20 Common Foods that Cause Headaches and Migraines
Everyday Foods That Cause Headaches And Migraines – Foods That You Should Avoid
Before we mention the common foods that cause headaches and migraines, we would like to introduce to you some background information about these conditions. Migraines and other types of problems like a sinus headaches and tension headaches have painful experiences. When you suffer from migraines and headaches, you may face the symptoms such as nausea, pounding headache, vomiting, and light sensitivity. Migraines can be treated with abortion and antinausea drugs or preventive medications. The common treatment for the problem is using pain relievers.
Although we have a variety of treatments for headaches and migraines, we cannot ignore the importance of diet for treating headaches and migraines. Many types of research and reports have found the link between diet and headaches. It means that your food will make headache symptoms get worse or get better. According to Deborah Friedman, a neurologist working at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, what you eat and what you drink may trigger your head’s pounding. Therefore, it is crucial for you to keep a food diary to check whether there is a pattern and avoid culinary culprits especially when you are suffering from headaches and migraines. To help the patients with headaches and migraines who want to control unpleasant symptoms, we would like to share with you some common foods that cause headaches and migraines. However, it is important to note that each condition is not the same. The foods triggering problem in many people may not affect you. Therefore, this article is only for informational purposes. However, if it's your concern, please keep reading the following common foods that cause headaches and migraines.
Although we have a variety of treatments for headaches and migraines, we cannot ignore the importance of diet for treating headaches and migraines. Many types of research and reports have found the link between diet and headaches. It means that your food will make headache symptoms get worse or get better. According to Deborah Friedman, a neurologist working at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, what you eat and what you drink may trigger your head’s pounding. Therefore, it is crucial for you to keep a food diary to check whether there is a pattern and avoid culinary culprits especially when you are suffering from headaches and migraines. To help the patients with headaches and migraines who want to control unpleasant symptoms, we would like to share with you some common foods that cause headaches and migraines. However, it is important to note that each condition is not the same. The foods triggering problem in many people may not affect you. Therefore, this article is only for informational purposes. However, if it's your concern, please keep reading the following common foods that cause headaches and migraines.
1. Chocolate
Research conducted by the International Headache Society has found that cocoa in chocolate may protect your nerve cells which can lead to migraines and headaches. 22 percent of patients with headaches may consider the chocolate as a trigger. According to Dr. Rosen, people with headaches develop food cravings just before their attack. Therefore, it is reasonable to say that a migraine or headache attack may make the patients want to reach for a chocolate bar which may not be the cause.
2. Red Wines And Other Alcohols
Red wines and other alcohols may be on the list of common foods that cause headaches and migraines.
Sulfites that are used in red wine preservation may make the symptoms get worse.
Many drinks which contain alcohol will result in a headache by increasing the blood flow to our brain and making our body dehydrated. They are also the triggers of migraines and headaches. Patients with the problem tend to have worse hangovers caused by any alcohol type, according to Robert Daroff, MD, a professor of neurology working at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland and also a past president of the American Headache Society. Alcohol will cause headaches in some patients who have gone through a period of cluster headaches.
3. Coffee
Sometimes, many people may confuse about caffeine. They do not know whether caffeine should be considered as one of the foods that cause headaches or a headache pain reliever. If you stay up late on the weekend and you may wake up the next morning with unpleasant headaches, drinking a cup of coffee that contain caffeine can help you to find significant relief. Moreover, it will increase your concentration in the morning. A little caffeine will be useful in treating migraines and headaches. In fact, caffeine can be found in some migraine medications. However, consuming too much caffeine will lead to trouble. It is vital to drink coffee in moderation if you want to control and find the relief from migraines and headaches. In general, it is recommended to take 200 milligrams of caffeine (about two or three cups of coffee) daily to get headache relief. The alternative better way is to substitute coffee with tea which also contains caffeine.
4. Cheese
There is not enough evidence to prove cheese is a headache trigger. However, most people agree that eating aged cheese will increase the risk of developing migraines and headaches. The possible explanation is that a substance called tyramine is the culprit. Tyramine will form when the proteins in cheese break down gradually over time. According to Rosen, the longer the time cheese is stored, the more tyramine it contains. If you want to avoid headaches and migraines, you should avoid these aged cheeses, including Swiss, blue cheese, cheddar, parmesan, and gouda.
5. The Soy Sauce
Asking for the common foods that cause headaches and migraines, we want to mention soy sauce. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) which is considered the food additive in many foods can be found in soy sauce. Many types of research have shown that MSG may result in some specific health problems such as diarrhea, cramps, and a horrible headache. MSG can cause a migraine in some people. Moreover, the soy sauce is also salty, which can make your body hydrated. Also, dehydration is one of the possible headache triggers.
6. Ice Creams
The stabbing pain you feel in your head when you eat ice creams too fast is a result of eating the ice, not the cream. Because of the cold in ice creams, the stabbing pain in your head will last for 30 to 60 seconds. Ice creams and other cold foods may be one of the migraine causes for patients who experience migraines and different types of headaches while for most healthy people, the pain will disappear quickly. However, if you are a fan of ice creams, you do not need to avoid eating ice creams entirely. The suitable solution is eating ice creams or drinking cold drinks slowly, suggested Daroff.
7. Bananas
Banana may be one of the foods that caused headaches and migraines. Eating bananas may not make healthy people suffer from the problem. However, this fruit could trigger a headache or a migraine in some people who are sensitive to tyramine. Tyramine is the substance found in aged cheese. Recent studies showed that the banana peel has 10 times much more tyramine than banana pulp. Although there is not enough reason for this, you should avoid this food if your food diary points out the particular signs of headaches after eating bananas.
8. Processed Meat
There is not enough reliable evidence and research that show processed meat can lead to a headache, according to Rosen. However, the nitrites and the nitrates which are used as preservatives in bacon, hot dogs, and lunch meats will affect the blood pressure and cause headaches and migraines in some people. Therefore, if your diary shows that processed meat is one of the triggers causing trouble, you should avoid it. Lean meat and fish are the better alternative healthy foods for not only patients with headaches but also all people.
9. Aspartame
Some people may think that diet sodas and juices are the best choices if they want to lose weight. However, diet sodas have no-calorie and low nutrients which are not beneficial for your health. Moreover, many studies and research have shown the close link between aspartame, the artificial sweetener in diet sodas and juices, and headaches. Therefore, if your food diary points out that you are sensitive to aspartame and you have the symptoms of headaches or migraines after drinking diet sodas, you need to check the ingredient list of diet juices and sodas. (Side effects of using Aspartame)
10. Leftovers
Tyramine content will increase when foods are stored over time. Therefore, foods which are not stored improperly will increase the risk of developing migraines and headaches in some people who are sensitive to tyramine. If you are prone to suffering from a frequent headaches due to tyramine, you should avoid eating leftovers. You should be careful when eating at the office or at parties where the foods are often left unrefrigerated for a long time period. If you want to store food, it is smarter and more vigilant to keep them in airtight containers before placing it in the refrigerator. When storing foods, you should pay attention to their limited time.
11. Nitrites
Nitrites are the substance in many particular foods such as hot dogs, pepperoni, and deli meats. Studies have found that consuming nitrites can cause migraines. Moreover, nitrates can also be found in turkey, chicken, and soy sauces or other foods which are smoked, cured, canned, or pickled. To keep a headache and migraine conditions under control, you should find nitrate-free varieties of these products at the grocery store and exclude them from your meals.
12. Tannins
If you suffer from headaches and migraines, it is recommended to avoid tannins, and plant compounds that can be found in some foods that cause headaches such as red-skinned apples, tea, pears, red wine, apple juice, and cider. These foods may give an astringent taste or pucker, dry sensation in your mouth. Tannins seem to be a strong trigger for headaches and migraines in some individuals.
13. Sulfites
Besides nitrites, sulfites are another food preservative that is used in foods that cause headaches and migraines like dried fruits (including figs, prunes, and apricots), white wine or red wine, and many processed foods. The only way to avoid this food preservative is to read the product labels before purchasing.
14. Common Additives
It is said that many food additives can result in migraines and headaches. Foods that cause headaches and migraines contain common additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), hydrolyzed or autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP), and hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), kombu extract (used in Japanese foods), yeast extract and sodium caseinate. Therefore, as a way how to keep headaches and migraines at bay, you should read the labels carefully before purchasing.
15. Beans
All kinds of beans, including navy beans, string beans, kidney beans, and lima beans, are thought to be food triggering headaches and migraine. The possible reason may be that these kinds of beans contain tannins, a culprit for your headaches and migraines. Eating beans when you are suffering from headaches and migraines will worsen your condition. Therefore, if you get diagnosed with the problem, you should avoid consuming beans.
16. Pickles
If you are experiencing headaches, you should stay away from all the foods which have been pickled, for example, beets, eggs, olives, peppers, vegetables, cucumbers, and so on.
17. Olives
Olives are one of the foods which cause headaches and migraines in some people. The possible reason may be that olives contain tyramine, a substance that can increase the risk of developing headaches. Therefore, to control headache symptoms, you should avoid or limit olives intake.
18. Avocado
If you are sensitive to tyramine and your diet diary shows that you have headache symptoms when eating foods containing tyramine, you should avoid eating avocado, one of the foods that cause headaches and migraines. Avocado has an excellent source of tyramine.
19. Pizza
Fast foods like pizza not only make you gain weight but also are one of the common foods that cause headaches and migraines. The possible reason may be that the yeast in pizza may trigger the problem.
Soft pretzels are also food triggers for headaches if you overeat. The possible culprit is also yeast.
20. Whole Milk
If you suffer from a headache, you should not drink whole milk because casein and choline may result in migraines and headaches, according to recent studies.
These are 20 common foods that cause headaches and migraines that we want to share with you. We hope that this article is helpful for you. If you have any questions, please raise your voice by leaving your comments below. We will answer as soon as we can.
DR. APPIAH
Dr. Appiah is a Natural Health Therapist (Naturopath) who engages the natural healing agents given by God to save lives. EAT FOOD AS MEDICINE! EAT TO LIVE, DON'T LIVE TO EAT!! FOR BOOKINGS AND MORE: WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCTS? WANT A PERSONAL(CERTIFIED) NATURAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER? REACH ME DIRECTLY ON WHATSAPP +233245643615 appiahinok@gmail.com
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