Got Migraines? Hidden Ingredient in Your Food May Bethe Culprit

Those who don't suffer from migraines don't understand how the blinding pain andassociated symptoms (nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, etc.) can bedebilitating. Migraines often result in the inability to work, or even move from aquiet, dark room for the duration of the migraine episode. If you are one of the morethan 28 million Americans plagued by migraines, pain relief may be as simple as achange in your diet.Neurologists specializing in migraine treatment have noted a correlation betweenmonosodium glutamate (MSG) and migraines. Patients of such noted neurologistswere able to decrease their number of migraines to a minimal amount after beingplaced on a MSG-free diet.

What is MSG?

MSG is an additive added to food to enhance flavor. Glutamate is an amino acid(which is a building block of all proteins), and can be found naturally in some foodssuch as tomatoes, grapes, mushrooms, parmesan cheese, and spinach. These foodsrich in glutamate naturally have enhanced flavor, which is why you often find them inmany meals and recipes. MSG is the synthetically manufactured version of naturalglutamate. MSG is then used as an additive to increase the flavor in a variety of foods including soups, sauces, meats, Asian cooking, and snack foods.

How does MSG work?

Naturally occurring amino acids interact with brain cell activity. When MSG is addedto food, it changes the normal brain chemistry to make the food taste better. Yourtongue has several receptors which help identify tastes such as sweet, sour, etc. Freeglumatic acid registers with your taste buds to signal the presence of protein. MSG,therefore, tricks your tongue into thinking the food in your mouth is both a proteinAND nutritious. Unfortunately, it also changes your tongue's ability to recognizenutrition in future foods as well (your tongue will register nutrition in food that maynot have nutritious value). This also allows portions of real, nutritious food to bereplaced with MSG and significantly bring down the cost for food manufacturers. As aresult of ingesting MSG the pancreas is stimulated to increase insulin production. Theinsulin flood causes a drop in blood sugar, and you're hungry only an hour afteryou've eaten. This is a definite plus for food manufacturers and restaurants.

How does MSG affect migraines?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicates there is a portion of population that may be sensitive to MSG. The Journal of American MedicalAssociation identifies MSG as a trigger for migraines. There is scientific evidence thatMSG can cause a migraine attack, while other evidence goes further to suggest MSGactually affects the way serotonin functions normally in the brain. Serotonin is animportant part of understanding migraines, because serotonin is a "brain chemical"that calms overreacting brain cell activity. MSG excites the brain cells. If MSG affectsserotonin's ability to pacify overreacting brain cell activity, while simultaneously