It took a while for me to put 2 and 2 together, but I've noticed that when I eat at
certain restaurants, I have what seems to be an allergic reaction within 15-30
minutes of eating. The "reaction" consists of runny nose, sometimes sneezing, and
feeling congested. It lasts a couple hours, give or take. I've tried writing down
what I eat when I have it, but for the life of me I cannot find the common
denominator. For example, when we go out for Mexican, 9 times out of 10 I will react
to it, especially taco shop type places (Albertos, El Cuervo, etc). But then again,
when I go to China Fun I get the same reaction. I'm just drawing a blank on what
could be the cause. At one I'm eating carne asada, and at the other, lo mein and
orange chicken.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience anything similar?

kimberly

On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 17:36:02 -0700, "Nexis" wrote:

It took a while for me to put 2 and 2 together, but I've noticed that when I eat at
certain restaurants, I have what seems to be an allergic reaction within 15-30
minutes of eating. The "reaction" consists of runny nose, sometimes sneezing, and
feeling congested. It lasts a couple hours, give or take. I've tried writing down
what I eat when I have it, but for the life of me I cannot find the common
denominator. For example, when we go out for Mexican, 9 times out of 10 I will react
to it, especially taco shop type places (Albertos, El Cuervo, etc). But then again,
when I go to China Fun I get the same reaction. I'm just drawing a blank on what
could be the cause. At one I'm eating carne asada, and at the other, lo mein and
orange chicken.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience anything similar?

MSG?

Carol
--

Some people are like Slinkies... they don't really have a purpose but
they bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

Stolen from "traid" on the IRC

Nexis wrote:
It took a while for me to put 2 and 2 together, but I've noticed that when I eat at
certain restaurants, I have what seems to be an allergic reaction within 15-30
minutes of eating. The reaction consists of runny nose, sometimes sneezing, and
feeling congested. It lasts a couple hours, give or take.


If the reaction is a bad one (and it doesn't sound like it), you could
go to a doctor for blood work. Other than that, you'd have to get the
recipes. I'm guessing a spice or a chemical additive, possibly a
preservative.


--Lia

"Nexis" wrote in message
news:SHA1g.109282$bm6.76754@fed1read04...
It took a while for me to put 2 and 2 together, but I've noticed that when
I eat at certain restaurants, I have what seems to be an allergic reaction
within 15-30 minutes of eating. The "reaction" consists of runny nose,
sometimes sneezing, and feeling congested. It lasts a couple hours, give
or take. I've tried writing down what I eat when I have it, but for the
life of me I cannot find the common denominator. For example, when we go
out for Mexican, 9 times out of 10 I will react to it, especially taco
shop type places (Albertos, El Cuervo, etc). But then again, when I go to
China Fun I get the same reaction. I'm just drawing a blank on what could
be the cause. At one I'm eating carne asada, and at the other, lo mein and
orange chicken.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience anything similar?

kimberly
Possibly an allergy to the chlorine in the water you are drinking (if you
are). I am allergic to the chlorine in tap water. I can smell it a mile a
way for this reason. Pay attention to that, it could be it.
Perhaps you are allergic to any residual on plates of dishwasher cleanser -
chlorine could be a culprit there, too. Some people say that chlorine will
fade away, but too often when plates are being used to the max in
restaurants, I've seen in some chinese places, they don't even completely
dry their dishes.
HTH,
Dee Dee

Nexis wrote on April 19, 2006:

It took a while for me to put 2 and 2 together, but I've noticed that when I eat at
certain restaurants, I have what seems to be an allergic reaction within 15-30
minutes of eating. The "reaction" consists of runny nose, sometimes sneezing, and
feeling congested.

snip

Does anyone have any ideas or experience anything similar?

After going to one particular Asian restaurant, I experience congestion
within several minutes after finishing my meal. The congestion lasts
for about one-half hour. I have
assumed it was MSG, but the problem has never been so severe as to be a
major
concern - more of a minor inconvenience. Others' results may vary.

Damsel in dis Dress wrote:
Does anyone have any ideas or experience anything similar?

MSG?


I second that opinion. Unfortunately, it's in a lot of foods -
especially restaurant ones, and often moreso in "ethnic" restaurants.

I'd suggest you do some research on its other names and check any
processed foods you have at home as well.

Good luck with it!

Nexis wrote:
It took a while for me to put 2 and 2 together, but I've noticed that when I eat at
certain restaurants, I have what seems to be an allergic reaction within 15-30
minutes of eating. The "reaction" consists of runny nose, sometimes sneezing, and
feeling congested. It lasts a couple hours, give or take. I've tried writing down
what I eat when I have it, but for the life of me I cannot find the common
denominator. For example, when we go out for Mexican, 9 times out of 10 I will react
to it, especially taco shop type places (Albertos, El Cuervo, etc). But then again,
when I go to China Fun I get the same reaction. I'm just drawing a blank on what
could be the cause. At one I'm eating carne asada, and at the other, lo mein and
orange chicken.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience anything similar?

kimberly




Yes. MSG.

gloria p

Nexis wrote:
It took a while for me to put 2 and 2 together, but I've noticed that when I eat at
certain restaurants, I have what seems to be an allergic reaction within 15-30
minutes of eating. The "reaction" consists of runny nose, sometimes sneezing, and
feeling congested. It lasts a couple hours, give or take. I've tried writing down
what I eat when I have it, but for the life of me I cannot find the common
denominator. For example, when we go out for Mexican, 9 times out of 10 I will react
to it, especially taco shop type places (Albertos, El Cuervo, etc). But then again,
when I go to China Fun I get the same reaction. I'm just drawing a blank on what
could be the cause. At one I'm eating carne asada, and at the other, lo mein and
orange chicken.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience anything similar?

kimberly

Maybe you can test with tomatoes and see, there is MSG in them. More
info http://www.msg.org.au/main.html

"Nexis" wrote in message
news:SHA1g.109282$bm6.76754@fed1read04...
It took a while for me to put 2 and 2 together, but I've noticed that when
I eat at certain restaurants, I have what seems to be an allergic reaction
within 15-30 minutes of eating. The "reaction" consists of runny nose,
sometimes sneezing, and feeling congested. It lasts a couple hours, give
or take. I've tried writing down what I eat when I have it, but for the
life of me I cannot find the common denominator. For example, when we go
out for Mexican, 9 times out of 10 I will react to it, especially taco
shop type places (Albertos, El Cuervo, etc). But then again, when I go to
China Fun I get the same reaction. I'm just drawing a blank on what could
be the cause. At one I'm eating carne asada, and at the other, lo mein and
orange chicken.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience anything similar?

kimberly


I get the same sort of reaction, sometimes, with alcohol. Not always,
though.

If it's just those two restaurants, though, it could be something other than
the food. Could be some cleaning product they use, or plants or fabrics, or
just about anything environmental. Could be something they've got cooking
and steaming in the kitchen that you aren't eating, but it's getting in the
air.

Donna

Nexis wrote:
It took a while for me to put 2 and 2 together, but I've noticed that
when I eat at certain restaurants, I have what seems to be an
allergic reaction within 15-30 minutes of eating. The "reaction"
consists of runny nose, sometimes sneezing, and feeling congested. It
lasts a couple hours, give or take. I've tried writing down what I
eat when I have it, but for the life of me I cannot find the common
denominator. For example, when we go out for Mexican, 9 times out of
10 I will react to it, especially taco shop type places (Albertos, El
Cuervo, etc). But then again, when I go to China Fun I get the same
reaction. I'm just drawing a blank on what could be the cause. At one
I'm eating carne asada, and at the other, lo mein and orange chicken.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience anything similar?

kimberly

Mexican food and Chinese food have one thing in common that I can think of
right off the bat: cilantro (aka coriander leaves, for the Chinese). Maybe
you are allergic to cilantro?

Jill

"dee" wrote in message
oups.com...

Maybe you can test with tomatoes and see, there is MSG in them. More
info http://www.msg.org.au/main.html

In the USA it's almost universally available in groceries as "Accent" in the
seasonings and spices section. Some groceries carry less expensive generics
of it. A few shakes of this stuff in a salty food would be a reliable test.
It doesn't bother me and in fact I keep a big shaker of it on my spice
shelf.

"Nexis" wrote in message
news:SHA1g.109282$bm6.76754@fed1read04...
It took a while for me to put 2 and 2 together, but I've noticed that when
I eat at
certain restaurants, I have what seems to be an allergic reaction within
15-30
minutes of eating. The "reaction" consists of runny nose, sometimes
sneezing, and
feeling congested. It lasts a couple hours, give or take. I've tried
writing down
what I eat when I have it, but for the life of me I cannot find the common
denominator. For example, when we go out for Mexican, 9 times out of 10 I
will react
to it, especially taco shop type places (Albertos, El Cuervo, etc). But
then again,
when I go to China Fun I get the same reaction. I'm just drawing a blank
on what
could be the cause. At one I'm eating carne asada, and at the other, lo
mein and
orange chicken.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience anything similar?

kimberly



It isn't necesarily somethng in the food it could be in the environment. It
may take you much work to determine what is going on, don't narrow the
search too soon.

David

"Michael "Dog3" Lonergan" wrote in message
.121...
Damsel in dis Dress hitched up their
panties and posted :

On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 17:36:02 -0700, "Nexis" wrote:

It took a while for me to put 2 and 2 together, but I've noticed that
when I eat at certain restaurants, I have what seems to be an allergic
reaction within 15-30 minutes of eating. The "reaction" consists of
runny nose, sometimes sneezing, and feeling congested. It lasts a
couple hours, give or take. I've tried writing down what I eat when I
have it, but for the life of me I cannot find the common denominator.
For example, when we go out for Mexican, 9 times out of 10 I will
react to it, especially taco shop type places (Albertos, El Cuervo,
etc). But then again, when I go to China Fun I get the same reaction.
I'm just drawing a blank on what could be the cause. At one I'm eating
carne asada, and at the other, lo mein and orange chicken.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience anything similar?

MSG?

Carol

MSG was my first thought. My second thought was one of the food dyes but
Nexis did not mention having the reaction when dining at home so I think
that pretty much rules out food dyes. My third thought was a common chile
served in both types of food ;(

Michael

I'd vote for MSG, too. Very popular with people & manufacturers who have no
idea what they're doing when it comes to making things taste good.

On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 17:36:02 -0700, "Nexis" wrote:

It took a while for me to put 2 and 2 together, but I've noticed that when I eat at
certain restaurants, I have what seems to be an allergic reaction within 15-30
minutes of eating. The "reaction" consists of runny nose, sometimes sneezing, and
feeling congested. It lasts a couple hours, give or take. I've tried writing down
what I eat when I have it, but for the life of me I cannot find the common
denominator. For example, when we go out for Mexican, 9 times out of 10 I will react
to it, especially taco shop type places (Albertos, El Cuervo, etc). But then again,
when I go to China Fun I get the same reaction. I'm just drawing a blank on what
could be the cause. At one I'm eating carne asada, and at the other, lo mein and
orange chicken.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience anything similar?

kimberly

How are you with processed foods (chips, noodles, canned soups etc?)
If you react to them too it's the MSG you're allergic to. If not, the
other common denominators between Asian and Mexican foods are
cilantro, corn starch/corn, and peppers.

"Karen AKA Kajikit" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 17:36:02 -0700, "Nexis" wrote:

It took a while for me to put 2 and 2 together, but I've noticed that when
I eat at
certain restaurants, I have what seems to be an allergic reaction within
15-30
minutes of eating. The "reaction" consists of runny nose, sometimes
sneezing, and
feeling congested. It lasts a couple hours, give or take. I've tried
writing down
what I eat when I have it, but for the life of me I cannot find the common
denominator. For example, when we go out for Mexican, 9 times out of 10 I
will react
to it, especially taco shop type places (Albertos, El Cuervo, etc). But
then again,
when I go to China Fun I get the same reaction. I'm just drawing a blank
on what
could be the cause. At one I'm eating carne asada, and at the other, lo
mein and
orange chicken.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience anything similar?

kimberly

How are you with processed foods (chips, noodles, canned soups etc?)
If you react to them too it's the MSG you're allergic to. If not, the
other common denominators between Asian and Mexican foods are
cilantro, corn starch/corn, and peppers.

Some people also react to things like "hydrolized vegetable protein", which
mimics MSG, sort of.