Chinese food and Chinese Restaurant Syndrome
Is Chinese food unhealthy? Or is it Chinese take-out? What’s the diff anyway? Chinese food is very popular in a lot of countries. But Chinese food has often been criticized too. There is always that issue of Chinese food containing a lot of saturated fats and carbohydrates. Then there’s also the term Chinese Restaurant Syndrome which was coined in the 60s when some Americans who ate at Chinese restaurants experienced a combination of symptoms like drowsiness, tingling, headaches, and slight numbness on the back. It is also called monosodium glutamate symptom complex since MSG is a very common flavor enhancer used in Chinese dishes. So is it really bad for you?
Chinese food isn’t exactly a favorite but I enjoy eating it. I was thinking of ordering Mey-Lin’s sesame balls a while ago which actually inspired this post. I remember I was once diagnosed with Chinese Restaurant Syndrome a couple of years ago. I guess I got it not because I eat a lot of Chinese food but because of all the junk I consumed.
I think Chinese food can also be healthy depending on what you order and how much you eat. If you see that glass noodles glistening with oil, then choose another, say the steamed variety to cut back on calories. To avoid sodium, maybe you could reduce the amount of condiments that you use since most Chinese dishes are flavorful on its own. You don’t have to ban those dimsums and lobster balls and that shiny, crispy Peking duck in your diet. I guess you just have to do it in moderation. Thinking about all those food makes me hungry. Now aside from the sesame balls, I’m also craving for some almond jelly with lychee…
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My opinion is that it’s probably not the best food for your body. But, on the other hand, Japanese food is very healthy, especially Shabu Shabu=:)
I love Japanese food! I put wasabi in almost everything. I even tried the wasabi ice cream once. *lol*
I want almond jelly and lychee too. I can never find that here. Normally, it’s only almond jelly that they have in restau.
well cuz, you can make almond jelly with lychee at home if you want. just look for almond flavored jelly and cook according to package instructions (you can add milk instead of water to make it creamy though). then just add canned lychees with light syrup and crushed ice. yum. :)
I have been to China and I find their food healthy especially the vegies. Oh well, the MSG is another story. Just like you said, eat in moderation.
In fact, when I cook at home, I do not use MSG anymore. What about junk food? It contains MSG too, but why are most of us still get to grab a mouthful of it?
When I got back from China in late 2003, I swear that I would not eat Chinese food for the longest time since I had much of it when I was there. Nakakasawa talaga. It took me a year before I finally ate Chinese cuisine. Nakakalula yatang kumain ng siopao bun sa China na walang laman. :)
I do love Japanese food, too! Perhaps I really am partly Japanese since my grandfather was partly one. :)