I’m pretty sure I got MSG poisoning this past weekend from something that I ate. It has happened before, and the symptoms over the weekend convinced me that I am positively MSG sensitive. It starts with a severe headache, and I’m prone to migranes anyway, and take a daily med for them. Then the nausea and vomiting come next. It’s a day and a half of no eating, and I cannot get out of bed. My life might as well be over during this time. Had I known the food I was going to eat was made with large amounts of MSG, I would not have eaten it.
What exactly is MSG? The National Institute of Anxiety & Stress, Inc. defines MSG as:
“MSG is shorthand for monosodium glutamate. It is a manufactured flavor enhancer that is commonly added to many of the foods Americans eat every day, such as soups, processed meats, Asian cuisine, and frozen dinners. Glutamate is found in two forms. “Bound” glutamate is linked to other amino acids, forming a protein molecule. “Free” glutamate is not linked. MSG is processed, “free” glutamate. MSG is created by separating, or “freeing” bound glutamate from its links to protein molecules. This manufactured separation process adds an extra “punch” to the flavor of food.”
MSG Sensitivity
If a person is sensitive to MSG different reactions may occur. I experienced nausea, headache, sleepiness, confusion. Here’s the complete list of what might happen if you’re sensitive to MSG:
– Anxiety
– Depression
– Migraine headaches
– Skin rash
– Mood swings
– Nausea
– Cramps
– Chest tension
– Dizziness
– Confusion
– Heart palpitations or rapid heart rate
– Flushing
– Burning sensations
– Sweating
– Numbness
– Excessive thirst
– Difficulty concentrating
– Lethargy or sleepiness
– Seizures
– Hyperactivity
– Swelling
– Changes in blood pressure
I wish there was a way to know beforehand how to make sure this never happens again. It causes me to lose two full days of my life when this happens, and it’s occurred quite a few times to me in the last year. This only happens when I dine out, not when I eat at home, and I’ve now associated a certain few restaurants with getting sick and I won’t go back. It’s frustrating and horrible, and MSG is not something that’s needed in food.
