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Original poster

Why do I get a head ache after eating Chinese food?

44 replies

colditz · 07/01/2006 22:26

I always get a dull headache after we have a Chinese takeaway, and I am wondering if it is something in the ingredients?

I always have -

Battered king prawns
Sweet and sour sauce
House special chow mein
Some prawn crackers

All of this seems inoccuous enough to me!

Any ideas?

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 07/01/2006 22:27

Possibly an MSG thing? If your takeaway place uses MSG?

(Although I've read MSG sensitivity is mythical, I'm not sure I believe that, as my mouth always goes funny after significant amounts of it.)

getbakainyourjimjams · 07/01/2006 22:27

MSG-chinese food is full of it- very common- sometimes known as "chinese restaurant syndrome".

WigWamBam · 07/01/2006 22:27

Could be the monosodium glutamate - causes headaches in some people.

puff · 07/01/2006 22:27

monosodium glutamate may be added - its a flavour enhancer

mrspink27 · 07/01/2006 22:27

probably the chemicals and additives in it. MSG more than likely is the main cause.

getbakainyourjimjams · 07/01/2006 22:28

Anyone who thinks it is mythical should spent 24 hours with us after ds1 ingests it (or I could just send the photographs).

puff · 07/01/2006 22:30

My brother has very bad reactions to msg, so was delighted to find a chinese takeaway that did additive free food when he moved house not so long ago.

MuddlingThru · 07/01/2006 22:30

Could also be a lot of salt in it, leaving you dehydrated (esp. if drunk with wine, not that I would know ). So an extra glass of water might help.

Original poster
colditz · 07/01/2006 22:31

So what would have the MSG in it?

I had no idea about this, I thought MSG was a crisp and pot noodle offender, I didn't realise it could turn up in what looks like a well balanced chow mein! I gave exactly the same to my two year old!

(This is a rare treat, BTW, in case anyone thinks I don't cook. I had a blood test earlier and didn't cry, which is exceptionally brave for me)

OP posts:
PotPourri · 07/01/2006 22:32

MSG leaves a nasty taste in my mouth too. I never like crisps - I like the idea of them, eat them and then have a nasty taste for 24 hours. Probably best to make your own with jars, I don't think they have it in?

MrsSpoon · 07/01/2006 22:33

Agree about the MSG and the salt. I generally wake in the middle of the night with a raging thirst after a takeaway.

WigWamBam · 07/01/2006 22:33

Colditz, they usually put MSG in everything!

NotQuiteCockney · 07/01/2006 22:33

The chow mein is the most obvious offender. MSG makes savoury food taste, well, better. More meaty. The battered prawns might not have MSG. Prawn crackers, dunno. But chow mein would, for sure, if anything would.

NotQuiteCockney · 07/01/2006 22:33

You can buy pure MSG, by the way. It's called "Accent", at least in Canada.

Pruni · 07/01/2006 22:35

Message withdrawn

Original poster
colditz · 07/01/2006 22:35

Gutted. So it wasn't just a flippin' coincidence then, I really do have a problem with Chinese food, my favourite food ever

Will have to make my own!

OP posts:
Pruni · 07/01/2006 22:36

Message withdrawn

Original poster
colditz · 07/01/2006 22:39

I don't know about the parmasan, I have never had it

I don't eat meaty flavoured crisps, and don't tend to buy ready meals either, just because I just... don't! What else could have it in that I might not expect? I will eat some in a few days time and see what happens!

OP posts:
Callmemadam · 07/01/2006 22:40

MSG sensitivity is NOT mythical, I have had it for the last 20 years and its not funny - used in a lot of products beside chinese food (hula hoops, for example). Colditz, its probably in the chow mein, but could be in the other products if prepared outside the restaurant: it is usually added as a flavour enhancer similar to salt in Chinese cooking. My local Chinese will prepare dishes for me without MSG if I ask, and are very helpful: some other places I've been just ignore the question, which makes me think they bring the food in and don't know what's in it. It can cause mild to severe headaches, furry tongue, and most obviously palpitations which can also become very distressing. If I eat it without knowing my heart speeds up so much I become breathless.
Don't give up on the chinese though; a good one will provide additive free dishes on request.

Callmemadam · 07/01/2006 22:40

MSG sensitivity is NOT mythical, I have had it for the last 20 years and its not funny - used in a lot of products beside chinese food (hula hoops, for example). Colditz, its probably in the chow mein, but could be in the other products if prepared outside the restaurant: it is usually added as a flavour enhancer similar to salt in Chinese cooking. My local Chinese will prepare dishes for me without MSG if I ask, and are very helpful: some other places I've been just ignore the question, which makes me think they bring the food in and don't know what's in it. It can cause mild to severe headaches, furry tongue, and most obviously palpitations which can also become very distressing. If I eat it without knowing my heart speeds up so much I become breathless.
Don't give up on the chinese though; a good one will provide additive free dishes on request.

Toothache · 07/01/2006 22:41

Could it be the salt content making you dehydrated?

Chinese food makes me SOOOOOOO thirsty!!!

NotQuiteCockney · 07/01/2006 22:43

Hmm, Pruni, that's the same argument I've read ... Glutamate is in Parmesan, tomato paste, and a bunch of other things that don't give me funny sore mouth.

But maybe there's some difference between glutamate, and mono-sodium glutamate? No idea. I know I've reacted to things before knowing they have MSG in them, including things that I'd been told didn't, only to find out they did.

I waver about whether it's real. But things with MSG in often have colourings and flavourings in them that I'd rather avoid anyway, so it's not like I'm missing out.

Pruni · 07/01/2006 22:43

Message withdrawn

Original poster
colditz · 07/01/2006 22:43

I am very thirsty, but I eat a lot of salt quite frequently( again!) and don't usually have a headache.

I don't ever remember reacting like this when i was younger, only in the last few years.

OP posts:
Pruni · 07/01/2006 22:44

Message withdrawn