We’ve all gone out to eat and gotten a stomachache afterward from overeating or bad food, but have you ever had odd symptoms after a night out? You know, like dizziness, headaches, and bodily numbness? You might have experienced Chinese restaurant syndrome firsthand.
Never heard of Chinese restaurant syndrome? Then you can’t miss the information coming your way.
What Is Chinese Restaurant Syndrome? Is It Real?
Although it may sound very much made-up, Chinese restaurant syndrome is a real phenomenon experienced by people. It’s also known as Chinese food syndrome.
It’s believed the syndrome was first discussed as early as 1968. The New England Journal of Medicine had received a letter from a concerned customer who experienced side effects after dining on Chinese food.
Later, it entered a medical reference book, which occurred in 1993. In the years since, its xenophobic ties have been exposed, as it’s not necessarily Chinese food that causes signs of illness but what’s in it. More on that in a moment.
What Are the Symptoms of Chinese Restaurant Syndrome?
If someone has Chinese restaurant syndrome, what kinds of symptoms will they experience?
The side effects include:
- Back and chest pain
- Arterial widening in some cases
- Tingling or burning feeling across the body
- Jaw tightness and other facial pressure
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Head throbbing
- Headache
As you can see, this is not your run-of-the-mill food poisoning, nor is it overeating. These are unique and distressing symptoms. That said, there haven’t been any reported cases of anyone dying from Chinese restaurant syndrome, even if the symptoms can be life-threatening.
What Causes Chinese Restaurant Syndrome?
At first glance, the symptoms of Chinese restaurant syndrome might be reminiscent of a food allergy, right? And while that’s closer to what’s going on, it’s still not exactly it.
What causes the uncomfortable symptoms is monosodium glutamate or MSG for short. This seasoning is a mix of an amino acid known as glutamate and sodium.
Many foods contain MSG, such as instant noodles, condiments, processed meats, soups, frozen meals, seasoning, snack foods and chips, and fast food. MSG provides a dash of savoriness to many foods, which is why it’s used so often.
Some people who ingest MSG experience symptoms, including throat swelling, hives, chest pain, numbness, flushing or sweating, headache, heart palpitations, fatigue or weakness, and nausea.
Sounds familiar, right? Indeed, the above side effects are a lot like Chinese food syndrome symptoms.
As you can see then, when people have reactions, it’s reactions to the MSG in Chinese food, not necessarily the Chinese food itself. Those same reactions could be caused by eating packaged noodles or soup.
Is MSG Bad for You?
It’s not great for you. Even if you don’t experience any adverse effects from ingesting it, MSG has been tied to reproductive issues, central nervous system disorders, and obesity.
That said, the jury is still out. Studies that have found these adverse effects of MSG cannot confirm them in every participant, and so more research is needed.
Some restaurants have chosen to shy away from MSG in the wake of its controversy, wearing their MSG-free tag like a badge of honor. Others have chosen not to change their use of MSG since it has not been directly proven to cause the above effects.
How to Get Some Relief from Symptoms
If you’ve come down with a gnarly case of Chinese restaurant syndrome, do you just have to grin and bear it until the symptoms pass? Not at all. You can try these methods to alleviate your uncomfortable symptoms sooner.
Drink Water
It’s time to get your chug on. Consuming water may help flush out the MSG in your body, leading you to feel better even sooner.
Take a Pain Reliever
An over-the-counter painkiller can treat the painful, unwanted symptoms you’re experiencing, including body aches, tingling, and head pain. Take the dose as prescribed for your age and weight.
Don’t Eat Anything Else with Sodium
In the meantime, skip all sodium in your diet until your symptoms subside. Ingesting more sodium is only going to worsen your discomfort.
Wait It Out
The symptoms of Chinese food syndrome usually pass on their own given time. You don’t have to jump to any medical intervention if you’re not in terrible pain and discomfort. However, you should still avoid consuming more salt.
Reconsider Ingesting MSG
You will likely experience the same symptoms every time you eat MSG, so it’s worth reducing or even omitting it from your diet. You should especially drop MSG if you’ve had a severe, even life-threatening allergic reaction.
Wrapping Up
Chinese restaurant syndrome is a name unfortunately steeped in xenophobia. It refers to a collection of symptoms, including headache, body pain and tingling, and weakness. The name comes from the prime ingredient in Chinese food that causes the syndrome, MSG.
Cutting out your favorite Chinese takeout from your diet can help if you’ve had a bad reaction to MSG in the past. You should also get to know your food labels so you can eliminate other sources of MSG in what you eat.
