Does MSG Really Cause Headaches?

Rooted & Restless with Marianne Smith Edge · May 14, 2026 · 37m

In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with Mary Lee Chin, MS, RDN and owner, Nutrition Edge Communications about glutamate (MSG). Together, they explore how one ingredient became the center of food fears, cultural misconceptions, and decades of misinformation.

Mary Lee shares the origins of MSG and how the term “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” emerged from a racially charged narrative in the late 1960s.They also discuss what current science says about MSG—and why it may even help reduce sodium intake while maintaining flavor.

What We Cover

The discovery of MSG and umami…