Friday, December 23, 2011

MSG Allergies

MSG
Monosodium Glutamate


Many people are plagued by symptoms that they can't explain simply by eating or drinking something that they normally eat, but suddenly they are showing significant signs as I did...beginning by my face breaking out into a bright red rash, itching terribly, feeling flushed, having the rash spread down my neck into my chest area.  One minute I will be sweating no matter how cold it is outside and will have a fan blowing on me in the dead of winter, and then suddenly I will be freezing and getting out of bed to put socks on because I am soooooo cold.  Another thing is I get extremely thirsty or have a dry mouth.  I 99% of the time have something  to drink with me.  I commonly have difficulty concentrating and poor memory (which I now know is called "fibro fog.")  I hate that feeling, knowing that I put something somewhere, but cannot for the life of me remember where that was.  UGH!  I also struggle with obesity...a fact that is embarrassing and a daily struggle for me.  It makes me feel weak, or like a failure which I know are "feelings" from Satan, and NOT the Lord.  I also have symptoms like a diarrhea, pain in my joints, muscles and tendons, bloating, horrible cramps especially during "that time of the month," terrible headaches, & my migraine headaches are intensified too.  Some days I walk around with my sunglasses on in the house.  But I have to because the light, any light, makes my head hurt worse.  I have also been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia about a year or more ago.  It used to be what I called my "Mono Stuff."  Many, if not all of these symptoms, also are much the same as what I have with my Fibromyalgia, BUT they can also be intensified when you learn of an allergic reaction to MSG.   

MSG has has many, many different names that all stand for MSG.  Ones you commonly don't give a second thought to.  Ones like...Soy Protein, Broth, Bouillon, Citric Acid, Milk Powder, Modified Food Starch, Cornstarch, Pectin (used in canning), Corn Syrups, Soy Sauce, Whey Protein, or Whey, Malt Extract, Gelatin, Caramel Flavoring...and so many more.  I have finally printed off a list for myself because there are so many to remember, and laminated it for carrying it in my purse. 

My eating habits have had to change.  It has NOT been easy for me!  I try hard to not have a bad attitude about it, but I do struggle sometimes.  My friend is also allergic to Wheat & Gluten, but I am not, and yet I feel sooooooo limited on what I can eat, that I cannot imagine what I would be like if I could have no breads (especially my homemade breads which consist greatly of wheat flour and gluten), and only eat 99% veggies and fruit.  I already cannot eat some of my favorite things...like Doritos, frozen pizzas or say Pizza Hut (though I can eat homemade pizza with 100% all Natural sauce and no sausage or pepperoni), Taco Bell, regular peanut butters, chip dips, regular Ranch dressings, no more Miracle Whip (only Real Hellman's Mayo), etc. 

This is a poison that is being put in so many foods that we Americans eat and are feeding our children daily.  How many others are out there who have allergies to MSG, or wheat, or gluten, or...things that are making them sick, but there has been no "diagnosis" for.  Think about it.  Spread the news and start asking the right questions! 
Starting to have an MSG reaction, and beginning to get flushed & red faced, and the rash spreading down my neck.  It generally happens within 10 minutes of eating something with MSG.

                                             Patricia, Pat, Me (red-faced), Michelle & Paula -  our AWESOME Connect Group!  :+)

6 comments:

Amber said...

I am sorry to hear about your pain. I have found that eating lots of salads with homemade dressings and green smoothies really help all kinds of health issues. Good luck!

Unknown said...

How do you make green smoothies? I'd like to learn. :+)

Timber said...

Hi Kelly, oh I felt like I was reading about myself when I read this blog post. I haven't been diagnosed with any disease, but I suffered from diarrhea, tons of GI stuff from my throat to my bum, brain fog, painful and stiff joints, anxiety attacks, oh and the list goes on. Even though all tests show that I am NOT allergic to wheat/gluten, when I removed it, almost all of my stomach problems went away, no more loose or watery stools. My anxiety is gone. I do still get the stiff joints. My brain fog lifted in a profound way once I stopped eating wheat as well. Obesity and fibro are a good sign that your body cannot digest wheat!!! In fact, I've heard and ready many places that everyone one with fibro or other auto-immune diseases should NOT eat wheat! I don't know about you, but most people that I come across that have these problems that you talked about will not give up wheat. I don't get it! I gave it up almost 1 year ago. At times it's been hard, but I am so glad that I did. I've found along the way that I am intolerant to a lot more than just wheat. Did you know that a gluten sensitivity will not show up on tests but can CAUSE auto-immune problems? Oh I feel like the Lord lead me to your blog just right now sister. Have you ever tried not eating wheat for 2 weeks and seeing what happens?

ctgrace said...

Wow! I've had the same symptoms for almost two years now. It seems my dr is thinking its all in my mind but I know its not. I've shed tears over not knowing what is wrong with me. I have muscle/joint pain, brain fog, headaches, extremely tired, panic attacks, racing heart beat, blood clotting disorder (anticardiolipin, allergies to codine and other drugs, weight gain and other issues. I feel so much older than I am. After reading this article, I am going to research MSG, Red Food Dye, Wheat and Gluten and see what happens. Thank you so much!

Anonymous said...

Are you sure you don't have thryoid issues. Those sounds very similiar to mine. I was under the normal TSH level but my antibodies were slightly off. Put on a dose on synthroid and I am a WHOLE NEW PERSON!

Unknown said...

Actually, yes I do have have an underactive thyroid as well, that has been low for quite a few years now. My mom and my grandma did too actually. I do take Synthroid for that. And I also found out that I have a blood clotting disorder called MTHFR (that's the short name.) But I really think cutting out the MSG, and over-all, I feel so much better!!!