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Avoiding MSG

Over the years, scare stories from "wellness" websites have drummed up irrational fear over the safety of MSG. But that fear isn't backed up by actual science.

MSG is a savory flavor-boosting ingredient. People once thought it was behind "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" — a collection of symptoms that can include headaches, nausea, chest pain, and heart palpitations.

But in human studies, MSG has not consistently caused those negative symptoms, even in people who think they're sensitive to it. Scientists now acknowledge that a very small number of people may react to MSG, but most will have zero issues eating it in reasonable amounts.

[Photo via @gock45]

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