MSG is a food additive used in restaurant and processed foods to boost flavor, but research shows monosodium glutamate side effects may include weight gain. People who started a study at a healthy weight but were among the highest MSG consumers -- taking in about 5 grams a day -- were 33% more likely to be overweight at the end of the study 5 years later. And, surprisingly, it's not because better-tasting food enticed people to eat more. The monosodium glutamate side effects bumped up the risk of extra pounds, regardless of calorie intake. The researchers suspect the MSG food additive might somehow interfere with the signaling powers of appetite-regulating hormones. But while a growing body of research suggests MSG may have negative impacts on weight and appetite hormones, more research still needs to be done to confirm the findings and understand the exact influence of the monosodium glutamate side effects.
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