The Strange Truth about Monosodium Glutamate

^“And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” Matthew 5:30

“The bible doesn’t really say that, does it?”

My son ran over to read the words on the page that I had just finished reading.

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.” – Matthew 5:29

“That seems a little crazy.” He said.

Crazy, indeed. Just as crazy as a virgin giving birth. A prophet who eats wild locusts and honey. And a man who raises a dead person to life after three days. Who on earth can believe the stuff in the bible? After all, sometimes it reads like something out of Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

As strange as the bible and Grimm’s tales are, I have been thinking about a strange thing in my everyday life. It takes a lot of courage to admit this, but I have become addicted to monosodium glutamate. Lately, it is all I think about. And candidly, if I had the ability to carve out the piece of my brain that is screaming MSG all the time, I would totally do it.

Right now, you are wondering, has Margaret lost her marbles? Because there are marbles everywhere on this page and Margaret seems to be missing a few.

I have not lost my marbles, thank-you-very-much, but if I did, I’d blame it all on monosodium glutamate.

What is monosodium glutamate? Well, I’m glad you asked. It is the chemical otherwise known as MSG. It is widely used in processed foods as a flavor enhancer. And it is very, very effective. It makes inedible food taste mediocre, and mediocre food taste amazing. The FDA has approved its use and the US Government thinks it’s fine. And since we trust the US Government, we obviously should eat as much as we want. Right? Well, at the very least, MSG is not as harmless as you think it is.

I don’t eat much processed food because I try to avoid consuming preservatives, but there are a few things I eat occasionally that have recently become problematic. One of these is General Tso’s chicken from my local Chinese Restaurant.

I wanted to understand why every time I consume it I:

1. feel like I must keep eating even though I know I am stuffed to the gills.
2. feel mildly intoxicated
3. swell up like a water balloon
4. crave sweets to the point of madness
5. think incessantly about my next fix
6. feel depressed for the next few days
7. gain weight

I certainly don’t feel this way when I eat vegetables. Or fruit for that matter.

Whereas we used to get Chinese food once in a blue moon, I am now struggling to limit my purchase to once a week. I feel about this meal the way I used to feel about ice cream. Is life even worth living without it? But the moment I realized what was happening, I began to realize I had a serious problem. I already knew my pants were angry. Worse, no matter how much I work out, I can’t seem to lose make them happy. So I started to wonder—what exactly is in that stuff?

Monosodium glutamate!

And it’s not just in Chinese food. It’s in potato chips and cookies and pizza. It is a “flavor enhancer” which means they add to it most processed foods.

I don’t need to write a treatise on the ill-effects of MSG—others have done that. I am attaching links so you can research to your hearts content. But I will tell you, it’s really strange. And if you think about it, companies that add such toxic chemicals to food in order to hook consumers are evil. They are no different than drug dealers. I don’t care if what they are doing is legal—it is wrong to make people so addicted that they consume themselves to ill health or death.

Now, I realize I may have lost the average reader who read what I just wrote and thought, “What, give up Chinese food, are you mad?”

I’m glad you asked. Yes, I am mad. As in really, really angry.

Here’s why. This website chronicles exactly what MSG is and what it does.

This website is the fruit of one woman’s life long search to find healing for her chronic health issues –  most of which stemmed from consuming MSG.

I would venture to guess many of the health issues American’s face today are directly related to chemicals in processed foods, but I never realized just how bad MSG was. I thought I could safely consume it. I never imagined it would take such a hold on my life. But I guess this experience just proves some things cannot be consumed in moderation. Some things—like MSG—should never be consumed at all.

So, if you are struggling with depression, chronic allergies (or bronchitis) inability to lose weight, fibromyalgia, arthritis, Parkinson’s disease or any other neuro disorder, or like me – uncontrollable food cravings, take note. It could be monosodium glutamate. Take a few minutes to read about it. Get angry. And then cut it out of your life forever. MSG may not send you to hell, but it will certainly make your life on earth, hell.

It’s going to take some serious fortitude to break this cycle of treachery. My thoughts are “consumed” with my favorite meal. But it’s worth noting, Jesus came to set sinners free from their chains. And if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I just need to keep reminding myself that living a life free from food addiction entails focusing on what I can eat—not what I cannot. And there are plenty of other food that give me joy and do not cause such horrible physical symptoms.

Today, if you are struggling with any kind of addiction, know that there is hope and healing. God will help if you ask him. Just like he raised Lazarus from the dead. Just like he sent Jesus through the body of a virgin. More importantly, he will save you from your sins (both past and present). Because he loves you. You can trust Him!