By tracking your headache episodes through your headache diary, you may be able to identify specific foods that
trigger your headaches.
Not only can specific foods trigger a headache, but dietary habits can also play a role. Fasting, dehydration, or
skipping meals may cause headaches in some people.
Some of the most common foods, beverages, and additives associated with headaches include:
Aged Cheese
For people who take monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) medications, avoidance of all foods containing tyramine — including
aged cheeses, red wine, alcoholic beverages, and some processed meats — is essential.
Tyramine is found naturally in some foods. It is formed from the breakdown of protein as foods age. Generally, the longer
a high-protein food ages, the greater the tyramine content. The amount of tyramine in cheeses differs greatly due to the
variations in processing, fermenting, aging, degradation, or even bacterial contamination.
The following types of cheeses have been reported to be high in tyramine:
- Blue cheeses
- Brie
- Cheddar
- English stilton
- Feta
- Gorgonzola
- Mozzarella
- Muenster
- Parmesan
- Swiss
Alcohol
Blood flow to your brain increases when you drink alcohol. Some scientists blame the headache on impurities
in alcohol or by-products produced as your body metabolizes alcohol. Sulfites
used as a preservative may also cause headache. The higher the sulfite content,
the greater the chance of developing migraine. Alcohol also causes dehydration,
which may also cause migraine. Red wine, beer, whiskey, Scotch, and champagne are
the most commonly identified headache triggers.
Food additives
Food preservatives (or additives) contained in certain foods can trigger headaches. Nitrates and nitrites are additives in:
- Hot dogs
- Ham
- Sausage
- Bacon
- Lunch meats and deli-style meats
- Pepperoni
- Other cured or processed meats
- Some heart medicines
These substances dilate blood vessels, causing headaches in some people.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a food additive/flavor enhancer that may trigger headaches. MSG is one of the active ingredients
in soy sauce, meat tenderizer, Asian foods, and a variety of packaged foods. Be aware of labeling such as “hydrolyzed fat"
or “hydrolyzied protein” or “all natural preservatives” since these are terms used synonymously with MSG.
Most symptoms begin within 20 to 25 minutes after consuming MSG. They include:
- Pressure in the chest
- Tightening and pressure in the face
- Burning sensation in the chest, neck, or shoulders
- Facial flushing
- Dizziness
- Headache pain across the front or sides of the head
- Abdominal discomfort
Cold foods
This condition is caused by eating cold ice cream quickly or gulping ice drinks. It's more likely to
occur if you are over-heated from exercise or hot temperatures. Pain, which is felt in the forehead, peaks 25 to 60 seconds
and lasts from several seconds to one or two minutes. About one-third of people experience “head rushes”,
or "ice cream headache" and more than 90
percent of migraine sufferers report an increased sensitivity to ice cream.