MSG - Explanatory Article

Our most recent assignment was to write an explanatory article on a topic of our choice. I chose monosodium glutamate (MSG). Here are the results.

“MSG Free” is a phase that is becoming more prevalent on the front of soup cans, chicken stock boxes, and many other products as consumers demand more natural and healthy foods. But what is MSG? Why do I not want it in my food? Is it bad for me?

Monosodium glutamate, commonly known as MSG, is an additive used in food to enhance flavor, but experts do not know how MSG adds flavor to food, according to a FDA backgrounder in 1995 on MSG. They do know, however, that glutamate, an amino acid, occurs in our bodies as well as many foods and has the same effect, but MSG is not naturally occurring and producers synthesize MSG by fermenting starch, sugar beets, sugar cane, or molasses. MSG is in most canned soups, beef and chicken stocks, flavored potato chips, frozen dinners, and almost all fast food.

In 1959, the FDA classified MSG as a “generally recognized as safe” additive. However, in 1969, Dr. John Olney published an article called “Brain Lesions, Obesity, and Other Disturbances in Mice Treated with Monosodium Glutamate.” The article brought the additive into the national spotlight. Olney pointed to a study in which newborn mice were given injections of MSG. The animals showed evidence of stunted skeletal development, obesity and female sterility as adults.

Since that time, many studies have tested the outcome of Olney’s experiments and results have not been conclusive. The FDA said, in their 1995 report, that MSG is safe for human consumption. Nevertheless, the FDA has recognized that an unknown number of the population are sensitive to the additive and can have minor adverse reactions. The effects include burning, numbness and tingling in the neck, forearms and chest; facial pressure; chest pain; headache; nausea; accelerated heartbeat; drowsiness and weakness. The report also stated that MSG could aggravate asthma. However, “[a]ny time you ingest too much sodium it can increase salt in your blood” which can cause these effects said Kris Miller, professor of biology at Oklahoma Christian University.

While the FDA has given the green light to MSG, it is still studied and there are questions about the 1995 report. A 2006 article published in the European Journal of Clinical Medicine drew a direct link between birth weight and oral ingestion of MSG in rats. It seems that MSG has the most significant effects on unborn fetuses and infants. The article further found that this would reduce the weight of the rats as adults.

The study also found that the rats fed the most MSG, 5 grams per day, doubled the amount of daily food intake and MSG has a greater effect on females. Some scientist dispute these results by saying that primates respond differently to the additive than rodents do. Miller also suggested that MSG like any other salt “releases hormones that make the brain think it’s hungrier.” He suggested that this would explain the obesity connection, saying that the additive itself did not cause obesity, but it does causes an increase in appetite, which leads to over eating.

The FDA requires that food containing MSG have “monosodium glutamate” listed in the ingredient list. They are also considering stricter restrictions on the use of the term “MSG Free” on labels and are continuing to study the additive’s effects.

Not So Far From Home

Here is an opinion article that I wrote on Monday after the Virginia Tech Shooting. It ran in The Talon opinions section on Friday.

Life Before Starbucks (Published)

Here is the final edit of "Life Before Starbucks" that ran in the Talon.

Still Here

I know that I haven't posted much lately, well until today, but I have been working on an article for the Christian Chronicle, a monthly newspaper for the Churches of Christ. It's office is on the campus of Oklahoma Christian, although it is not affiliated with the school. We are doing it for our feature writing class, but it will be published when we are done. It is in the editing stages now and I will post it when it's done. I co-authored this with Whitney McCormick, another student in my class.

Under the Banner of Heaven - Book Review

This is a book review I did over Under the Banner of Heaven for my feature writing class. It was pretty simple we read the book and then wrote the review.

Under the Banner of Heaven, by Jon Krakauer, is a non-fiction novel which has received many high praises. The New York Times Book Review said, “Powerfully illuminating…Almost every section of the book is fascinating in its own right, and together the chapters make a rich picture…An arresting portrait of depravity.”

Krakauer begins by painting a detailed and sometimes graphic picture of the violent history of the Mormon faith. The book begins with the account of the aftermath immediately following the cold-blooded murder of Brenda Lafferty and her baby daughter Erica by two of her brothers-in-law. Dan and Ron Lafferty claimed that the murder was the fulfillment of a divine revelation.

Krakauer also spends a short amount of time discussing the abduction of Elizabeth Smart and explains why she was so susceptible to the influence of her abductor.

The story then continues on to describe how many fundamentalist colonies are taking advantage of the U.S. system of government and then flashes back to the founding of the Mormon Religion by Joseph Smith Jr. in the mid 1800s. He explains why and how Mormonism was able to so quickly take hold and survive in the midst of a religious revolution in the United States when so many other religions failed.

Krakauer describes in great well researched detail various violent events of Mormon history. Many of which were sanction by Latter-day Saint officials. The book tells the story of the journey of the Mormon Church during its early history to eventually settle in Utah after being forced out of New York, Missouri, and Illinois.

He is able to clearly lay out the evolution of the Mormon faith into the religion that it is today as well as explain the deviation of the fundamentalists from the modern Mormon faith.

Under the Banner of Heaven does an excellent job of exploring the tenants of the Mormon faith and how many of the more controversial ones, including plural marriage came to be. It also contains so incite into how these tents, specifically divine revelation have shaped the faith.

Krakauer explains the dramatic and harmful effects that plural marriage has on the young girls that are affected by it. He gives an insightful look into their lives. There are many different first-hand accounts of incest and rape by polygamist.

The story ends with a detailed account of the murders and the drama that unfolded in the court room and prison involving Dan and Ron including Ron’s attempted murder of his brother Dan while in prison which he claims was also divinely reveled.

The story jumps back and forth between the history of the founding of the Mormon faith and it’s violent past and the modern event of several individuals acting on their fundamentalist Mormon beliefs. Even though this method can become slightly confusing at times it is highly effective.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in world religions. It will greatly advance the readers knowledge and understanding of the Mormon and Fundamentalist Mormon beliefs. It is written in an unbiased manner that flows easily. It is evident that Krakauer spent a large amount of time reading historical documents of the Mormon Church and interviewing everyone from religious experts to Dan and Ron Lafferty themselves. The book is well researched and well written.

Krakauer is a non-fiction author and outdoorsman. He grew up in Oregon and was the third child of five. He was surrounded by members of the church and fascinated with the faith. He has worked as a magazine journalist for Outside. His writing has also appeared in Smithsonian, National Geographic Magazine and Rolling Stone.

Krakauer is also the author of a number of other non-fiction works, including best-seller Into the Wild which is being adapted into a film directed by Sean Penn and is set to be release this year. Krakauer also wrote New York Times best-seller Into Thin Air.

Another book on the subject includes The Mormon Conspiracy by Charles L. Woods which looks at the “the political ambitions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how they have become successful in this goal unnoticed by the majority of Americans.”