George R. Schwartz
List Price: $4.99
By: Signet
Amazon Marketplace: 13
new & used starting at $2.23
|
Buy at Amazon.com
|
Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Diets & Weight Loss -> Food Counters
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> General
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> General AAS
Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5
Average rating: 5.0 of 5
Definitive book on MSG for the non-specialist general reader 5 out of 5 stars.
63 of 67 people found this review helpful.
George Schwartz, M.D. wrote the first edition of In Bad Taste more than ten years ago. Since then "the use of MSG and MSG-containing substances has more than doubled." While some people can use MSG with no adverse effects, many others have severe reactions to it, some of them life-threatening.Kombu, a seaweed, was first used in Japan as a flavor enhancer. A Japanese doctor isolated the main ingredient--MSG, or monosodium glutamate--and started what has become a million-dollar industry. "MSG is used in processed food, in fast-foods and in Chinese food." It's also found in nearly all canned and frozen foods. It's the "most widely used flavor enhancer in the world."
MSG has been linked to asthma, headaches, and heart irregularities. "Behavioral and physical problems of children, such as incontinence and seizures, as well as attention deficit disorder (ADD), have been diagnosed and successfully treated as MSG disorders."
Those wishing to eliminate MSG from their diets are faced with an almost impossible task. Food preparers are often unaware that they're even using MSG. Labels can be misleading. A label that says "No MSG added" doesn't mean that the food is free of MSG, it simply means that the manufacturer didn't put in additional MSG. MSG goes under many aliases, one of the most common being "hydrolyzed vegetable protein," an additive used to increase the protein content of a wide variety of foods.
Manufacturers also hide MSG as part of "natural flavorings," because it is a natural product. As Dr. Schwartz points out, arsenic is also a natural product--being natural is not the same as being harmless.
Dr. Schwartz describes how MSG works in the body, and lists the symptoms it causes.
He provides several other lists, including the names used to hide MSG, general food sources of MSG, and specific brand names of items known to contain MSG. He also includes a selection of basic recipes to help people reduce their MSG consumption.
Dr. Schwartz says his book will help people learn to identify MSG reactions, and then how to avoid eating it. He adds, "knowing how to avoid this flavor enhancer can dramatically change lives." Readers wishing to understand MSG reactions and avoid using it will find In Bad Taste an invaluable resource.
Sandra I. Smith Reviewer
Editorial Review:
A universally used flavor enhancer, monosodium glutamate (MSG) can be found in many foods. But its adverse effects are undeniable and often severe. Now, this comprehensive, first-of-its kind study dares to explore the dangers of this potentially harmful substance and shows how to recognize the symptoms of MSG sensitivity. HC: Health Press.
