Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ecoheart]

I don't know how many of you have been living in South Korea or Asia but I have been here a very long time, perhaps far too long. My greatest concern has always been heath-related, whether it be air, water or food.

I once assigned a Korean university student to research and give a presentation on the subject of MSG (typically referred to as "mi-won" here in ROK. Her findings were nothing short of horrific.

Apparently MSG (and it has been given at least 27 different other names in different countries, like "ajinomoto" in Japan) effects every organ in the human body, particularly the human skin, eyes, kidneys and heart. It gives me a skin rash. It gave a university colleague very scary heart palpitations and a recent obscure article (don't remember where I read it - perhaps it was on www.curezone.com) - suggests that it might even errode away the retina of the human eye, eventually leading to blindness.

... yet WHO (World Health Organization) regards it as essentially a natural (from seaweed but msg is thousands of times more potent than it occurs in its natural form) and, therefore, healthy substance (the msg industry must have a tremendous amount of influence because msg is a very profitable industry).

Yeah, well so is the lowly coco leaf. One could eat lots of them every day (many people do) and they wouldn't really do very much damage ... but try doing a lot of considerably potent cocaine every day and see what happens.

In any event, msg is very cheap and plentiful, so of course one is going to find it in practically everything, particularly in ROK where they don't use many different spices or flavoring agents ...

My advice to you all is to simply go with raw, fresh and unprocessed foods whenever possible ...

[Bloopity Bloop]

LOL. I've known people consume MSG in almost every meal their entire lives. They're doing perfectly fine. In China, they sell it at Walmart labeled as "gourmet powder". One of my roommates in uni told me about memories from childhood about his mom ladling spoonfuls of the stuff into her Filipino dishes. I'm sure, as usual, the fear of MSG is blown out of proportion. There was also a pretty funny Mythbusters episode about people CONVINCED they could tell when they've had meals containing MSG and their "uncanny" ability to detect when they've ingested the substance proved bogus. Whatever ailments they attributed to MSG turned out to be all in their heads. Headaches, nausea, etc.

Thanks for the concern and the desire to spread this knowledge but if the locals (Asia in general) aren't dying off/suffering major illnesses from their diets, I probably won't change mine.

I've lived in China and Japan for quite some time and was raised in an Asian household my whole life. I'm sure I've had more than a ridiculous amount of MSG. I do wear glasses but I wouldn't blame it on the orange chicken at Panda Express.

[yfb]

[ttompatz]

[HalfJapanese]

Anyone remember when the tobacco companies said that there is no link to cigarettes and lung cancer, and they were the ones doing the testing?

There are probably tons of products on the market today that have negative longer term effects over a long period of usage (like cigarettes), that are not know yet or if known they are not telling us.

There is no one size fits all and everyone will react differently to things they are exposed to in their environment. So just because one has an immediate reaction to something while someone else doesn't, doesn't mean that person will not have any long term effects.

There is also those that inject disinformation (on purpose no accidentally) to counter the truth for their own gain. For example, an independent research study shows that some product causes cancer, but the manufacture of that product states that their product does not cause cancer and they are backed by the FDA, when in fact producers know for a fact that it does cause cancer. Now, who is going to believe the producers; who is going to believe the independent research.

If one knew that the FDA did not do their own studies, but instead let the producers turn in a report of their own studies, then people would get suspicious. Also, if it was know that a former CEO of that producer held a position in the FDA, then things would look even more suspicious b/c of the conflicts of interest that could arise.

So it's always important to stay informed and question all forms of authority, instead of blatantly accepting what is stated.

[Steve_Rogers2008]

what caused the OP to get such a boner for giving unsolicited health advice on MSG.....


I have to make up for all those slackers who DEMAND no MSG by ordering twice the amount back home. I'll see what I can do to get it here in Korea-land as well. I'll just cut down on the Soju..... JUST in case.

[NYC_Gal]

[air76]

Too much of anything is bad for you.

MSG won't kill you if you don't eat too much of it.....neither will fried chicken, beer, trans-fat, Pringles, McDonald's, pizza, and so on.....try eating nothing but raw carrots for a week and my guess is that your body will be pretty f-ed up as well.

If you eat a balanced diet, get enough exercise, don't smoke, and don't drink TOO much, then you'll be fine....people get way too fired up about one particular little issue sometimes.

[fugitive chicken]

I think it's a little hard to directly link MSG or really any food ingredient to any one symptom since there are such huge variables like air quality, other unfamiliar ingredients, etc..

However, if you actually manage to take away the MSG from your diet completely even in this MSG unregulated country and everything clears up, that seems like proof enough; but I wouldnt be quick to blame it on something if it just sounds like it might be the cause.

I've always figured that the gastrointestinal cancer had a lot to do with the fact they eat so much kimchi and soju every day.

[curiousaboutkorea]

[curiousaboutkorea]

[AsiaESLbound]

OP has a very legit valid point, but everyone is just LOL at their computers and typing mean crud instead of validating such a complaint about Korean food. As I found out pretty quick, whiners and complainers, regardless how right, are generally not tolerated by the apologists through ostracizing. Wait until Senior and that other user with the avatar showing a pink fan man whipping around with a dancing kid. Just avoid junk food, soups, and most restaurant food, becuase MSG is going nowhere anytime soon. Only place it isn't going is my kitchenette and into my gullet.

[Waluigi]

[djsmnc]

[ED209]

What you talking about? MSG is fine, look at her healthy little self
http://www.newsfroup.net/korea-food/busan--msg_sign.jpg