Do you suffer from regular headaches or migraines? When you notice a headache triggering pattern, something you do or don’t do, you’re in control of the situation. However, if the pain is random, you might be slightly concerned. Although there are well-known causes of headaches, such as stress or lack of sleep or water, particular food has been scientifically connected to kicking off that throbbing skull pain.
Read on to find out more.
1. Alcohol
Sulfites, a natural ingredient of wine and added to other alcoholic beverages to preserve freshness, have been connected to migraine headaches. Even without the sulfites, alcohol is a diuretic, and it promotes water loss through your urine. Therefore, its dehydrating effects can cause your head to pound.
2. Food Containing MSG
A typical food flavor enhancer, Hydrolyzed vegetable protein, is a plant protein broken down into amino acids. When one of the acids, glutamic acid, interacts with your body’s free sodium, they create MSG (Monosodium Glutamate). MSG is known to cause adverse reactions like headaches and nausea.
When it’s directly added to food products, manufacturers must include it in the list of ingredients to meet FDA standards. Familiar food sources with MSG include processed foods, soups, and sauces.
3. Cured Meats
The reason bacon, hot dogs, and lunch meats often have a longer shelf life is thanks to preservatives, nitrates, and nitrites. Cured meats include naturally occurring chemical compounds that dilate blood vessels, leading to headaches. Plus, the heavy salt content causes dehydration – again leading to a headache.
4. Diet Drinks
The FDA has received thousands of complaints over the past 30 years regarding the side effects of the artificial sweetener aspartame. People have claimed to experience headaches, dizziness, and even memory loss. While the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has given the green light to consume aspartame in moderation, it’s probably worthwhile ditching artificially-sweetened products altogether.
5. Avocados
Many believe that avocados are good for us. And, yes, avocados are an excellent source of folate, vitamin E, and monosaturated fat. However, they are also a potent source of the naturally occurring compound tyramine, which forces your blood vessels to constrict and expand – the perfect set-up for a nasty headache.
Keeping Headaches at Bay
Headaches and migraines can be disruptive and distracting, especially when they happen out of the blue. Food and drinks containing artificially added preservatives are a big no-no and should be consumed in moderation. Products that dehydrate us, such as alcohol, are also a one-way ticket to headaches or migraines. As well as consuming alcohol in moderation, to avoid a headache, replace lost fluid by drinking water.
