Why Does Chinese Food Make Me Throw Up?
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 do I throw up everytime I eat Chinese food?
Monosodium glutamate, sometimes known as MSG, is the primary substance that contributes to the addictive quality of Chinese cuisine and soups. Within a few hours of consuming MSG, a sensitive person may experience headache, giddiness, sweating, stomach discomfort, and urticaria.
Can MSG make you sick to your stomach?
Is Monosodium Glutamate Safe? – Absolutely. Researchers have not been able to demonstrate that MSG is responsible for any of the problems that have been described (e.g., headache, nausea). Because worldwide scientific and regulatory agencies have repeatedly failed to detect any harm from the use of MSG, there is no limitation on its use in foods.
This is one of the reasons why there are no restrictions on the use of MSG. In 1968, an American physician published a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine in which he claimed to have experienced the symptoms of “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome.” These symptoms included numbness in the back of the neck as well as a sense of pressure in the face and upper chest muscles.
MSG is quite common in Chinese dining establishments. Because of this, he proposed that without any prior research, evidence, or data. Studies following studies have failed to reveal any consistent effects among persons who claim to be “MSG-sensitive” when they were blindly exposed to rather high doses of it, despite the fact that the phrase “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” became popular in the United States.