Patient's question:
I always add MSG or chicken essence when cooking to make the dish more flavorful, but I recently heard that these two things are harmful to the human body. Is it really harmful? So, do these two things have any nutritional value for the human body?Doctor's answer:
Monosodium glutamate is a sodium salt of glutamic acid, a substance that enhances flavor. Its scientific name is sodium glutamate, also known as "umami seasoning." Additionally, it contains trace amounts of salt, moisture, fat, sugar, iron, phosphorus, and other substances. Monosodium glutamate may lead to fetal defects and is not advisable for the elderly or children to consume in excess. People with hypertension who eat too much monosodium glutamate may experience higher blood pressure. Therefore, individuals with hypertension should not only limit their salt intake but also strictly control their monosodium glutamate consumption.From a hygiene perspective, chicken essence is non-toxic and harmless to the human body. Chicken essence is more lenient in terms of usage conditions during cooking compared to monosodium glutamate. Both monosodium glutamate and chicken essence are flavor enhancers: one contains only the single amino acid sodium glutamate, while the other is a mixture of various amino acids extracted from chicken. Generally, both can be consumed with confidence. However, the key principle to remember is not to overconsume either, as while enjoying delicious food, health should never be overlooked.