I was wondering if anyone else has bad experience when eating out.

It seems that when we go out to eat in a restaurant (on a rare occasion) I have a reaction - severe bloating, headaches, etc. We went out for Thanksgiving & I tried ahead of time to make sure the food would be healthy. I ordered a plain salad (brought my own dressing), plain turkey breast, plain sweet potato, & I brought an apple. I passed on the stuffing, cranberry sauce, veggies, & pies because of the way they were made. Afterwards, I got a bad headache. It almost makes me not want to go out.

Then if we get invided out to someone's house for dinner, it seems that I run into "other" obsticles. Most of our friends are very understanding of what I have been going through & are willing to do whatever it takes. But not my in-laws. They will constantly ask what I can eat & why I don't do this or that. Or they will literally turn up their noses at what I eat. Is there something wrong with eating healthy?

My brother-in-law for example is the prime agitator. He doesn't understand & he doesn't want to understand. On the other hand, he will think nothing of eating 2 pounds of beef by himself on a regular basis. His whole family is overweight & very unhealthy.

Why can't people be more understanding?

Ohhhhhh, I really hear you on this!!

This is the whole issue with my family too.--starting with my Father- the Prime instigator.

He isnt afraid to start a conversation at the dinner table focusing on how I have a screw loose for all my health attempts. I am vegetarian- and he thinks that's ridiculous for example.

My getting my metal fillings replaced took the cake. He couldnt get over that one--especially that I paid about $500 to get 8 metal fillings out. All I heard from him was this big "know it all" speech on things he read on regular dental websites of how safe metal fillings are, etc. --and how GULLIBLE and immature I am to 'buy into all that mercury hysteria", etc.

I'm 42 years old and capable of making my own health decisions-- and I have not preached to anyone in our family about what I do- because i know everyone has to come to the truth on their own.
Nevertheless, they try to start arguments that Im a fanatic-- and all Im doing is keeping my mouth shut and quietly eating a big salad and my mother's vegetables., etc.

I think he also has Quackbusters bookmarked on his computer too.
because throughout the weeks, he keeps yelling for me --so he can tell me about this latest medical study- on how it proves Vitamin E is bad for you, etc., etc.. Then when I argue with him that the drug companies control the media-- he interrupts me and keeps talking over me-- as nothing anyone has to say is of any importance compared to these articles.

So I truly know how you feel== At obligatory holiday relative dinners, I cant really enjoy most of what they serve because its all incredibally chemical laden or starchy. They take offense when I dont eat everything- and they take offense if I have an excuse that I cant make it.-- annnnd my parents think i'm trying to be arrogant.

It's to the point that I rather just take my TV tray upstairs at my computer and eat by myself..

Boldylocks.

Yes, whenever I eat out, I feel unwell, even though I am very careful to try to pick the healthiest food I can. I feel bloated and just plain unwell. It is like when I used to eat potato chips. I always felt bloated and unwell after eating potato chips - and my husband has the same problem.

It is nice to hear that other people are going through the same things as yourself.

My Dad is totally against this whole thing. He keeps on asking me if I got a second opionion. I think to myself all of the opinions that I have gotten throughout the years - 45 doctor's worth & where did that get me. Only sicker & less money in my pockets. My Dad also constantly tells me that his friends says that dentists just say that mercury is a problem so they can make more money off of you. Of course, we all know the truth about dentists & mercury. One day I asked him a question - I said would you take a chunk of mercury & suck on it like a piece of hard candy . . . I got no answer.

We were invited over to my in-laws for Christmas. Between the food, problems, & other issues we declined. Instead we are staying home & making something "good" that we all like. I will probably make a couple "different dishes" dairy vs. dairy-free but at least I know that I won't get sick from what I will eat & at the same time I won't be starred at for eating different foods. Who wants to go through this especially on a holiday?

I find it also difficult having friends/family over here to eat. I really don't want to go out & buy junk food just to satisfy their taste buds. Another problem is birthdays - everyone expects a cake, snacks, etc. - things I don't want to have in the house. But what do you serve?

It is sad but a fact that you find out who is truly your family & friends at a time like this.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is known to cause headaches, bloating, and excessive thirst.

MSG was outlawed a few years ago for use in babyfood because it caused holes on the brains of babies. This information is mentioned in this video:

http://herballure.com/vp/strbc

I hope every parent in America watches this.

I have problems with people being understanding. Not so much over food as having been a vegetarian for 15 years they are used to it, although I did have some comments on it to begin with. The problem I get mostly is people not being understanding over my phobias, the panic attacks sometimes coming out of the blue.

Most people get annoyed with me and make me feel quilty for having had the attack and are not sympathetic at all. Because they can't see it they think the problem isn't there or that I should be able to control it, or that I am just being awkward.

I find some people are better at handling it than others, but a lot of the time I keep to myself because then I am not a pain to anyon. If people are around it's a lot harder and I feel guilty for ruining their day. I always tell them before we go anywhere that I have an anxiety disorder and get panic attacks, but that doesn't always prepare them to cope with me. Lots of people have said to me "you make us all nervous", and then I feel really bad.

A couple of friends are understanding, though, and that is really helpful in relaxing.

Sometimes I wish that these people who aren't understanding could be in our shoes just for one day. Then maybe they would realize what we go through.

What Russ mentioned about MSG being used in restaurants is a good point,.

I always feel bloated when I eat at salad bars or potato chips. MSG is a cheap preserver- so all the restaurants and corporations like to use it.

Beware when you see the word "spices" listed on labels. ITs not kitchen cabinet spices as we know it. The FDA has given food companies permission to use "Spices" as a general term for when a company cant list all the extra chemicals they add to a product because there is no more label room for printing. The word "Spices' is a term that enables them to still remain "legal" when they dont list all the ingredients. MSG is often not listed on a product because it is hidden under the term "spices".

Here is a list I copied of all the nice little names they use for MSG without having to come out and say it is MSG they use:

* Autolyzed yeast
* Calcium caseinate
* Gelatin
* Glutamate
* Glutamic acid
* Hydrolyzed protein
* Monopotassium glutamate



* Monosodium glutamate
* Sodium caseinate
* Textured protein
* Yeast extract
* Yeast food
* Yeast Nutrient

What can someone order when they go out to eat that is safe?

Or is it best not to eat out at all?

I think moderation is the key. As OCD sufferer, all this is starting to give me an eating disorder. I have lost a stone in weight since the summer because right now I am scared of eatiing almost everything - either beacuse it comes from a tin, is in a foil container, cooked in tin, contains soya, or something else, or is high carb, contains sulpher, is animal derived, not enough protein, not organic etc. I can't live like this. So, for me, I'm just going to go down the "everything in moderation route" otherwise it won't be mercury or anything else that will kill me, but starvation.

Thanks for the list of MSG aliases. I am posting on the ToxicPedia website for everyone to see. This is important information. MSG is horrible for you over the long-term.

I guess if it's in Gelatin, everyone will have to join me on Genestra's Sodium Alginate instead of Nature's Sunshine Algin <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Genestra has pure vegetable capsule and is free from yeast, soya and all animal derived products.

OR everyone write to Nature's Sunshine to persuade them to switch to pure veggie capsule. When I emailed them they said that veggie capsules weren't as strong, but I have had no problem at al with them. It would be great if they would only switch capsule as Genestra is not as easy to get or as cheap as Nature's Sunshine.

I just contacted Nature's Sunshine about their gelatin capsules. There is definitely NO MSG in their capsules. Nature's Sunshine capsules are made solely from bovine gelatin.

With my sensitivity to MSG, I would certainly be able to tell if there was any in the NSP gelatin capsules, because I take a lot of encapsulated supplements. As such, I've never had any reactions whatsoever.

I believe the type of "gelatin" referred to in the earlier list is "jell-o" type gelatin. However, it would be a good idea for you to check with your company and make sure they don't use any "additives" in the vegetarian capsules to make them stronger. I, too, have heard that vegetarian capsules are more brittle, so it might be good to find out what is used to create them.

It says on the label: "Guaranteed to contain no added sugar, starch, salt, preservatives, artificial colours, flavours or additives; or any corn, wheat, yeast, gluten, soy, dairy or any animal by products." The capsule is made of pure vegetables.