Why Do You Get Sleepy After Eating Chinese Food?
Fans of Chinese cuisine may have experienced symptoms such as a headache or feeling ill after eating a meal from a Chinese restaurant or takeout, but they may not be aware that these symptoms are caused by a true condition. In actuality, what medical professionals used to refer to as the “Chinese restaurant sickness” is a response to monosodium glutamate (MSG), a condiment that is frequently used in Chinese cuisine.
MSG symptom complex is what happens when the flavoring creates symptoms such as headache, perspiration, nausea, weariness, or high heart rate. This condition has just been given a new label. Ingestion of monosodium glutamate (MSG) is not thought to be associated with any adverse health consequences, and the Food and Drug Administration in the United States considers it to be completely safe for human consumption.
But the MSG symptom complex is a genuine condition, according to medical professionals, and avoiding foods that contain it is the most effective method to protect yourself from developing it. However, the flavor may be found in a variety of foods, including hot dogs, canned goods, and crisps, in addition to Chinese cuisine, making it difficult for many people to avoid consuming it.
Drinking ginger or peppermint tea, staying hydrated, and taking painkillers is the best approach to assist yourself if you do fall prey to MSG, according to Dr. Jane Leonard, a general practitioner and writer based in London. MSG is perhaps most recognized for its application as a seasoning in Chinese cuisine; nevertheless, there is evidence to suggest that it may induce uncomfortable side effects in certain individuals, such as fatigue and nausea.
Although there is minimal scientific proof for the effects of MSG, both patients and medical professionals agree that it is a serious problem, even though they do not fully understand why the seasoning causes these symptoms. MSG is a kind of glutamic acid, which occurs naturally in the human body and may also be found in a variety of foods, such as cheese, meat, fish, mushrooms, tomatoes, and walnuts.
- MSG is a manufactured version of glutamic acid.
- However, despite its natural occurrence, when monosodium glutamate (MSG) is utilized as an additional flavoring, it can have undesirable consequences on the people who consume it.
- In 2014, researchers from the universities of Yeonsung and Kyung Hee in South Korea released their findings that those who ate MSG reported a variety of negative side effects after their meal.
The symptoms that occurred most frequently were feeling dehydrated, drowsy or weak, nauseous, or having a headache.
Why am I sleepy after eating Chinese food?
After indulging in a delectable meal, each one of us is guilty of eventually falling asleep in a cozy chair after a time. This is little more than a routine for some of us. On the other hand, it is unavoidable for some. What exactly is it about food that causes us to feel like we need to nap after eating it? Gastrin is a hormone that stimulates the production of digestive fluids, and when we eat, our stomachs produce more of this hormone than normal.
- As the meal travels through the large intestine and into the small intestine, the cells in the gut continue to emit hormones (enterogastrone) that signal various biological activities, including the regulation of blood flow.
- However, what does any of this have to do with feeling sleepy? When we are digesting a meal, more of our blood is sent to the stomach and the intestines so that the newly absorbed and digested metabolites may be transported out from the body.
Because of this, the remainder of the body receives less blood than it needs, which can make some people experience feelings of dizziness or fatigue. Nevertheless, the body is far more complex than that; it does not react to the volume of food consumed alone.
How do you flush your body of MSG?
Treatment for generally experienced symptoms In most cases, therapy is not necessary for symptoms that are considered to be mild. Taking pain medicines that are available without a prescription, sometimes known as OTC, might help alleviate your headache.
How long do effects of MSG last?
Is it okay to consume MSG? – Certainly. MSG is not considered to be dangerous to one’s health by Health Canada or any of the other numerous bodies throughout the world, including the World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives. A sensitivity to MSG has been documented by certain individuals.
- It is the glutamate component of MSG that is responsible for the manifestation of symptoms such as: Tingling and/or scorching feeling A sensation of pressure being applied to the face Headache Nausea Discomfort felt in the chest In most cases, the symptoms of MSG sensitivity are only transitory.
- They typically begin to manifest themselves around 20 minutes after consuming MSG and typically persist for approximately two hours.
If you have this sensitivity, it is in your best interest to steer clear of MSG and glutamate. Note: If you encounter any of these symptoms, you should not immediately conclude that you have a sensitivity to MSG because of this list. Consult your primary care physician to rule out the possibility that these symptoms are being brought on by an underlying medical problem or an allergy.
Does MSG make you thirsty?
Where does MSG come from? Why Do I Feel Like I Need to Keep Drinking Water After Eating MSG? Monosodium glutamate, sometimes known as MSG, is a flavor enhancer that is frequently used in Asian cooking, as well as in the preparation of packaged and canned foods, processed meats, and fast food.
- MSG works to intensify the flavor of food.
- Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that monosodium glutamate (MSG) is “generally regarded as safe” as a food component, the usage of this substance is still highly debated.
- Some people report experiencing a collection of symptoms known as “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” after consuming food that contains MSG.
It has been suggested that MSG is to blame for this syndrome. In addition to nausea and vomiting, common symptoms include dry mouth, headache, flushing, sweating, numbness, chest discomfort, and many others. These symptoms, fortunately, are just transient and most of the time rather inconspicuous.
What Could Be Causing These Symptoms? Salt of glutamic acid is what MSG is made of (an amino acid). Umami is the name given to the distinctively savory flavor that is imparted by glutamic acid or glutamate, both of which are naturally present in a wide variety of foods, including tomatoes, mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, fish, seaweed, and even human breast milk.
MSG contains glutamate, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter. This neurotransmitter stimulates nerve cells in the brain to become more active. Excitotoxicity is caused when nerve cells are overstimulated, which can result in cell damage or death. Natural glutamate does not contribute to excitotoxicity, but the glutamate found in MSG does.
- The term “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” has been linked to monosodium glutamate (MSG), although researchers have not yet found consistent evidence to substantiate the relationship between MSG and Chinese Restaurant Syndrome.
- As a result, if you are sensitive to MSG, you ought to lessen the amount of this additive that you consume or completely avoid it.
Where does MSG come from? More than a century ago, a Japanese chemist by the name of Kikunae Ikeda isolated MSG from seaweed, which led to the discovery of this flavor enhancer. In contrast, monosodium glutamate (MSG) is produced by the fermentation of starch derived from sugar cane, sugar beets, tapioca, or molasses with bacteria that produce glutamic acid. 
Does Panda Express use MSG?
In contrast to what many people believe, the company’s products do not contain any MSG. MSG is not allowed to be added to any of the materials that are supplied to Panda Express, and the restaurant does not add any MSG to any of the cuisine that it prepares.
Does MSG make you sweat?
The term “monosodium glutamate symptom complex” (MSG symptom complex) refers to a collection of symptoms that are experienced by certain individuals after consuming food that contains MSG. Headaches, flushing of the skin, and excessive perspiration are common manifestations of these symptoms.
Even while there are some people who relate these symptoms to MSG, there is very little scientific evidence that shows a connection between the two in humans. Having said that, there are several anecdotes that lend credence to this hypothesis. One such example is the warning issued by neurosurgeon and author Dr.
Russell Blaylock, who penned the book “Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills.” The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States believes that MSG is safe to consume. The vast majority of people are able to consume meals containing MSG without having any adverse reactions.