Share

Foods that trigger headaches

accreditation
Foods that trigger headaches-300
Foods that trigger headaches-300
Foods that trigger headaches-300

Your head has been throbbing the entire day and you have no idea why. Before popping a pill though, you should probably check your diet.

Food can boost your health and make you feel good, but specific foods can cause headaches. What’s more; habits like fasting, skipping meals and dehydration could all be headache culprits. 

Here are a few of the most common headache and migraine food triggers.

Cured meats

Deli meats like ham, sausage and hot dogs are convenient lunch and breakfast options but these cured meats contain preservatives called nitrates, which helps preserve colour and flavour. Nitrates can release nitric oxide into your blood which may well dilate blood vessels in the brain. This can contribute to migraines and headaches.

Alcohol

Have you ever had a terrible headache after a few glasses of wine? Alcoholic drinks like wine, beer and champagne can make your head pound as certain ingredients in alcohol make the chemicals and blood vessels in your brain act abnormally. Hello, headache! Alcohol can also cause dehydration; another headache offender.

Caffeine 

Your morning cuppa gets you going, but it could slow you down with a throbbing pain. If you’re a coffee junkie, too much or too little caffeine can lead to a headache. Caffeine narrows the blood vessels surrounding your brain, so if you stop having it, they expand again and this can cause pain. Quitting cold turkey is likely to give you withdrawal symptoms, so don’t give it up all in one go. Stick to a small cup a day.

Aspartame

Swapping out sugar for sweetener may be the reason for your migraines. Many low-calorie options like diet soft drinks, breakfast cereals, puddings and gelatines contain aspartame, an artificial sweetener. Too much can trigger headaches and migraines. If you find that you’re sensitive to aspartame, be sure to check food and drink labels to avoid big doses.

Aged cheeses

Aged cheeses like feta, blue cheese and parmesan contain a substance called tyramine. Tyramine forms during the ageing process where proteins are broken down. The longer cheese ages, the higher the amount of tyramine it’ll contain. Tyramine has been linked to migraines and may trigger it in some people. 

Salty foods

Salty foods can be headache culprits. Firstly, many salty foods are processed and may contain harmful preservatives that bring on headaches. Too much salt in your diet can increase your blood pressure, causing headaches and migraines. And, salty foods can make you dehydrated so if you don’t have enough water, you can get a headache. 

Pickled and fermented foods

Like matured cheeses, pickled and fermented foods contain high levels of tyramine. These foods include kimchi (fermented cabbage), pickles, pickled jalapenos and kombucha (fermented black tea). 

Cold foods

It turns out that “brain freeze” is a real thing. Eating something cold, like ice-cream too quickly can cause a headache. Anything cold can egg on nerve pain which happens when the capillaries in your sinuses are cooled down and blood vessels are narrowed. This is more likely to happen if you’re overheated from exercise or hot temperatures.

Good to know

  • Swap alcoholic and caffeinated drinks for headache soothers like almond milk and water. Almond milk has good amounts of magnesium, which helps treat and prevent headaches. Drink lots of water too, to stay hydrated.
  • Eating potassium-rich foods like a baked jacket potato can help relieve headaches from too much alcohol.
  • Spinach is packed with heart-healthy nutrients like potassium, magnesium and folate. These nutrients can help lower and maintain your blood pressure levels, which will help prevent headaches. 
  • If you’re sensitive to sweeteners like aspartame, rather use natural options like maple syrup or vanilla extract.
  • Keep a food journal to find your food triggers.
  • Talk to your doctor before drastically changing your diet. 

Sign off

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE