Link between MSG and headaches

Ever wonder why you get a headache or migraine after you ate something?  There is a link between MSG and headaches.  Find out here.

What is MSG?

MSG is Monosodium Glutamate.  I’m sure you’ve heard of it.  It’s a food additive and it makes things taste ‘better’.  The problem is that it is a toxic food additive and it can be addictive.  What happens when you eat foods with MSG in it, you start on a vicious cycle since it actually makes you eat faster and more quantity of food.  You are eating so fast because it supposedly tastes so good that you overeat.

The Link Between MSG and headaches

When we eat an abundance of food that contains MSG, it becomes even more toxic in our bodies.  Our bodies can flush out all that bad stuff and it causes headaches.  For me, I get migraines.  I always know when I ate something that I should not have.  Within hours, I get a massive headache / migraine.

MSG is a toxin that disrupts the brain – the part of the brain that manages how much we eat.  We eat more, lower quality food.  It causes those headaches and eventually obesity because of the extra food you are consuming.  You may also experience chest pains, difficulty breathing and you might even feel sick.  And, that’s the link between MSG and headaches.

Fast foods / processed foods

Fast foods restaurants and even chain restaurants use it in their food.  I rarely go to a fast food restaurant anymore – only when I am desperate will I do it and I can’t even tell you the last time that has happened.  I’ve definitely stopped going to Chinese restaurants anymore.  EVERY single time I did, I got a terrible migraine.  I thought I was safe because I’d see a sign in the window that would say ‘No added MSG’.  The operative word there is ‘added‘ – meaning, they don’t add it to the food – but it is already in there.  Very tricky.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Chinese food – actually all Asian food, but I just can’t get it from a restaurant anymore.  If I want Chinese, I have to make it myself.

Other things to watch out for:

• Chain restaurants
• Institutions like hospitals and school cafeterias
• Condiments
• Processed or frozen foods
• Bouillon

I’ve stopped going to chain restaurants.  The food isn’t good.  Once you start eating clean foods, you realize that none of the other options are any good.  All that low quality, processed food isn’t good for you.

What to watch out for

Here are some other things to watch out for:

• Ingredient labels that say ‘seasoning’.  This is a red flag for the hidden MSG.
• Anything hydrolyzed
• Gelatin
• Anything autolyzed
• Textured / isolated soy products
• Maltodextrin
• Natural flavorings
• Sodium caseinate
• Yeast extract

I know it’s a long list but you’ll eventually learn what to stay away from.  You’ll always want to read food labels just to be sure but the task will get easier when you know not to even look at certain foods anymore.