It is true that certain foods can cause headaches and migraines. What these are are briefly described.
Foods that can trigger migraines and headaches
Tyramine
Tyramine plays a role in the secretion of norepinephrine, a vasoconstrictor substance that can cause migraines and increases blood pressure. It is neutralized by an enzyme called monoamine oxidase (MAO). Platelets secrete less MAO after menopause, which may make some women more susceptible to migraines after menopause. Some antidepressants prevent MAO from breaking down tyramine, so they should be avoided by people who suffer from migraines.
In addition, they should avoid foods containing tyramine, such as:
- cheese
- yeast
- beef
- sour herring
- Red wine
Methylxanthines
Methylxanthines, including theophylline and caffeine, cause constriction of cerebral blood vessels (in the brain) and dilation of non-cerebral blood vessels (located outside the brain). This is why foods and drinks containing Methylxanthines can trigger a migraine attack. Coffee is known to aggravate headaches, while tea contains other soothing ingredients such as theobromine, which neutralizes theophylline to some extent.
Methylxanthines are present in:
- coffee
- tea
- cacao and chocolate
- coke
Sodium glutamate
Sodium glutamate is a commonly used preservative in Chinese preparations. It occurs regularly in:
- dried soups
- soy sauce
- canned preserves
Does wheat cause headaches?
There is no evidence that wheat causes headaches. According to some researchers, in ‘leaky gul syndrome’ protein molecules enter the bloodstream through the intestine, where they trigger reactions. The anecdotal evidence for this is rather obscure and has rarely been tested.
Yeast
Yeast in baked bread is unlikely to trigger a migraine attack, but more extensive research into the effects grains and yeast can have in the human body would be extremely useful.
Nitrites
Nitrites are also known as migraine causing products. Nitrites can be found in:
- sausages
- ham
- hotdogs
- many meats
- canned fish
Alcohol
Red wine and beers in particular trigger an attack in some migraine patients. This is mainly due to the vasodilatory effect that alcohol has on the body.
Nicotine/smoking
Nicotine is a substance with a powerful vasoconstrictor effect. Smoking is never recommended, but should be avoided especially by people prone to headaches.
The elicitation test
To find out which foods trigger a migraine attack, a trigger test is usually performed. The patient will note down for a certain period which foods they have consumed, 24 hours before the migraine attack. It is therefore important that the patient does not take preventive anti-migraine medications during the follow-up period. If there is a suspicion, you will be asked to retest the food to substantiate the hypothesis. The food product must then be removed from the diet.
