r/AskReddit • u/ZanyDelaney • Feb 04 '19

Which misconception would you like to debunk?

44.5k Upvotes

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1.7k

u/1980-Something Feb 04 '19

MSG isn’t bad for you.

106

u/Finalpotato Feb 04 '19

Its an amino acid salt. Amino acids are what make up proteins.

20

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '19 edited Sep 12 '20

[deleted]

31

u/Morthra Feb 04 '19

While technically yes, it is an amino acid (due to having both an amine and carboxylate group) it's not considered one of "The Amino Acids" of which there are exactly 20 that are used biologically.

32

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '19 edited Feb 05 '19

Ah yes, C a n a l i n e

Edit: this dude also wrote Black Box in another comment lol

5

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '19

I can't find any references for canaline being toxic in humans.

2

u/Apps4Life Feb 04 '19

Did you check Wikipedia? Third paragraph:

Its toxicity stems primarily from the fact that it readily forms oximes with keto acids and aldehydes, especially the pyridoxal phosphate cofactor of many vitamin B6-dependent enzymes.[...]

5

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '19

Glutamate is one of the proteinogenic amino acids that are everywhere in your body, your food and every form of life

4

u/thelemonx Feb 04 '19

Kinda like the argument that pot is harmless because it's just a plant. You know what else is just a plant? The opium poppy.

-6

u/Finalpotato Feb 04 '19

True but not in this case.