Popular flavour enhancer MSG or monosodium glutamate - most often associated with Chinese food and after-dinner headaches, is also enhancing your waistline, making you obese.

According to experts, people who eat more MSG are more likely to be overweight and the increased risk is not just because you are stuffing yourself with MSG-rich foods. The link between high MSG intake and being overweight is held even after accounting for the total number of calories you may be eating.

Used for over 100 years in the food industry, MSG is a white, odourless, crystalline powder also known as E621. It dissolves easily in water, separating into sodium and free glutamate. MSG is made by fermenting carb sources like sugar beet, sugar cane, and molasses.

MSG causes, what is known as MSG-system complex when you may feel sick after eating Chinese food. According to various studies, the additive is highly toxic and is associated with an increased risk of metabolic disorders - primarily due to high insulin resistance, high blood sugar levels, and diabetes.

While experts say it is not clear why MSG and weight gain are linked together, studies reveal it may have something to do with the hormone leptin - which regulates appetite and metabolism.

According to research, people who consume more MSG produce more leptin and so, the consumption of this additive leads to leptin resistance – making your body not properly process the energy it receives from food. And that may explain why people who eat more MSG gain weight regardless of how many calories they consume.

Glutamate plays an important role in brain function – by acting a a neurotransmitter - a chemical substance that stimulates nerve cells to transmit signals. It, therefore, causes brain toxicity by causing excessive glutamate levels in the brain to overstimulate nerve cells, resulting in cell death.

Regular consumption of preservative-filled foods like canned soups, chips, and Chinese takeaways can lead to severe headaches and migraines.

While MSG is naturally present in many different foods - especially those that are high in protein, it is also added to ingredients and other foods during processing. A few foods that contain MSG are:

Chicken, beef, salmon, mackerel, scallops, crab, shrimp

Parmesan, Emmenthal, cheddar, Roquefort

Tomatoes, onions, cabbage, green peas, spinach, mushrooms, broccoli

Pepperoni, bacon, pastrami, sausages, salami

Soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, salad dressings

Canned soups, canned tuna, frozen meals, crackers, potato chips, flavored snacks

Seasoning blends, rubs

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