By Chronic pain is something that millions of people suffer from. It’s not often that they look to their diet to see if there is something that may be contributing to their pain. But the research that is coming out points to the fact that it may be a good idea to start looking more at one’s diet to see if there are modifications that can be made to help alleviate pain. This is especially true when it comes to monosodium glutamate, otherwise known as MSG.
Monosodium glutamate is a common flavor enhancer that is used in many parts of the world, including in the United States. Pick up a dozen products in the grocery store and there is a good chance that at least half of them will have some monosodium glutamate in them. It’s found in many processed foods, pre-packaged goods, and even in restaurant dishes.
Researchers in Kenya conducted a small pilot study to see if removing monosodium glutamate from the diet would help to alleviate chronic pain, with their findings published in the journal Nutrition. Their study involved 32 people who were broken up into groups. Some had the monosodium glutamate removed from their diets, others were asked to increase their water intake to eight cups per day, and some of the participants were asked to do both. Increasing water intake was part of the study, because they found that many people who suffer from headaches are actually dehydrated. Those who were dehydrated should have felt relief from increasing their water intake in the study.
What their research found was that when people removed the monosodium glutamate from their diet, their symptoms improved. The monosodium glutamate is a chemical that researchers are investigating to learn fully how it affects the body and brain. They do know that in the brain it is a common neurotransmitter that can cause damage to nerve cells.
Identifying monosodium glutamate can be a bit challenging at times. It’s important for those who are trying to avoid it to learn some of the many names that it goes by. In addition to being on the food label as “monosodium glutamate,” it may also be listed as “protein isolate,” “autolyzed yeast extract,” and “yeast extract,” among other common names. Looking for MSG on the label is simply not enough for those who seriously want to keep it out of their diet. It’s important to know common names for it, as well as to know which foods it is often added to and which it may be found naturally in.
Those with chronic pain may want to eliminate MSG from their diet to see if it helps improve their symptoms. It’s a low-cost route to seeking pain relief that also doesn’t have harmful side effects.
Source:
1. Science Daily. Pilot study from Kenya shows link between chronic pain and glutmate consumption. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180216142702.htm
