{"id":10636,"date":"2021-01-28T01:03:30","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T17:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefooduntold.com\/?p=10636"},"modified":"2021-07-09T18:37:18","modified_gmt":"2021-07-09T10:37:18","slug":"umami-and-everything-you-need-to-know-about-msg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefooduntold.com\/food-science\/umami-and-everything-you-need-to-know-about-msg\/","title":{"rendered":"Umami and Everything You Need To Know About MSG"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"MSG
MSG,photo via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What exactly is monosodium glutamate or MSG? Well, it is the sodium salt (C5H8NNaO4) of glutamic acid. Get it? Okay, let’s separate the two. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glutamate is an amino acid that the human body can synthesize.<\/em> There are 20 amino acids that make up the proteins in our body. But glutamate is the most abundant in nature as it is found naturally in foods like tomatoes, corns, and peas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While sodium is salt, simply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That makes MSG just salt & glutamate<\/strong>\u2014the recipe for that savory taste <\/em>called umami<\/em>. Umami <\/em>is the 5th basic taste<\/strong>, the other 5 being salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and oleogustus<\/a>. Most people describe it as savory, brothy or meaty. However, one thing is for sure, it lingers the longest than any other taste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if there is only glutamate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glutamate alone doesn’t make any impact. It is weak. Adding salt or sodium intensifies the taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, monosodium glutamate is one of the most common flavor enhancers. MSG is even more prevalent in Asia, its birthplace. It has indeed made our foods more palatable and enjoyable\u2014vegetable, meat, seafood, soup, you name it. But this flavor enhancer has another story\u2014the side effects that people believe in. Or perhaps, MSG is just another misunderstood ingredient?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like any other posts on this blog, this discusses the highly controversial monosodium glutamate or MSG merely based on science (and history). Check out the table of contents for things we’re discussing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So let’s dive right in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Table of Contents<\/p>\n