More commonly known by its abbreviation, MSG, this flavor enhancer is so potent it has been known to trigger a migraine-like attack in someone who was not a migraine sufferer!
MSG occurs naturally in our bodies (as do cannabinoids – but that’s for another column!), but like every other extreme that migraines don’t like, too much of a good thing is… too much!
I enjoy the flavors of most of the cuisines of the world that I have tried, particularly Asian food with its artistry in preparing fresh produce. Decades ago, MSG had a reputation for being added very liberally to that cuisine in North America – until, I’m guessing, it was discovered just how potent a migraine trigger it can be. From that moment on, it was offered as an option – good for those who are not affected, and good to avoid, for those who are allergic or overly sensitive to it.
A good way to avoid this or any other flavor enhancer you are unsure of is to read the labels of the products you buy or get information on their contents after checking with your migraine specialist whether this is a trigger for your migraine condition.
I had the misfortune of being with a very unsupportive partner with little patience for my migraine condition. Whenever I indicated I was getting another attack and went to lie down, he would complain rather ungraciously, thus contributing to increasing my pain at having to deal with another migraine trigger – increased emotional stress.
Until the day we visited friends and went to a local Chinese restaurant with an excellent menu. Everyone ate family style – selecting from the variety of dishes at the center of the table. I asked and very much enjoyed separate portions without MSG.
When my partner woke up that night with the only headache I had ever known him to have – it was a doozie.
Typical migraine behavior – he couldn’t tolerate the air moving around him, any sound was excruciatingly painful, light was insupportable, his head throbbed mostly on one side, and when the pet cat jumped lightly onto the mattress to express its compassion, he cried out in pain at the unexpected movement. The next morning, looking to me to be suffering a migraine hangover, bleary-eyed, he asked me whether my migraines were always that bad. I owned that while most were painful enough, thankfully, the ordeals such as the one he had suffered that past night “only” occurred three or four times per year.
From that moment on and for the next few years, my partner was most supportive when I indicated I had a migraine – he guided me to bed, made sure I had a warm comforter, brought herbal tea and my prescription, and clucked solicitously. This behavior wore out eventually and once he began acting out with his former lack of charm, I commented rather sarcastically that maybe it was time he went out for some more Asian food! (Migraines did not bring out my best behavior either! With my apologies to the Asian community, whose eateries – at least in North America, I am glad to say- have risen to the challenge of nearly eliminating MSG from their cuisine. There are five of my favorite places in Montreal… oh, my… I could eat there nearly every day…)
Not to make MSG the scapegoat among additives, but check with a migraine specialist for a complete list of what food additives are known to cause migraines and at least until you have raised your pain threshold and tolerance level, practice avoidance. My household is gradually eliminating most table salt and refined sugar from the menu, and our taste buds are adapting to it very well.
