I Seem to Get Headaches After Certain Meals
Understanding MSG
Have you ever finished a meal and a short time later your head is pounding? You might blame stress or dehydration. But sometimes the real culprit is hiding in the fine print on the label.
I am talking about MSG and Aspartame. Scientists call them excitotoxins.
I once treated a middle-aged attorney who was having frequent migraine headaches. They were so bad he was getting Botox injections from his neurologist just to manage the pain.
When I explained that MSG and Aspartame can trigger migraines, his eyes widened. He admitted he was buying sugar-free gum by the case. He chewed it constantly for dry mouth and bad breath.
That gum was loaded with Aspartame.
Here is the science behind it. There is a receptor in the brain called the NMDA receptor. Chemicals like MSG and Aspartame can overstimulate this receptor. That overstimulation can cause headaches, brain fog, and fatigue.
This was first described decades ago as “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome.”
And here is what really makes you think. We use medications for memory loss that work by blocking this exact same receptor. The drug Namenda, used in Alzheimer’s treatment, blocks the NMDA receptor to help improve memory and cognition.
So if overstimulating this receptor is harmful enough that we block it to treat Alzheimer’s, what are these food additives doing to your brain?
The tricky part is that these chemicals hide in plain sight. MSG can appear on labels as “hydrolyzed protein,” “autolyzed yeast,” or “flavor enhancers.” Aspartame shows up in sugar-free gum, diet sodas, and many “light” products.
This is another great reason to stick with whole, nutrient-dense foods. Fewer hidden additives mean fewer surprises.
Here is what I used to tell my patients. When you get a migraine, write down everything you ate or drank that day. Look for MSG. Look for Aspartame. Nitrates may also be a trigger. You may discover a hidden cause that has been sabotaging your health for years.
Pay attention. Check your labels. You might be surprised by what you find.
Authored by Gerard Guillory, MD
Gerard Guillory, MD, is a board-certified internist who practiced for nearly four decades with a focus on functional, root-cause medicine. He is the author of three books on irritable bowel syndrome and the founder of It’s My Health, where he and his team put current health news in context and help members understand the underlying causes of chronic symptoms.
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