As a common seasoning, MSG is widely used in cooking, such as stir-frying, stewing meat, and soup-making, to enhance the flavor of food. However, not everyone is suitable for consuming large amounts of MSG, especially children. Excessive intake of MSG may have the following impacts:
Firstly, it may affect the level of thyroxine. Thyroxine is crucial for promoting children’s growth, development, and metabolism. Excessive MSG intake can lead to a decrease in thyroxine, thereby interfering with the normal growth and development process of children.
Secondly, MSG may also affect the function of the parathyroid glands, thereby interfering with the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. The parathyroid glands are responsible for regulating the balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body, and weakening their function may lead to a decrease in calcium or phosphorus levels in children’s bodies. Calcium deficiency can affect bone growth, while phosphorus deficiency can have long-term effects on the health of bones and teeth, as these two minerals are the main components of bones and teeth.
Moreover, the high sodium content in MSG should not be ignored. If children frequently consume large amounts of MSG, combined with the salt already present in their daily diet, it can easily lead to high sodium levels in the body, laying the groundwork for future hypertension in adulthood.
Given that children are in a critical stage of growth and development, it is particularly important to arrange diet reasonably. When preparing food, parents should control the amount of MSG used, cultivate children’s natural taste preferences, reduce dependence on such seasonings, promote children’s healthy growth, and stay away from potential health risks. Let children thrive in a healthy eating environment and enjoy a happy childhood.
