Feels like a hangover, but I had no alcohol? Help needed!

diadojikohei
diadojikohei Posts: 732 Member
in Food and Nutrition
So it was my son's birthday last night and in our house the birthday boy gets to chose what we have for dinner! He wanted to go to our local Chinese restaurant, we use it maybe once a month, and it's really nice with good food.
So after a lovely evening won tun soup al round, crispy seaweed, chicken and cashew nuts veggie spring rolls, chicken fried noodles, crispy lemon chicken and pork dumplings we all go home, no one wants cake so we chat etc and everyone goes to bed not late 10.30 ish.


This morning we all feel awful, like we have hangovers but we didn't have any alcohol at all! My face is all puffy like I've been crying and we all feel tired.

What's going on, what's with the alcohol free hangover?

Any ideas?
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Replies

  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    Actually its easy....

    MSG, Salt and poor carbohydrates

    You probably would have been better off making homemade chinese foods at home so you wouldnt feel this way......
  • tistal
    tistal Posts: 869 Member
    Chinese = Sodium overload. Chug chug chug H2O!!!!!!
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    Chinese = Sodium overload. Chug chug chug H2O!!!!!!

    Also - add exercise to that... get the cardiovascular pumped up to move this excessive sodium-soaked fluid out of your body
  • determinedbutlazy
    determinedbutlazy Posts: 1,941 Member
    Yeah, I was going to say dehydration... Drink lots and lots of water and go for a walk.
  • Capekj51
    Capekj51 Posts: 17 Member
    In addition to the possibilities of MSG and all of the sodium, I find that I sometimes feel like I have a hangover if I drink too much diet caffeinated soda. It feels awful!
  • zoeluiisa
    zoeluiisa Posts: 392
    I'd guess the chef is a fan of MSG... Evil stuff :angry:
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    I'd guess the chef is a fan of MSG... Evil stuff :angry:

    The problem is "local Chinese Restaurant"... they are not even real chinese recipes... its all americanized CRAP.... the REAL stuff would not contain all the MSG, high amounts of sodium... Ive studied under quite a few chinese and japanese chefs, friends with a korean chef, and even they say "its an insult to what our culture truly prepares"...

    Sad, sad, sad
  • Dauntlessness
    Dauntlessness Posts: 1,489 Member
    Possible food allergy, food poisoning or too much sodium. Anyone else feeling like crap that ate the same food too? Id drink a ton of water and maybe even take some Diphenhydramine aka Benadryl.
  • leejayem
    leejayem Posts: 120 Member
    I would probably go get checked by your doctor - on the rare occasion (like you, for birthdays) that we eat Chinese food none of us have ever had a reaction like that. Sounds like you could all be allergic to comething??!!
  • jlohcook
    jlohcook Posts: 228 Member
    MSG, sodium, they may also have added rice wine or some kind of wine for seasoning of the chicken or the dumpling - common ingredient for chinese food, perhaps thay's why the hangover?

    In addition, you may also feel sick, because these food are full of oil , fats, spring rolls are fried, noodles are stir fried, dumpling - pork (I presume). HIgh fats contents makes you feel bloated and sick at times if you are not used to it. In addition, noodles - especially yellow noodles, somehow, its more difficult to digest. I always get gastric when I take too much yellow noodles even though I'm chinese.
  • B_Mindful
    B_Mindful Posts: 38 Member
    Dehydration, without a doubt. Drink as much plain water as you can today, at least 8 glasses -- more would be better.
  • FionaAnne22
    FionaAnne22 Posts: 178 Member
    Yep the dreaded food hangover, get it with all foods like that, as everyone else has said, drink lots and lots of water!
  • MrsLeyva11
    MrsLeyva11 Posts: 90
    I always feel like that after I've had a high sodium day and not enough water to compensate. Like everyone else says, drink water and go for a walk or something :) You'll be amazed how much better you feel. Hangovers are just the result of being dehydrated from drinking too much alcohol and it flushing out the water in your system (being that alcohol is a diuretic) so you wake up the next day dehydrated and with a headache. So you get the same effect when you consume too much sodium. Drink up hun!
  • diadojikohei
    diadojikohei Posts: 732 Member
    Thanks guys!
    I've downed a litre of water so far and two mugs of detox tea as well as my morning cuppa! Walking my daughter to school was a good idea even though I didn't feel like it. It's a real shame too because usually the food is really good, freshly made with very little oil in it. Maybe they have a new chef?!
    We used to live in Hong Kong and the children grew up there so we are use to good chinese food but we've never had this reaction before.
    I never thought of MSG?
    Many thanks for the suggestions.
    x
    edit typo's
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    And not enough water. That hangover feeling is your brain dehydrated. Alcohol drives water out of your cells and into your blood. So does salt.

    Drink.
  • knk1553
    knk1553 Posts: 438 Member
    A hangover is a combination of dehydration/withdrawal from alcohol. So I would say you're dehydrated. That and if you haven't ate there in a while your body probably isn't happy with the MSG/Sodium in it. If it doesn't improve and everyone starts getting sick I would say go to the doctor because it could be a case of food poisoning. Drink TONS of water and try a little exercise.
  • JeninBelgium
    JeninBelgium Posts: 804 Member
    either dehydration or food poisoning
    and while the "chinese" food may have been "americanized crap"- I can attest to the fact that tons of msg is used in China

    as for Comparing Chinese and Japanese and Korean food- Japanese food is nothing like the other two- and China is so big you can't even compare one type of Chinese food to another

    as for Korean food I have had it quite a few times but am not a fan so I can not really comment on it


    Actually I should say Japanese food is nothing like the two especially since I am also saying that Chinese food is so diverse...
    I am, I suppose contradicting myself-

    I found this to back up my real Chinese food has tons of msg claim


    "The average Chinese person now eats an estimated 1.3 pounds of MSG a year, Ms. Wang said, six times as much as just a decade ago. And while most people use it as a flavor enhancer, in recent years some have even been touting its healthful effects: some food scientists here say it improves mental alertness, and it is sold in little red packets carrying images of playing children -- as a drink to fight childhood constipation."
  • Heyyleigh
    Heyyleigh Posts: 268 Member
    Crap in = crap out ;)

    You'll feel better later......... drink alot of water and eat clean today. It's always fun to do that, but it wreaks havoc on the ol body!
  • balletlover
    balletlover Posts: 1
    You're dehydrated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Drink water!! And stay away from so much salt...
  • kykykenna
    kykykenna Posts: 656 Member
    I'd guess the chef is a fan of MSG... Evil stuff :angry:

    The problem is "local Chinese Restaurant"... they are not even real chinese recipes... its all americanized CRAP.... the REAL stuff would not contain all the MSG, high amounts of sodium... Ive studied under quite a few chinese and japanese chefs, friends with a korean chef, and even they say "its an insult to what our culture truly prepares"...

    Sad, sad, sad

    Agree! I worked in a restaurant with Vietnamese owners. They cooked completely different and ate completely different than what was served. Theirs looked GREAT compared to what is typically served. I often wondered why (I was a lot younger) this was the case. Now I know. I often told them "I want to eat what YOU eat!" LOL
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    either dehydration or food poisoning
    and while the "chinese" food may have been "americanized crap"- I can attest to the fact that tons of msg is used in China

    as for Comparing Chinese and Japanese and Korean food- Japanese food is nothing like the other two- and China is so big you can't even compare one type of Chinese food to another

    as for Korean food I have had it quite a few times but am not a fan so I can not really comment on it


    Actually I should say Japanese food is nothing like the two especially since I am also saying that Chinese food is so diverse...
    I am, I suppose contradicting myself-

    I found this to back up my real Chinese food has tons of msg claim


    "The average Chinese person now eats an estimated 1.3 pounds of MSG a year, Ms. Wang said, six times as much as just a decade ago. And while most people use it as a flavor enhancer, in recent years some have even been touting its healthful effects: some food scientists here say it improves mental alertness, and it is sold in little red packets carrying images of playing children -- as a drink to fight childhood constipation."

    I wasnt trying to compare anything, rather than knowing professional chefs from those cultures who just find that there is a gross misrepresentation of the americanized dishes... that is not how they truly eat. It is truly a much cleaner palate.... Dont be so quick to jump on the assumption wagon
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    I'd guess the chef is a fan of MSG... Evil stuff :angry:

    The problem is "local Chinese Restaurant"... they are not even real chinese recipes... its all americanized CRAP.... the REAL stuff would not contain all the MSG, high amounts of sodium... Ive studied under quite a few chinese and japanese chefs, friends with a korean chef, and even they say "its an insult to what our culture truly prepares"...

    Sad, sad, sad

    Agree! I worked in a restaurant with Vietnamese owners. They cooked completely different and ate completely different than what was served. Theirs looked GREAT compared to what is typically served. I often wondered why (I was a lot younger) this was the case. Now I know. I often told them "I want to eat what YOU eat!" LOL

    THANK YOU - clearly someone that understands what I posted!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • diadojikohei
    diadojikohei Posts: 732 Member
    I hadn't thought about the sodium! I have cut right back on sodium and I track it on my food page so I have about 600 to 800 usually per day! Sodium overload! No wonder I've got a banana craving today! Just about to have my 3rd, boost my potassium levels!
    Thanks!
  • samlankford
    samlankford Posts: 334
    Usually every thursday night is takeout night in the folks house, since I had to move back with them while going through divorce with d-bag POS husband we usually get chinese food, they know to get me steamed chicken with mixed vegetables... I don't eat the rice since I don't care much for white rice... I am super sensitive to MSG, I get massive headaches and vomit so where we can order from is slim...
  • pixtotts
    pixtotts Posts: 552 Member
    all a hangover is is dehydration
    so if youve had no alcohol and feel like you have a hangover chances are your dehydrated
    hope you feel better soon :)
    x
  • NeverGoinBack2012
    NeverGoinBack2012 Posts: 49
    MSG...it is a very toxic food additive and flavor enhancer for some people. I can't handle it. I get the worst headaches and become depressed within 24 hours. I rarely eat out for that reason. Chinese food isn't the only food that is sprinkled with this stuff. Most restaurants use it.
  • FitzyFitzpatrick
    FitzyFitzpatrick Posts: 188 Member
    Since we're talking about MSG, please watch for these other ingredients which mimic usual MSG reactions -

    Monosodium Glutamate
    Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
    Hydrolyzed Protein
    Hydrolyzed Plaint Protein
    Plant Protein Extract
    Sodium Caseinate
    Calcium Casinate
    Yeast Extract
    Textured Protein
    Autolyzed Yeast
    Hydrolyzed Oat Flour

    By process of elimation, my husband and I discovered we were VERY sensitive to MSG. Simply CANNOT sleep, and were left feeling anxious and antsy. Can't begin to describe how wonderful it is to be away from this chemical.

    One sad part tho, once you take it out of your diet....if you accidently have some...LOOK OUT BUDDY, you can be moving for HOURS!
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    While the sodium claims are good, I'm almost positive this is MSG related (hate the anecdotal "Omg I've never had a problem, you must be allergic!"). You probably have a MSG sensitivity like MANY people do. It causes headaches, sluggish feeling, sometimes even low grade fever.

    It's how some people feel after they drink certain red wines--it's not really a hangover, but it's a sulfate sensitivity that seems like a hangover.
  • zoeluiisa
    zoeluiisa Posts: 392
    MSG, sodium, they may also have added rice wine or some kind of wine for seasoning of the chicken or the dumpling - common ingredient for chinese food, perhaps thay's why the hangover?

    In addition, you may also feel sick, because these food are full of oil , fats, spring rolls are fried, noodles are stir fried, dumpling - pork (I presume). HIgh fats contents makes you feel bloated and sick at times if you are not used to it. In addition, noodles - especially yellow noodles, somehow, its more difficult to digest. I always get gastric when I take too much yellow noodles even though I'm chinese.

    MSG aside, I thought Chinese food was pretty healthy? Chinese people are rarely overweight. Stir-frying isn't like deep-frying, it uses only the tiniest bit of oil and the veg are cooked super-fast so they retain most of their nutrients.
  • dmpizza
    dmpizza Posts: 3,321 Member
    Dehydration. No question about it.

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