Favorite Summertime Foods Can Trigger Headaches

Summertime for a lot of people means picnics and barbecues -- but the foods that often accompany those gatherings can be a real pain for the more than 45 million headache sufferers in the United States.

Dietary triggers do not necessarily contribute to headaches in all headache sufferers, but particular foods may trigger attacks in certain individuals, according to the National Headache Foundation.

People who find themselves suffering from headaches after grabbing a sausage off the grill or adding a slice of Cheddar to their burger should consider the possible impact of these foods and avoid them, headache experts say.

The NHF suggests that people who experience recurring headaches keep a log of the foods they have eaten before migraine attacks. The suspect foods should be removed from the diet to see if headaches are reduced or eliminated.

The NHF recommends avoiding these foods that may trigger migraine headaches:

Dairy products: Primarily ripened cheeses such as Cheddar, Emmentaler, Stilton, brie and Camembert. (Cheeses that are permitted include American, cottage, cream cheese and Velveeta. Headache sufferers should have no more than a half-cup daily of sour cream.)

Meats and fish: Pickled or dried herring, sausage, bologna, pepperoni, salami, summer sausage, hot dogs, chicken livers and pate.

Fruits and vegetables: Broad beans, lima beans, fava beans, snow peas. No more than a half-cup daily of citrus fruits, figs, raisins, papayas, avocados or red plums. Less than half of a banana daily.

Grains: Breads and crackers containing cheese or chocolate. Also sourdough bread.

Other foods: Items containing Monosodium glutamate (MSG) such as soy sauce, meat tenderizers or seasoned salt. Fermented, pickled or marinated foods. Chocolate, nuts, peanut butter and pizza.

Beverages: Avoid excessive amounts of caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee or cola beverages. Headache sufferers should have no more than two cups daily. Limit yourself to two normal size alcoholic drinks selected from haute sauterne, riesling, Seagram's VO, Cutty Sark. Especially avoid red wine.