27 replies to this topic

[norahsmommy]

I found this shopping web site where you list the things you have 'gluten intolerance' or whatever and when you search foods it will tell you which ones not to buy based on your info. Well several of the 'ok' foods have MSG in them. Thats a no no right? I was trying to come up with a list of mainstream foods that are gluten free that I can buy.

[jerseyangel]

I found this shopping web site where you list the things you have 'gluten intolerance' or whatever and when you search foods it will tell you which ones not to buy based on your info. Well several of the 'ok' foods have MSG in them. Thats a no no right? I was trying to come up with a list of mainstream foods that are gluten free that I can buy.

MSG is not a gluten concern.

[norahsmommy]

MSG is not a gluten concern.

Its NOT? Wow ok, great! Its in a dang lot of foods!

[lovegrov]

Just to add emphasis, Patti is right.

richard

[Emilushka]

Where did the worry about MSG originally start? Do you guys know? I had thought it was a problem.

[psawyer]

I don't know where this celiac myth came from. But it keeps coming back.

[mushroom]

MSG is a problem for some people, but it has nothing to do with gluten.

[Emilushka]

Oh, I know MSG triggers migraines and can cause all kinds of reactions on its own. I realize it's not a healthy thing to eat. I just thought (incorrectly!) that it was a celiac thing.

Thanks for the clarification! That's really helpful. That and maltodextrin are two things this site has let me eat again. HUZZAH!

[tarnalberry]

I think the myth started because MSG stands for monosodium glutamate. But glutamate is an amino acid that we already consume and is a part of many of the proteins in our body. Totally, completely different from gluten.

[Emilushka]

The version I heard was about the way MSG is manufactured. I heard that was the problem. Nothing more specific, though.

[Skylark]

It's not a celiac myth, but rather outdated information. One of the major ways MSG used to be made was hydrolysis of gluten. Now MSG in the US mostly made by bacterial fermentation so it's gluten-free. It is probably unwise to buy bulk MSG that is imported from a country that doesn't require wheat to be labeled (like at an Asian market). You can't be sure it wasn't manufactured in the old way from wheat.

This was in the references on the Wikipedia article on MSG.

Leung, Albert Y.; Foster, Steven (August 2003). "Monosodium Glutamate". Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients: Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics (2nd ed.). New York: Wiley. pp. 373–375. ISBN 978-0-471-47128-8. "Monosodium glutamate can generally be produced by three methods: (1) hydrolysis of proteins such as gluten or proteins present in sugar beet wastes, (2) synthesis, and (3) microbial fermentation. In the hydrolysis method, the protein is hydrolyzed with a strong mineral acid to free amino acids, and the glutamic acid is then separated from the mixture, purified, and converted to its monosodium salt, [monosodium glutamate]. This used to be the major method of [monosodium glutamate] manufacture. Currently most of the world production of [monosodium glutamate] is by bacterial fermentation. In this method, bacteria (especially strains of Micrococcus glutamicus) are grown aerobically in a liquid nutrient medium containing a carbon source (e.g., dextrose or citrate), a nitrogen source such as ammonium ions or urea, and mineral ions and growth factors. The bacteria selected for this process have the ability to excrete glutamic acid they synthesize outside of their cell membrane into the medium and accumulate there. The glutamic acid is separated from the fermentation broth by filtration, concentration, acidification, and crystallization, followed by conversion to its monosodium salt [monosodium glutamate].".

[Emilushka]

MSG used to be manufactured from wheat protein. Nowadays it is made by genetically engineered bacteria growing on sugar so it is gluten-free. I have also seen posts here with people who are confused by the similarity of the words "gluten" and "glutamate".

Thank you!

[cassP]

skylark beat me to it

ya, i read that the japanese invented it because they wanted to make something that had the same effect on the brain as gluten did... and i think at first they made it from kelp- but then from wheat.. and that they make it from bacteria here.

MSG bloats me up to look like im 4 months pregnant, but no headache. i HATE it.

has anyone ever heard of the G.A.R.D. diet? its interesting and might explain why MSG & Gluten can have similar effects on many ...

[Cypressmyst]

Dr. Vikki had a recent You Tube video about MSG and Gluten. There is a connection in the effects on the body.




As a follow up here is her blog post on the subject as well.

Blog on MSG

I've stayed away from it for a while now because it is addictive and I can't pronounce it. Thank goodness for small favors.

[Skylark]

Dr. Vikki had a recent You Tube video about MSG and Gluten. There is a connection in the effects on the body.

It's a shame she hasn't provided any references. The blog post is a little difficult to swallow. It's clear that some people do not tolerate glutamate and other dietary amino acids well, but the jump from that to autoimmunity needs scientific references to substantiate it.