Feeding Headaches

WHAT IS IT? Millions of Americans suffer from headaches. Research shows 45 percent of headaches could be caused by the foods we eat. The problem is different foods can cause headaches in different people. Doctors say the best way to identify triggers is to keep a food and headache diary to identify what is triggering the pain. The following lists some known and lesser-known foods that can cause headaches.

FOODS THAT CAN TRIGGER HEADACHES:

Caffeine

Aged Cheese

Red Wine

Hot dogs, sausages, bacon, lunch meats (foods with nitrates and nitrites)

MSG

Peanuts

Ripe bananas

Pizza

Citrus fruits

Potato chips

Fruits (papaya, red plums, raspberries, kiwi, pineapple)

Chicken livers

Smoked or dried fish

Dried fruits

Pickled foods

Soups made from meat extracts or bouillon

Onions

Cultured dairy products such as sour cream

Artificial sweeteners

Most beans

Sourdough bread and fresh-baked yeast goods

WHY THESE FOODS? Headaches may be triggered when substances found in certain foods disrupt the serotonin in the brain or affect the blood vessels in the head. The (???????missing word???), which are biochemicals that can cause blood-vessel constriction and dilation, are found both in the brain and foods. Preservatives (nitrates and sulfites), artificial sweeteners (aspartame and saccharin), and food additives (monosodium glutamate) all contain amine.

WHERE TO GET HELP: More and more local headache support groups are forming to share information about headache management. Call your local hospital to see if there's one in your city. Other patient resources include the American Council for Headache Education at (800) 255-ACHE or www.achenet.org or the National Headache Foundation at www.headaches.org.

For More Information, Contact:
Vicki Dart
Office Manager
St. Petersburg Neurology Clinic
St. Petersburg, FL
(727) 820-7701

For other medical research, visit Ivanhoe Broadcast News on the Internet: http://www.ivanhoe.com