Free glutamate is a naturally occurring amino acid found in mushrooms, tomatoes and parmesan cheese, which gives foods a savoury taste. If it rings a bell, that might be because you recognise it’s more controversial form – monosodium glutamate (MSG). This long-demonised food additive is the extracted compound combined with salt. It has been blamed for a wide range of health concerns, however studies show that the slated dangers of MSG are mostly unfounded.
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Researchers recently looked at the effect MSG has on the appetite and food intake, analysing the behaviour of women who consumed a bowl of chicken broth with MSG added, compared to those without it added. After the meal, researchers used three different tools to determine its impact – a computer to measure inhibitory control and self regulation of eating, special glasses that tracked eye movements during a buffet meal, and a brain scan that measured brain activity while participant made food choices.
The found that the subjects who ate the broth with extra MSG showed a greater indication of self control and a lower intake of saturated fat following the meal.
"Many cultures around the world advocate drinking a broth before a meal. Our study suggests the possibility that people at high risk of obesity could benefit from an umami-rich broth before a meal to facilitate healthy eating and healthy food choice," said senior author Miguel Alonso-Alonso. "However, here we only evaluated immediate effects and in a laboratory context. Future research should address whether these observed changes can accumulate and affect food intake over time and/or whether they can be leveraged to help people lose weight more successfully."
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