Reducing Sodium Intake

MSG is also low in sodium, with about a third of the sodium of table salt. Many Americans add salt to improve the flavor of food; however, this can be problematic for people watching their intake of sodium. By using a small amount of MSG in conjunction with a decreased level of salt, sodium intake can be reduced by as much as 30 to 40 percent while still maintaining flavor.

By way of comparison, MSG contains about 12 percent sodium while table salt contains 39 percent. And, MSG is used at levels lower than salt. Considering all sources of dietary sodium (natural sodium content of foods, table salt, sodium-containing ingredients in processed foods, drinking water and pharmaceuticals), typical use of MSG contributes about 1 to 2 percent of the total sodium contained in the average daily American diet.

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