After having a home recording studio that was getting busy, I contemplated to build a professional one. I bought books about sound acoustics, and studio construction. Then, Jun, my brother-in-law and I made trips to Dallas, Texas and to visit the top recording studios.
During the visits, we talked with the studio owners and engineers. Two questions we usually asked them: “What made their studio better than the rest?” and “Why should we choose them if we did a recording project.” We paid close attention to their room layout, acoustic treatment, esthetics and what equipment they had.
After spending the entire day making our rounds, we headed back for home to Baird, a good 3 hour drive from Dallas. After a long exhausting day we were starving, so we got off the interstate in city Arlington to find a Chinese restaurant. During that time there were no cell phones and internet to help locate businesses. We went to a gas station because our car was running low on gas. During those times, there were gas attendants that filled your tank. We asked the gas attendant about Chinese restaurants in the area. He told us there was one down the road.
After filling up we drove to the restaurant, and we noted from the looks of the building they may have been there for a while. When we got into the restaurant, there were about three customers. We got waited on right away after we settled on our table. Immediately, without looking at the menu, we ordered sweet and sour chicken, chicken chow mein, and chicken fried rice. We were starving and the food really was tasty. It didn’t take long to eat all that we ordered.
When we sat in our car ready to go home, then I felt a flushed sensation in my face, slight dizziness and a mild headache. I told Jun of how I felt and he answered that he too got hit by the same sensations. After about 5 minutes the symptoms we both felt went away. I told Jun I think we both reacted to MSG (monosodium glutamate) a flavor enhancer food additive commonly used in Chinese cuisine.
According to Mayo Clinic nutritionist Dr. Katherine Zeratsky, MSG has been used as a food additive for decades. Over the years, the FDA has received many anecdotal reports of adverse reactions to foods containing MSG. These reactions — known as MSG symptom complex — include:
· Headache
· Flushing
· Sweating
· Facial pressure or tightness
· Numbness, tingling or burning in the face, neck and other areas
· Rapid, fluttering heartbeats (heart palpitations)
· Chest pain
· Nausea
· Weakness
However, researchers have found no definitive evidence of a link between MSG and these symptoms. Researchers acknowledge, though, that a small percentage of people may have short-term reactions to MSG. Symptoms are usually mild and don’t require treatment. The only way to prevent a reaction is to avoid foods containing MSG.
I admit I love Chinese food. I am, however one of those who a get reaction from MSG and I make sure it is not in my food. That is why I prefer dining on spicy Asian dishes because they rarely add MSG to them. There are health benefits of the substance that cause the spiciness in peppers called capsaicin. New studies from the American Association for Cancer Research suggest that capsaicin can also kill prostate cancer cells by causing them to undergo apoptosis (cell death).
They reported capsaicin to have benefits in increasing metabolism by burning fats, relieving topical pain, and reducing insulin spikes in diabetes. Be warned that it can cause burning or stinging pain to the skin and, if ingested in large amounts by adults or small amounts by children, can produce nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and burning diarrhea. Eye exposure produces intense tearing, pain, conjunctivitis, and blepharospasm, and running nose.
For those who don’t have any reaction to MSG, you may reassured to know that FDA has considered it safe as a food additive. So don’t let MSG make keep you away from Chinese food. If you’re one of those like me who have a reaction to MSG, learn to enjoy the spicy culinary cuisine. Bon appétit.
