Is it better to use chicken powder or MSG when cooking? Is it harmful to the body if consumed for a long time?

Chicken bouillon and MSG

For some people (such as the editor who can't cook)

It is simply a magical tool for enhancing freshness and flavor

But some people think

Whether chicken essence or MSG

They are all "hard stuff" with added technology

Eating too much is unhealthy and may even cause cancer

Some people think that MSG is made with technology and is unhealthy when they see it, while chicken essence seems more nutritious, whether from its name or the large chicken pattern on the packaging.

So what is the difference between the two?

MSG

The main ingredient of MSG is monosodium glutamate , a natural substance produced from carbohydrates (such as starch, corn, molasses and other sugars) through fermentation, extraction, neutralization, crystallization, separation and drying by microorganisms (such as Corynebacterium glutamicum).

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Its production process is similar to that of traditional fermented foods such as soy sauce, wine, and rice wine . It is not a technologically advanced artificial synthetic product.

Chicken Essence

Chicken bouillon is a compound seasoning that contains not only monosodium glutamate but also salt, nucleotides (freshness enhancers), chicken extract, starch, bulking agents, flavors, and pigments. Therefore, chicken bouillon has a richer taste.

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The main ingredient in MSG and chicken stock is monosodium glutamate, which is not on the "list of carcinogens" compiled by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer .

However, there is also a rumor circulating on the Internet that MSG can cause cancer: when the temperature exceeds 100℃, MSG will form toxic sodium pyroglutamate, which is harmful to health and even causes cancer?

The truth is ↓↓↓

When sodium glutamate is heated to above 120°C, pyroxyl sodium glutamate will indeed be produced, but pyroxyl sodium glutamate is non-toxic and harmless, it just loses its umami taste, and it is also not on the "carcinogen list" .

Therefore, you don’t have to regard MSG and chicken essence as “harmful substances” and can eat them with confidence.

So, does eating chicken essence and MSG for a long time have any impact on health?

At present, both international and domestic food safety agencies have evaluated the safety of MSG and believe that it is safe to consume.

Some people feel headache or dry mouth after eating MSG. This may be because... you consume too much sodium. MSG is also a kind of invisible salt. Its sodium content is about 1/3 of salt. It is not MSG that harms the body .

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Although MSG is safe, safety does not mean 100% health. In daily life, we should pay attention to the following:

1

Reduce salt consumption

The Chinese Dietary Pagoda recommends that the daily salt intake per person should not exceed 5g. Excessive intake will increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

If you use MSG or chicken essence when cooking or making soup, you must reduce the amount of salt accordingly .

2

Gout patients should try to eat less or no food

Nucleotides are added to chicken essence as a flavor enhancer. Nucleotides will produce uric acid after passing through the digestive system, so people with gout should be careful to avoid consuming them.

3

Choose big brands

Whether you choose MSG or chicken essence, you must choose regular big brand products. This is relatively standardized and the quality and safety are more guaranteed.

4

Know when to add MSG

It is best to add MSG when the dish is about to be finished , because the best dissolution temperature of MSG is 70-90 degrees Celsius. If it is added at the wrong time, it will not dissolve or lose its flavor.

If you want to enhance flavor and seasoning in your daily life, is it better to choose MSG or chicken stock?

In fact, this mainly depends on the cooking object and each person's taste requirements.

After all, they are not foods that aim to provide nutrition , so there is no need to consider their nutritional value.

No matter how realistic the taste of chicken essence is, it is just a seasoning and cannot be compared with the nutritional value of chicken .

If you really like the "umami" taste of MSG, but think it has little nutrition, you can consider replacing it with natural foods. Because the main ingredient that makes food taste umami is glutamate, which is also found in natural foods such as kelp, tomatoes, fish, mushrooms, and corn , in addition to MSG.

In short, from the perspective of safety

MSG chicken essence is a very safe condiment

Don't worry about long-term consumption affecting your health

but!

Your favorite luncheon meat, ham, spicy strips...

Most of these heavy-tasting snacks contain chicken essence and MSG.

Be careful about excessive sodium salt!!!

Statement: This article is a medical-related educational popular science article. It does not involve specific treatment methods or medical behaviors and cannot replace hospital visits.

Experts who reviewed this article

References

[1] Chen Yaojun. Food Additives[J]. Chinese Journal of Food Hygiene, 2006, 18(1):93-95. DOI:10.3969/j.issn.1004-8456.2006.01.036.

[2] National Food Safety Standard - Monosodium Glutamate GB 2720-2015

[3] Walker R, Lupien JR. The safety evaluation of monosodium glutamate. J Nutr. 2000;130(4S Suppl):1049S-52S. doi:10.1093/jn/130.4.1049S

[4] Chinese Nutrition Society. Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents[M]. People's Medical Publishing House. 2022

[5] Cao Qingming, Wang Weijie, Zhang Lin, et al. Practice of balanced diet pattern among Chinese residents: Interpretation of "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022)"[J]. Food and Machinery, 2022, 38 (06): 22-29. DOI:10.13652/j.spjx.1003.5788.2022.60050.

[6] Wu Zeyu. MSG and chicken stock, which is safer? [J]. Healthy Life, 2019(6):1. DOI:CNKI:SUN:JKRS.0.2019-06-022.

Content Production

Edit: 100% sweet

Map: Eastern Zhou Dynasty