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MSG And Me
My ongoing war with the food additive.
I’m at war with a food additive and it looks like I may be fighting a losing battle. The additive is monosodium glutamate, better known as MSG, and just when I think I’ve neutralized the enemy, it adopts a new disguise and breaks through my defenses.
Let me explain. Thirty years ago, my girlfriend (now wife) Cheryl and I would often end the work week by dining at a local Chinese restaurant. The food was delicious and we became regular customers.
The only problem was that after we got home, I would inevitably and invariably end up with a flushed face, stomach cramps and ongoing bouts of diarrhea. Not being the sharpest tool in the shed, I made no connection. It was Cheryl who finally pointed out that my unpleasant reactions always followed a meal at our local Chinese eatery.
Once I realized the connection between Chinese food and my digestive symptoms, I figured the problem was solved. No more eating at our favorite restaurant or at least no more ordering any MSG-laden dishes served there.
That solution worked for awhile but not for long. Pretty soon, I realized that I was having the same gastric reactions even when I had avoided all Chinese restaurants. What the heck was going on?
