Are you one of the millions of Americans who is allergic to MSG otherwise known as Mono Sodium Glutamate? If you have been diagnosed as being MSG sensitive or MSG allergic then it is important that you understand what it is that you are dealing with, and how is the best way to prevent MSG allergic reactions. MSG allergic reactions occur because your body is either sensitive, or hyper sensitive (allergic) to mono sodium glutamate or MSG. MSG is a non nutritive food additive that is most often used as a flavor enhancer component in processed foods. These types of foods are the kinds of things you would find in your grocery stores canned goods or frozen dinners section and are commonly labeled as heat and eat. Chinese cooking, especially restaurant foods are often to be found to contain large amounts of MSG and should be avoided or carefully screened to help prevent MSG allergic reactions.
MSG allergic reactions can be characterized in the following ways; a feeling of flushing or warmth which may be wide spread or may be confined to the upper arms, neck, thighs, genitals and chest, a mild itching across the chest, neck, back, genitals and sometimes the upper legs, upper arms and buttocks. Sweating is also a symptom of MSG allergic reactions, as are headaches, sensitivity to light, feeling of lethargy or mild depression, a slight swelling of the neck, underarms, feet, hand, cheeks and eye area and in men tenderness of slight swelling of the testicles. In more sever cases of MSG allergic reactions, mild chest pain similar to heart burn may be felt as well as a "wet stabbing ache" in the middle to upper back. In extreme cases of MSG allergic reactions, stabbing chest main and difficulty breathing may be combined with swelling of the kidneys, tongue and eyeballs.
Living with the constant fear of MSG allergic reactions is not an easy thing to do. The additive is so common is out lives. Today it is not as widespread in its use as it once was, reaching the height of its popularity in the mid 1970's to late 1980's, however there are many derivatives of MSG that can also cause MSG allergic reactions. MSG is still used in a great deal of popular convenience foods such as soup, salad dressings, canned meat products, sauces and seasoning mixes. Sausage and ground turkey products are very common triggers for MSG allergic reactions do the high concentration of the additive and sometimes its combination with other derivative additions to make the product taste better.
Once you have been diagnosed with MSG allergic reactions you will want to do everything in your power to prevent MSG allergic reactions from occurring in the future. This is sometime not easy as derivatives of MSG can also cause MSG allergic reactions. Familiarize yourself with these derivative names and start reading labels when you go to the store. When you go out to eat inform your server of your MSG allergic reactions and ask the chef or kitchen manager to check the products that will be used in the preparation of your food to see if they contain the items on your derivatives list. MSG allergic reactions do not have to rule your life with a little planning and management you can get back in control of your food.
Author Resource:
Jeff Frasco is the author of this article on Treat allergic reactions .
Find more information about Allergic reactions here.
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