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MSG (monosodium glutamate) headaches
I get shocking headaches if I eat anything with mono sodium glutamate (MSG) in it. I cannot find stock for casseroles and soups that doesn’t contain it. Can you help?
I woke up one morning with what felt like a raging hangover and realised Chinese take-outs would have to stop. I’d had nothing stronger than a chamomile tea to drink but my head pounded all day. Fortunately, I’ve now found a local Chinese restaurant that makes a feature of its MSG-free cooking, and so Chinese is back on the menu in my house - but some people have such a severe reaction that Chinese Restaurant Syndrome is now a recognised medical condition.
In large amounts, MSG, which is used to enhance the flavour of food, has been shown to cause a mild state of intoxification. Mild symptoms can include feeling uneasy, a flushed face and a clouded mind. Many sufferers report severe migraine-like headaches. Some people are sick, others break out in hives. What happens, according to the London-based nutritionist, Drew Fobbester, is that MSG crosses the barrier between the blood and the brain and acts as a neurotoxin. It has now been withdrawn from baby food products in America after animal tests showed doses equivalent to those being used in these foods had the potential to cause brain damage.
Lots of the hydrolysed vegetable stock cubes should be MSG-free but to be absolutely sure, the following products contain none of this offending toxin. The Kallo organic stock cube range comes in a variety of flavours; 6 cubes cost 99p plus £1.50 p&p. Braggs liquid aminos all purpose seasoning is another alternative for cooking. 16fl oz costs £3.25 plus £2 p&p. Both products are available by mail order from Revital on 0800-252875.
Drew Fobbester runs a free nutritional consultation service on the Internet. Visit his web page at www.mynutrition.co.uk