a week; Son 1 (Emje) - 7 times a week; Son 2 (Jaco) - 5 times a week

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

  

[Contains sugar and salt]

4. Kellogg's Corn Flakes

How often do we eat this: Once a month

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

  

[Contains sugar and salt]

B;  Bread and stuff you put on bread

1. Albany Low GI Wholewheat Brown Bread

How often do we eat this: Daily - children and me eat 1 slice each; husband - 4 slices over the weekend

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Bad

[Major warning lights: yeast]

[Minor warning lights: soy and enzymes - on the "may contain MSG" list]

[Contains salt; no sugar]

2. Baker's Provita Crackerbread

How often do we eat this: Me - 1 a day
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

 

[Contains salt, no sugar]

3. Sunshine D Lite margarine

How often do we eat this: daily
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

[Minor warning lights: citric acid, flavouring and colourant - on the "may contain MSG" list]

[contains salt; no sugar]

4. Melrose Biltong Full Cream Cheese Spread

How often do we eat this: Kids every day on half a sandwich at school
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Bad

  

[Major warning lights: textured protein]

[Minor warning lights: flavouring; preservatives; colourant and soya]

[Contains salt; no sugar]

5. Yum-yum Ultra creamy Peanut butter

How often do we eat this: Me - daily
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

  

[Minor warning lights: soya]

[Contains salt and sugar]

6. Bovril

How often do we eat this: Kids - 3+ times a week on bread
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Bad

  

[Major warning lights: yeast]

[Minor warning lights: soy; stock; corn starch; ; flavouring; flavour enhancer]

[Contains salt and sugar]

7. Marmite

How often do we eat this: Kids - 3+ times a week on bread
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Bad

  

[Major warning lights: yeast]

[Minor warning lights: flavouring]

[Contains salt, no sugar]

C:  Dairy

1. Any Cheddar or Gouda cheese

How often do we eat this: Daily in large amounts
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

 

[Minor warning sign: colourant]

[Contains salt, no sugar]

2. Pick ' n Pay Plain Feta Cheese

How often do we eat this: Twice a week
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

 

[Contains salt, no sugar]

3. Darling Cape fruit Yoghurt

How often do we eat this: Daily
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

 

[Minor warning signs: chemically modified starch??? flavouring; colourant]

[Contains sugar, no salt]

4. NutriDay youghurt (100g 6-pack)

How often do we eat this: Daily
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

[Minor warning signs: maiz; flavouring; colourant]

[Contains sugar, no salt]

5. Fair Cape full cream milk

How often do we drink this: Daily
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

[It's made of pure happy cows' milk!]

D: Freezer foods

1. Dr Oetker Regina Pizza (frozen)

How often do we eat this: Once a month
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Bad

[Major warning lights: yeast]

[Minor warning lights: citric acid; (flavouring?)]

[Contains salt and sugar]

2. I&J Light & Crispy Hake fillets (frozen)

How often do we eat this: Once a week
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Bad

 

[Major warning lights: yeast]

[Minor warning lights: colourant]

[Contains salt, no sugar]

3. Sea Harvest Country Fry Hake fillets (frozen)

How often do we eat this: Once a week
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

  

[Minor warning lights: acidifying agent?]

[Contains salt, no sugar]

4. Dr Oetker Spagetti Bolognaise (frozen)

How often do we eat this: Never (last year once a week)
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Bad

[Major warning lights: yeast]

[Minor warning lights: stock; flavouring; colourant; soy; flavour enhancer]

[Contains salt and sugar]

5. Country Fair Chicken Steaklets with creamy spinach & feta (frozen)

How often do we eat this: One a month
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Bad

 

[Major warning lights: yeast]

[Minor warning lights: acidity regulator(?)]

[Contains salt, no sugar]

6. Estcourt Shoulder Bacon

How often do we eat this: Once a month
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

  

[Contains salt and sugar]

7. McCain Sweet Corn

How often do we eat this: Once in a fort night
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

  

E: Drinks

1. Five Roses tea

How often do we drink this: Daily
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

 

2. Ensure nutritional shake

How often do we drink this: Daily
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

  

[Minor warning lights: corn starch; soy; colourant]

[Contains no salt or  sugar]

3. Energade

How often do we drink this: Only when I'm ill or there is a heat wave or I need a new water bottle for my kids (not often)
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

 

[Minor warning lights: citric acid; colourant]

[Contains salt and sugar]

4. Pick 'n Pay No Name 100% fruit juice blend

How often do we drink this: Daily
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

  

[Minor warning lights: acidity regulator(?); flavouring]

[Contains no salt or sugar]

5. Halls apple concentrate

How often do we drink this: Regularly
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

 

[Minor warning lights: flavourings; colourant]

[Contains sugar, no salt]

6. Day's Peach Apricot concentrate

How often do we drink this: Regularly
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

  

[Minor warning lights: citric acid; flavouring]

[Contains sugar]

7. Oros

How often do we drink this: Less regularly
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

[Minor warning lights: pectin; flavourings; colourants]

[Contains sugar]

8. Nesquik (pink)

How often do we drink this: Almost never
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

  

[Minor warning lights: flavour; citric acid]

[Contains salt and sugar]

9. Fair Cape Strawberry milk (Spiderman milk)

How often do we drink this: Once a month
Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

  

[Minor warning lights: acidity regulator(?); colourant]

[Contains salt and sugar]

F: Snack and "health food"

1. Spar Original Rice Crackers

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

 

[Minor warning lights: flavour enhancer]

[Contains salt]

2. Real Foods Corn Thins

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

 

[Contains salt]

3. Baker's Good Morning Breakfast Biscuits

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

 

[Minor warning lights: stock; pectin, acidity regulator, flavouring, milk powder]

[Contains salt and sugar]

4. Bokomo ProNutro Chocolate flavoured bars

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

 

[Minor warning lights: stock; milk powder, soya, acidity regulator]

[Contains sugar]

5. Baker's Mini Cheddars

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

 

[Minor warning lights: cheese powder, flavour enhancer]

[Contains salt and sugar]

6. Safari Fruit Flakes

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

  

[Minor warning lights: stock; flavouring; preservatives]
[Contains sugar]

7. Safari Peanuts & Raisins

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

  

[Minor warning lights: colourant]
[Contains salt]

8. Safari Seedless Rainsins

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

  

9. Montagu roasted and salted cashew nuts

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

 

 [Contains salt]

10. Spar popcorn

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

 

11. Baker's Betta Snack: digestive biscuit with milk chocolate

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

[Minor warning lights: soya, milk powder]

[Contains salt and sugar]

12. Pick 'n Pay No Name Marie biscuits

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

[Minor warning lights: soya, milk powder, enzymes]

[Contains salt and sugar]

13. Baker's Eet-sum-mor biscuits

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Good

 [Contains salt and sugar]

Conclusion: Eet-sum-more biscuits are better for your children than Marie biscuits.

14. Cadbury Dairy milk chocolate

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Neutral

[Minor warning lights: stock; milk powder, flavouring]

[Contains sugar]

15. Simba Niknaks

Good or bad in terms of MSG? Bad

[Minor warning lights: stock; cheese powder, enzymes, flavour enhancer, acidity regulator, soya, colourants, spices]

[Contains salt]

I have many more products but I don't have the energy to look at all the labels now. I will be more vigilant in future. Because I don't want to be killed slowly and silently.

It seems that it is impossible to live MSG free but we can try to cut out the items that are "high risk items".