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Chinese Restaurant Syndrome

Chinese Restaurant Syndrome questions and answers

Learn more about Chinese Restaurant Syndrome at Diet & Health.net.

Q: what is your reaction about "chinese restaurant syndrome"..? how does it affect those chinese people out there
What is 'Chinese Restaurant Syndrome' and what causes it? This answer is brought to you by many of the Australian nutrition professionals who regularly contribute to a nutrition email discussion group. Chinese Restaurant Syndrome is a combination of symptoms that include feelings of burning, flushing, tingling and tightness - symptoms that some people experience after eating a meal from a Chinese restaurant. For at least thirty years the claim has commonly been made that monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the cause of Chinese Restaurant Syndrome. Although a claim that is commonly made may indicate an association or (possibly) even cause and effect, such a claim must be supported by appropriate studies before it can be considered to be scientifically valid. Many studies have been conducted to test the claim about MSG and Chinese Restaurant Syndrome. Some (but by no means all) studies have reported finding a relationship between MSG and the syndrome. Evidently, in a small group of people, the concentrations of MSG added to meals served at some Chinese restaurants consistently trigger the symptoms of Chinese Restaurant Syndrome. Because this association is not consistently reproducible in all sufferers, it appears that some people who experience symptoms are responding to something other than MSG. Another possible cause (among several) is the high salt level of many Chinese foods - excessive salt was suggested by the doctor who first described the syndrome (Dr Kwok), as a more likely cause than MSG. Clearly, the last word on the food components that trigger the symptoms of Chinese Restaurant Syndrome has not been spoken (or written). More carefully-designed studies are needed before all of the causes of this syndrome are identified, but it does appear that MSG is one cause, at least for some people. As a cautionary measure, it would be prudent to avoid choosing the saltiest items on the menu in a Chinese restaurant; the waiter can tell you (or find out for you) which items are the saltiest. People who know they are intolerant to MSG can usually handle the natural MSG content of foods such as tomatoes and mushrooms, and can simply ask for a meal with no added MSG.

A: no one cares.

Q: reactions on "chinese restaurant syndrome"?

A: It's from the MSG.

Q: What is a 'Chinese Restaurant Syndrome'?

A: I think head aches from too much MSG.

Q: Chemistry help! MSG food-enhancer?
Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a food-flavor enhancer, has been blamed for “Chinese restaurant syndrome,” the symptoms of which are headaches and chest pains. MSG has the following composition by mass: 35.51 percent C, 4.77 percent H, 37.85 percent O, 8.29 percent N, and 13.60 percent Na. What is its molecular formula, if its molar mass is about 169 g/mol? Thank you!

A: Na (0.1360)(169 g/mol)/(23.99 g/mol) ≈ 0.958 ≈ 1 H (0.0477)(169 g/mol)/(1.008 g/mol) ≈ 8.00 ≈ 8 C (0.3551)(169 g/mol)/(12.01 g/mol) ≈ 5.00 ≈ 5 N (0.0829)(169 g/mol)/(14.01 g/mol) ≈ 1.00 ≈ 1 O (0.3785)(169 g/mol)/(16.00 g/mol) ≈ 4.00 ≈ 4 C5H8NNaO4 "The 1995 FASEB report reaffirmed the safety of MSG when it is consumed at usual levels by the general population, and found no evidence of any connection between MSG and any serious long-term reactions. The report indicated that no evidence exists to suggest that dietary MSG or glutamate contributes to Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, or any other long-term or chronic diseases. There was also no evidence suggesting that dietary MSG or glutamate causes brain lesions or damage to nerve cells in humans. But the report did identify short-term reactions known as MSG Symptom Complex in two groups of people. The first group includes people who may have a reaction after eating large doses of MSG, particularly on an empty stomach. A large dose would be three grams or more per meal. A typical serving of glutamate-treated food contains less than 0.5 grams of MSG. The second group includes people with severe and poorly controlled asthma. MSG Symptom Complex can involve symptoms such as numbness, burning sensation, tingling, facial pressure or tightness, chest pain, headache, nausea, rapid heartbeat, drowsiness, and weakness. Asthmatics may experience these symptoms as well as difficulty in breathing. Additional studies in asthmatics under controlled conditions have not produced consistent results."

Q: Chemistry help! MSG food-flavor?
Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a food-flavor enhancer, has been blamed for “Chinese restaurant syndrome,” the symptoms of which are headaches and chest pains. MSG has the following composition by mass: 35.51 percent C, 4.77 percent H, 37.85 percent O, 8.29 percent N, and 13.60 percent Na. What is its molecular formula, if its molar mass is about 169 g/mol? Thank you!

A: Suppose you have 100 g of MSG. Then according to the percentages given, there are 35.51 g C, 4.77 g H, 37.85 g O, 8.29 g N, and 13.60 g Na. Convert those quantities to moles. 35.51 g C / 12.0 g/mole = 2.96 moles C 4.77 g H / 1.0 g/mole = 4.77 moles H 37.85 g O / 16.0 g/mole = 2.37 moles O 8.29 g N / 14.0 g/mole = 0.592 moles N 13.60 g Na / 23.0 g/mole = 0.591 moles Na Divide each of these by the smallest (0.591) and we get C - 5.01 H - 8.07 O - 4.01 N - 1.00 Na - 1.00 So the empirical formula is C5H8O4NNa. The formula weight for this is (5 x 12.0) + (8 x 1.0) + (4 x 16.0) + (1 x 14.0) + (1 x 23.0) = 169, which happens to be the molar mass. So the molecular formula and the empirical formula are the same, C5H8O4NNa.

Q: I have a diarreah problem, what can I do to cure it?
About 4 months ago I went to a chinese restaurant and since then I have a diarreah problem that comes and goes every other day. What can I do to detect the problem? Could it be parasites? or another kind of infection? First time in my life that I have this kind of problem. Please help. It is not Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I have had Imodium, Flagyl, Antibiotics, etc.... nothig seems to work..... :o(

A: Diarrhea occurs because more fluid passes through the large intestine (colon) than that organ can absorb.The most common causes of acute diarrhea are infections (the cause of traveler's diarrhea), food poisoning, and medications. Medications are a frequent and often over-looked cause, especially antibiotics and antacids. Less often, various sugar free foods, which sometimes contain poorly absorbable materials, cause diarrhea.Chronic diarrhea is frequently due to many of the same things that cause the shorter episodes (infections, medications, etc.); symptoms just last longer. Some infections can become chronic. This occurs mainly with parasitic infections (such as Giardia).

Q: Tommy Cooper classics?
Tommy Cooper classics Went to the paper shop - it had blown away I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find any. I bought some HP sauce the other day. It's costing me 6p a month for the next 2 years. Last night I dreamed I ate a ten-pound marshmallow, and when I woke up the pillow was gone. Police arrested two kids yesterday, one was drinking battery acid, the other was eating fireworks. They charged one and let the other one off. A woman told her doctor, 'I've got a bad back.' The doctor said, 'It's old age.' The woman said, 'I want a second opinion. 'The doctor says, 'OK. you're ugly as well.' 'You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today. They left a little note on the windscreen, it said 'Parking Fine.' So that was nice.' A man walked into the doctor's, The doctor said 'I haven't seen you in a long time' The man replied, 'I know I've been ill' A man walked into the doctor's, he said ' I've hurt my arm in several places' The doctor said 'well don't go there any more' I'm on a whiskey diet. I've lost three days already. Went to the corner shop - bought 4 corners 'So I got home, and the phone was ringing. I picked it up, and said 'Who's speaking please?' And a voice said, 'You are.' 'So I rang up my local swimming baths. I said ' Is that the local swimming baths?' He said ' It depends where you're calling from.' 'I went to the doctors the other day and I said, 'have you got anything for wind' , so he gave me a kite.' I went to the Doctors the other day, and he said, 'Go to Bournemouth, it's great for ' flu. So I went, and I got it.' A man goes into the doctors. The doctor says, 'Go over to the window and stick your tongue out' . Man says, Why? The doctor says, 'I don't like my neighbours' Two Aerials meet on a roof - fall in love - get married. The ceremony was rubbish but the Reception was Brilliant. Now, most dentist's chairs go up and down, don't they? The one I was in went back and forwards. I thought ' This is unusual' . And the dentist said to me ' Mr Cooper, get out of the filing cabinet.' Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. And there are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my mum or my dad. Or my older brother Colin. Or my younger brother Ho-Cha-Chu. But I think it's Colin. 'Doc, I can't stop singing the green green grass of home.' That sounds like Tom Jones syndrome.' Is it common?' It's not unusual.' I went into a butchers and I said, 'I'll have a pound of sausages.' He said, 'I'm very sorry, sir, we only serve kilos in here.'I said, 'Okay then I'll have a pound of kilos.' 'So I said to the doctor'. ' People keep taking the Mickey out of me because I keep thinking I'm a cricket ball.' The doctor said 'Howzat?'I said, don't you start' . So I knocked on the door at this bed & Breakfast and a lady stuck her head out of the window and said: 'What do you want'I said, 'I want to stay here.' She said, 'Well stay there' and shut the window. 'I had a meal last night. I ordered everything in French, surprised everybody. It was a Chinese restaurant. I said to this Chinese waiter, 'Look, this chicken I got here is cold.' He said, 'It should be, it's been dead two weeks.' I said, 'Not only that.'I said, I said... I said it twice, I said, 'He's got one leg shorter than the other.' He said, 'What do you wanna do with it, eat it or dance with it?' I said, 'Forget the chicken, give me a lobster, and he brought me this lobster. I said just a minute, he's only got one claw.' He said 'Well he's been in a fight.'I said, 'Well give me the winner.' A man takes his Rottweiler to the vet.' My dog's cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him? 'Well, 'says the vet, 'let's have a look at him'so he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then checks his teeth. Finally, he says ' I'm going to have to put him down.' What? Because he's cross-eyed?' No, because he's really heavy' So I went to the dentist. He said, 'Say Aaah.'I said, 'Why?' He said, 'My dog's died.' A man goes to the Psychiatrists and the Psychiatrist says: 'What's the problem' The man says, 'I think I'm becoming a kleptomaniac.' The Psychiatrist says, 'Here take these tablets and if you're no better in a week' .....' Bring me a colour TV'

A: just like that eh? v.good but its the way yer tell em

Q: irritable bowel syndrome???
after every single 'mildly' spicy meal i often have to nip to the loo before i've left the restaurant because of whatever i have just eaten. annoying thing is, chinese, curry, nando's are all my favourite foods. but i am starting to notice it more often after most dinners... mainly meat.

A: Its true that spicy things can cause irritation to the bowel but it doesn't necessarily mean you have IBS. Most of the foods you mention contain monosodium glutamate which some people may be intolerable to and hence your problems. I have IBS (actually suffering quite badly at the moment - after not having bother in a long time!) sometimes its difficult to pinpoint exactly what triggers it but symptons include an urgency to run to the toilet (hell hath no mercy for anyone who may get in your way!) loose/mushy stools and or dioherroa, abdominal pains and cramping, lower back pain, sometimes a nausea feeling and in my case I then seem to trigger off headaches / migraine attacks. Other people can experience severe constipation. It is also possible to alternate between dioherrea and constipation. Its a complex condition but you will need a doctor to diagnose it for you. Unfortunately there is not many remedies out there or cure its a matter of learning what works best for you and living with it. Some tips I have are reduce refined carbs and high fat foods, increase fibre content (my diet is already high in fibre but my doc recommended taking fibergel supplement to bulk up - I found this to be a bit of a contradiction to bulk up when you are already going to the loo lots but apparently it works and for both loose movements and constipation). If you experience severe pains and cramping try buscopan tablets. Drinking flat coke is also supposed to help with stomach pains. Drink plenty of water. Try to eat fresh and unprocessed foods. Food intolerance testing is also something worthwhile trying - As well as IBS I have PCOS and had bad throat/gland probs (I think my hormones are well messed up!!) But after getting these tests I was told I was highly intolerant to eggs (which I ate almost daily!), dairy and pork. I have eliminated these products and over the past 8-10 weeks am noticing the difference - I have had no probs with my throat/ears, I am less sluggish, my skin has improved and Ive lost weight - all I need now is for a miracle cure for IBS cos at the mo its awful and nothing seems to be working. De stressing is also recommended!! Hope this helps u and perhaps anyone else reading! D

Q: Should MSG be banned?
MSG (Mono Sodium Glutamate) is used as a flavour-enhancer in many foods but is also a toxin which damages nerves, particularly during development. Developing fetuses and young children are especially vulnerable to MSG, even in relatively small doses. Adults are less susceptible to the effects of MSG because adult nerves have stopped developing and growing. Nevertheless, MSG is still toxic in larger amounts. MSG is frequently used in quite high amounts in Japanese and Chinese food and there is a recognised effect called "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" which results from eating too much MSG - the symptoms are dehydration, headaches and sometimes blurred or distorted vision. In larger amounts you may see dizziness, fainting or even lapsing into coma. In Japan, about 5 people a year actually die from eating too much MSG. I happen to be MSG intolorant. I was in aniphlictic shock monday. I am still suffering after effects. It changes my personality and alters my motor skills. I think that it should be banned. MSG in food causes developmental problems in unborn and young children. MSG may also cause Autisem? Maybe that's why the rate of defects in children is so high today? They are now saying that MSG causes memory issues with adults too. I personally get very sick from MSG- I have been hospitalized for aftereffects and was in a week-long coma from it when I was 3. People die from this, and it causes people to be violent. It goes under many names, such as Monosodium Glutimate, MSG, Natural Flavors, Artificial Flavors, Partially Hydronized Soybean Oil, and many others. I think this dangerous chemical should be banned- it is, in my opinion worse than alchohol or drugs. What is your opinion? I got my info from my doctor, the aisian foods is the originators of MSG, I have an extreame sencitivity to it

A: Where did you get all of your information? You single out the Japanese and Chinese which is unfair for them; in reality a lot of race uses MSG on their food. There are lots of mexican restaurant in our town that uses a lot of MSG as well as Italian restaurant etc. They do not eat the MSG as is, it is mixed in the food and the amount of mixture should be less than 1/4 teaspoon. If you eat MSG by itself you will have health problems. You probably ingested a huge amount of MSG if you are experiencing your so called recognized effet of "chinese Restaurant Syndrome". that means the food that was prepared for you have more MSG than it should have.

Q: Tommy Cooper classics?
Tommy Cooper classics Went to the paper shop - it had blown away I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find any. I bought some HP sauce the other day. It's costing me 6p a month for the next 2 years. Last night I dreamed I ate a ten-pound marshmallow, and when I woke up the pillow was gone. Police arrested two kids yesterday, one was drinking battery acid, the other was eating fireworks. They charged one and let the other one off. A woman told her doctor, 'I've got a bad back.' The doctor said, 'It's old age.' The woman said, 'I want a second opinion. 'The doctor says, 'OK. you're ugly as well.' 'You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today. They left a little note on the windscreen, it said 'Parking Fine.' So that was nice.' A man walked into the doctor's, The doctor said 'I haven't seen you in a long time' The man replied, 'I know I've been ill' A man walked into the doctor's, he said ' I've hurt my arm in several places' The doctor said 'well don't go there any more' I'm on a whiskey diet. I've lost three days already. Went to the corner shop - bought 4 corners 'So I got home, and the phone was ringing. I picked it up, and said 'Who's speaking please?' And a voice said, 'You are.' 'So I rang up my local swimming baths. I said ' Is that the local swimming baths?' He said ' It depends where you're calling from.' 'I went to the doctors the other day and I said, 'have you got anything for wind' , so he gave me a kite.' I went to the Doctors the other day, and he said, 'Go to Bournemouth, it's great for ' flu. So I went, and I got it.' A man goes into the doctors. The doctor says, 'Go over to the window and stick your tongue out' . Man says, Why? The doctor says, 'I don't like my neighbours' Two Aerials meet on a roof - fall in love - get married. The ceremony was rubbish but the Reception was Brilliant. Now, most dentist's chairs go up and down, don't they? The one I was in went back and forwards. I thought ' This is unusual' . And the dentist said to me ' Mr Cooper, get out of the filing cabinet.' Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. And there are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my mum or my dad. Or my older brother Colin. Or my younger brother Ho-Cha-Chu. But I think it's Colin. 'Doc, I can't stop singing the green green grass of home.' That sounds like Tom Jones syndrome.' Is it common?' It's not unusual.' I went into a butchers and I said, 'I'll have a pound of sausages.' He said, 'I'm very sorry, sir, we only serve kilos in here.'I said, 'Okay then I'll have a pound of kilos.' 'So I said to the doctor'. ' People keep taking the Mickey out of me because I keep thinking I'm a cricket ball.' The doctor said 'Howzat?'I said, don't you start' . So I knocked on the door at this bed & Breakfast and a lady stuck her head out of the window and said: 'What do you want'I said, 'I want to stay here.' She said, 'Well stay there' and shut the window. 'I had a meal last night. I ordered everything in French, surprised everybody. It was a Chinese restaurant. I said to this Chinese waiter, 'Look, this chicken I got here is cold.' He said, 'It should be, it's been dead two weeks.' I said, 'Not only that.'I said, I said... I said it twice, I said, 'He's got one leg shorter than the other.' He said, 'What do you wanna do with it, eat it or dance with it?' I said, 'Forget the chicken, give me a lobster, and he brought me this lobster. I said just a minute, he's only got one claw.' He said 'Well he's been in a fight.'I said, 'Well give me the winner.' A man takes his Rottweiler to the vet.' My dog's cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him? 'Well, 'says the vet, 'let's have a look at him'so he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then checks his teeth. Finally, he says ' I'm going to have to put him down.' What? Because he's cross-eyed?' No, because he's really heavy' So I went to the dentist. He said, 'Say Aaah.'I said, 'Why?' He said, 'My dog's died.' A man goes to the Psychiatrists and the Psychiatrist says: 'What's the problem' The man says, 'I think I'm becoming a kleptomaniac.' The Psychiatrist says, 'Here take these tablets and if you're no better in a week' .....' Bring me a colour TV'

A: absolutly bl**dy brill....................u totally brightened up my long nite at work............thank u.................xxxxxxxxxxxxxx