Monday

Welcome to another beautiful week! Today, we're talking about:

• Is MSG bad for you?

• What to know about caffeine withdrawal

• An easy way to stay hydrated this summer

• Does caffeine contribute to your daily water intake?

• A unique investment opportunity

Is MSG Bad for You?

You may have heard rumors that MSG is "bad" or even "dangerous." But what does science say?

MSG — short for monosodium glutamate — naturally occurs in many foods, including cheese, seafood, mushrooms, fermented items, potatoes, meats, and more.

It's a flavoring that comes from an amino acid and adds an umami (savory) taste to many foods!

Items like chips, broccoli seasoning blends, soups, frozen meals, and more may contain MSG to enhance the flavor profile.

Numerous agencies and organizations — including the FDA, the National Academy of Sciences, the American Medical Association, the European Commission's Scientific Committee, and others — have deemed MSG safe through extensive evaluations.

So where did MSG begin to get a bad reputation? 

In the late 1960s, an orthopedic surgeon named Howard Steel wrote a fictitious letter under a fake name as part of a bet with a friend that he could get published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In this letter, he claimed he got "bizarre and unpleasant symptoms" after eating at a Chinese restaurant. Upon listing a few things he'd consumed (MSG among them), the assumption was made that MSG was to blame, Real Simple reports.

This led to a decades-long trail of misinformation that led to Xenophobic assumptions around Chinese foods and MSG.

Experts say despite claims, there's not enough research to definitively link MSG with metabolic disorders, increased appetite (some research even shows it may have the opposite effect at later meals), or other claims.

A very small portion of people — around 1% may have MSG symptom complex, a condition that causes things like dizziness, headaches, flushing, sweating, and more after consuming MSG.

Unless you have MSG symptom complex or an allergy or other condition that prevents you from eating it, MSG is generally safe, so there's no reason to avoid it!

What to Know About Caffeine Withdrawal

Caffeine is a daily part of millions of people's lives.

TikTok shows us how to make the perfect cold brew at home, there’s a coffee shop on virtually every corner, and you can find dozens of energy drinks, caffeinated sodas, and other energizing beverages at any given gas station.

Despite being so popular, caffeine is technically a drug — one that stimulates our brains and nervous systems. It can have some noticeable withdrawal symptoms if we stop consuming it when our bodies are accustomed to having it every day.

Some symptoms of caffeine withdrawal include:

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Anxiety

• Flu-like feelings

• Difficulty concentrating

• Irritability

• Less desire to socialize

• Tremors

• Low energy

These symptoms can be difficult to experience, but there are ways to get through them. Remember: they are only temporary.

Cutting back on caffeine, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and finding natural ways to boost your energy can all help. 

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Thank you to NativePath for sponsoring Note To Self. 

Do Caffeinated Beverages Contribute To Your Daily Water Intake?

Caffeinated beverages like coffee and some teas are composed mostly of water, but they are also diuretics.

So, do they help our daily water intake, or do they dehydrate us more?

First, it's important to understand what a diuretic is. A diuretic is something that helps rid your body of fluids. They're generally medications, but other things, like caffeine, are natural diuretics.

While the diuretic properties of caffeine seem like they may counteract any water contained in the beverage, the amount of water in tea and coffee is enough to offset increased urine production.

If you’re drinking a morning cup of coffee or tea, it’s likely you won’t suffer dehydration as a result.

However, drinking five cups or more a day of caffeinated beverages could lead to dehydration. No matter the amount of caffeine you’re drinking, don’t forget to incorporate water as an important part of your day!

Your coffee or tea can contribute to your water intake (in small amounts), but it isn’t a replacement. 

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Parting Thoughts

• ✅ True or False: 400 milligrams of coffee is considered “safe” by the FDA.

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ Snapshot Of The Day: We'd love to see moments from our readers lives that they are proud of! If you recently accomplished an achievement, experienced a joyful moment, or are proud of a picture you have taken, be sure to capture it on camera and send it to us for a chance to be featured next week! 

• 💭 Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: Take a few moments today to drink an extra amount of water and stay hydrated!

Enjoying Note to Self?

Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at [email protected]!