MSG is a chemical product, can cause cancer? Which is more harmful than chicken essence? An article to give you popular science

Seeing the small crystal-like particles of MSG, would you subconsciously think that it is a chemical product?

Yes, many people mistakenly believe that MSG is a condiment developed in a laboratory and is a typical chemical product. There are also many rumors related to monosodium glutamate circulating in life. Among them, the most convincing and most widely circulated is: Wei Jing cancer! So the question is, what exactly is MSG, and does it really cause cancer? Which is better than chicken essence?

　　1. What is MSG?

　　In fact, MSG was not originally born in China, but in Japan in 1908. Scientists extracted sodium glutamate from kelp, and they found that this substance is what gives seafood its umami taste. If it is added to other dishes, it can make the food more delicious, so the local start Bulk extraction and production. It wasn't long before MSG was introduced to China.

　　In recent years, the monosodium glutamate purchased from the market in China is no longer a kelp extract, but a substance extracted from grain raw materials such as rice and wheat. It is not the chemical compound that everyone imagines.

　　2. Does MSG cause cancer?

　　As mentioned above, the essence of monosodium glutamate is actually sodium glutamate , which is the sodium salt in glutamic acid . You must know that glutamate is not only widely found in food, but also a key compound that human cells must use in the metabolic process, which is a type of neurotransmitter . Even if glutamate is not taken from food, the body will automatically produce glutamate.

　　Therefore, sodium glutamate itself does not have the possibility of carcinogenicity. However, there are rumors that when sodium glutamate is heated at high temperature, especially when the temperature rises above 120°C , a substance called sodium pyroglutamate will be released , which is carcinogenic. Moreover, the instruction manual of MSG also shows that everyone should be placed before serving, which is linked to rumors, and it seems that Wei Jing cancer has been confirmed.

　　But in fact, sodium pyroglutamate is not a carcinogen, and it does not cause DNA mutations in human cells . At present, there is no research or clinical experiment to confirm that sodium pyroglutamate is carcinogenic.

　　The reason why it is recommended that you place MSG before serving is because after the production of sodium pyroglutamate, the MSG will lose its original freshness-enhancing function. So, purely from this point of view, MSG can cause cancer, which is a complete rumor.

　　3. Is chicken essence better than MSG?

　　Affected by the surface packaging and advertising of chicken essence, many people mistakenly believe that chicken essence is a product made from chicken soup, which is better than monosodium glutamate.

　　But in fact, chicken essence is also artificially processed, and it is a compound condiment . Its composition is a little more complicated than MSG, because it not only contains sodium glutamate, but also adds starch, a small amount of chicken powder, sugar and other raw materials .

　　Therefore, there is essentially no difference between chicken essence and monosodium glutamate, both of which can play a role in improving freshness. But in terms of taste, chicken essence is higher than monosodium glutamate.

　　All in all, neither chicken essence nor monosodium glutamate has the possibility of causing cancer. However, this does not mean that everyone can add a lot in their daily life.

　　Because chicken essence and monosodium glutamate both contain a certain amount of sodium, if you add salt and place a lot of condiments when cooking, it is likely to cause excessive intake of sodium and salt, and then induce water and sodium retention, increased blood volume, high blood pressure, etc. question.

　　Therefore, in our daily life, it is necessary to reduce the addition of chicken essence.