Ajinomoto, also known as monosodium glutamate, is a food additive composed of glutamate, an amino acid and sodium, used in the industry to improve the taste of food, giving them a different touch and making food more tasty.This additive is widely used in meats, soups, fish and sauces, being a widely used ingredient in the preparation of Asian food.
The FDA describes this additive as “safe” because recent studies have not been able to prove whether this ingredient can have negative health effects, but it may be related to weight gain and the appearance of symptoms such as headache, sweating, fatigue and sickness. representing the Chinese restaurant syndrome.
- This additive works by stimulating saliva and is believed to improve the taste of foods by acting on certain specific glutamate receptors in the tongue.
It is important to mention that although monosodium glutamate is found in large amounts in many protein foods, it only improves the salty taste, called umami, when it is free, not when combined with other amino acids.
The following table shows foods that contain sodium glutamate
Several side effects of monosodium glutamate are described, however studies are very limited and most have been performed in animals, so the result may not be the same in humans, despite this, it is thought that its consumption could:
All studies on the health effects of ajinomoto are limited, most of the effects have appeared in studies where extremely high doses of monosodium glutamate have been used, which is not possible through a normal and balanced diet, so its consumption is recommended.ajinomoto is moderate.
The use of ajinomoto may have indirect health benefits, as it can help reduce salt intake by maintaining the taste of food and containing 61% less sodium than common salt.
In addition, it can also be used by older people, because at this age, taste buds and smell are no longer the same.In addition, some people may experience decreased saliva, making it difficult to chew, swallow and appetite.
To be used safely, ajinomoto must be added in small amounts to recipes at home, it is important to avoid consumption as well as excessive use of salt, as this will make food rich in sodium, a mineral that increases blood pressure.
In addition, frequent consumption of processed foods rich in this seasoning, such as dice, canned soups, biscuits, processed meats, ready-to-use salads and frozen dishes, should be avoided. Monosodium glutamate may appear on labels of industrialized products.names such as sodium monoglutamate, yeast extract, hydrolyzed vegetable protein or E621.
Therefore, with this care, it is possible to be sure that the limit amount of monosodium glutamate will not be exceeded for health.
To help you control pressure and naturally improve the taste of food, see how to make herbal salt in the video below.