Is Chinese Restaurant Syndrome Real?
While many point the finger at MSG, advocates of the food additive claim that the general feeling of unwell is because people overindulge at Chinese buffets, often mixing cheap and difficult-to-digest foods fried in heavy oil. People who believe they are allergic to MSG almost never claim the same headaches after eating lunch meats or popular-brand soups that often contain MSG.
An Australian study of 71 volunteers who were convinced that they were sensitive to MSG were given a mix of real MSG tablets and placebos. Subjects given real MSG reported no ill effects, while those that were given placebo tablets reported the same syndromes that they felt after consuming Chinese food.
MSG has been shown to increase appetite by making foods taste more appealing and to effect the body's natural appetite-suppression system, hence the symptoms of Chinese Restaurant Syndrome may simply be a result of overeating heavy foods!