Ok...so what's the deal with MSG?

[Lamb_Serenade]

Many people experience adverse reactions to foods with MSG added.

My DH is one of those people who experience adverse reactions to MSG. He gets headaches but the worst is a intestinal reaction within an hour after eating something containing MSG. So we avoid things containing MSG and restaurants (chinese restaurants are notorious for using MSG) who use MSG in their cooking. Have to read a lot of labels (soups, marinades, etc)

 

[puzzleannie]

I my reaction is what tips me off to the fact I’ve consumed it - because my cheeks get BRIGHT BURNING HOT RED. A flush like you can’t imagine…

yes that flush and hot flash is a common reaction, to MSG and other migraine triggers, because the same thing that makes the face red and hot is happening to blood vessels in the brain that trigger headache. I also get the flush and hot flash with MSG, but with many other migraine triggers–shrimp, wine, smoked or cured meat esp. sausage, sauerkraute, kimchi and similar pickled products, some mushrooms, yellow cheese or any product made with yellow cheese, glutamates and sulfites in general. Some but not all these items also give me chest pain, esp. shrimp, and an all-over hives-like rash

the hot flash thing can happen inside the mouth as well as on the face

 

[puzzleannie]

Google search turned up helpful articles
I am looking for list of foods with hidden glutamates that cause same reaction as MSG

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-monosodium-glutamate.htm
basic facts about MSG
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/farrp-viaAD.pdf
debate on whether MSG allergy is real
http://msgtruth.org/
very alarmist blog against MSG
http://www.msgfacts.com/facts/msgfacts.html
pro-MSG site
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/m/monosodium_glutamate_msg_adverse_reaction/symptoms.htm#symptom_list
good info but lots of ads
http://www.sellingsalesmanship.com/msginfo.html
the foremost anti-MSG alarmist site, but useful because of the list of foods that have MSG in them, and label ingredients that are MSG or glutamates, but don’t sound like it—essential guide to reading labels if you want to avoid MSG

 

[Sina]

You know on the fancy cooking shows, the chef always has a little bowl of salt, and one for pepper and they take an actual pinch when they use it?

My friend from China has a THIRD such bowl for msg! I make so much fun of her! She said it is just the way she grew up learning to make food.

Anyways, I just found out that potato chips ( flavored ones) have major MSG. Yikes. Hmm.

 

[puzzleannie]

to make food.

Anyways, I just found out that potato chips ( flavored ones) have major MSG. Yikes. Hmm.

most flavored chips, cheese curls, corn chips, crunchy munchy stuff that has salty, oniony, bbg, hot, or savory flavors has MSG, read labels

 

[iamrefreshed]

I love MSG. I remember seeing a Rangers - Islanders game from a luxury box that my friends fiance got from her boss at a brokerage firm. Free food and beer. The Islanders won which was great for me!

Honestly, When I first saw the thread title I thought Madison Square Garden.

 

[ack]

Nope…my roommate puts MSG in Latin American seafood dishes. It comes in a big plastic bag full of white crystals, which he dumps in his food with reckless abandon…

Personally, I have msg in my spice cabinet… I use it to enhance the flavor of vegetables in stews, soups, and stirfry. Nobody in my house has a reaction to it…but many people do get nasty headaches from it. Am I the only one who cooks with msg?

 

[NoxSineStellae]

yes that flush and hot flash is a common reaction, to MSG and other migraine triggers, because the same thing that makes the face red and hot is happening to blood vessels in the brain that trigger headache. I also get the flush and hot flash with MSG, but with many other migraine triggers–shrimp, wine, smoked or cured meat esp. sausage, sauerkraute, kimchi and similar pickled products, some mushrooms, yellow cheese or any product made with yellow cheese, glutamates and sulfites in general. Some but not all these items also give me chest pain, esp. shrimp, and an all-over hives-like rash

the hot flash thing can happen inside the mouth as well as on the face

This is so interesting! Thank you! I’ve had it before, on occasion, with shrimp that’s been cooked at home. I had no idea it was related, because it was just plain boiled shrimp.

 

[SeekerJen]

My DH is one of those people who experience adverse reactions to MSG. He gets headaches but the worst is a intestinal reaction within an hour after eating something containing MSG. So we avoid things containing MSG and restaurants (chinese restaurants are notorious for using MSG) who use MSG in their cooking. Have to read a lot of labels (soups, marinades, etc)

That’s the reaction that my cousin has to it (intestinal). It doesn’t bother me or DH, fortunately.

It seems like any other high-frequency food allergen to me. If you’re allergic, avoid it, much like you would dairy or eggs or peanuts. If not, don’t worry about it.

 

[Consecrated]

yes that flush and hot flash is a common reaction, to MSG and other migraine triggers, because the same thing that makes the face red and hot is happening to blood vessels in the brain that trigger headache. I also get the flush and hot flash with MSG, but with many other migraine triggers–shrimp, wine, smoked or cured meat esp. sausage, sauerkraute, kimchi and similar pickled products, some mushrooms, yellow cheese or any product made with yellow cheese, glutamates and sulfites in general. Some but not all these items also give me chest pain, esp. shrimp, and an all-over hives-like rash

the hot flash thing can happen inside the mouth as well as on the face

VERRRY interesting… I have the major flush after drinking wine… I’m not talking “wino” flush, but after just even a half glass my cheeks flame up, which can be kinda embarassing b/c I have a very fair complexion. My in-laws make (gentle ) fun of me… didn 't realize it was related…

 

[puzzleannie]

This is so interesting! Thank you! I’ve had it before, on occasion, with shrimp that’s been cooked at home. I had no idea it was related, because it was just plain boiled shrimp.

I have been told I am allergic to MSG, also to sulfites, and that is hard to know which is causing a reaction, since both occur naturally in so many foods.

 

[strngrnrth]

MSG and aspartame are salts made from parts of proteins. Because these are protein-like, they can bring on a histamine reaction; some immune systems don’t know the protein and for all they know it’s a virus or bacterium and they attack just in case. The whole protein would be recognized but not the salt of a broken amino acid. Allergic reactions can cause cancer through irritation, which can stimulate cell production when it’s not needed. In countries where the plant that MSG was originally made from is a very traditional food, most people aren’t allergic, but in the rest of the world we haven’t adapted to it yet.