Certain summer foods can trigger headaches
Summertime brings many opportunities for picnics and barbecues to gather with family and friends. From hot dogs and sausages on the grill to fruit salads and relish trays at a picnic, summer is a time of good food. Unfortunately, these summer activities often feature foods that may trigger headaches for many of the more than 45 million headache sufferers in the United States. Dietary triggers do not necessarily contribute to headaches in all head-ache sufferers, but particular foods may trigger attacks in certain individuals.
The National Headache Foundation (HHF) suggests that those who experience recurring headaches keep a log of the foods eaten before migraine attacks.
The NHF recommends avoiding foods, which may trigger migraine headaches. Those foods include:
– Dairy products. Primarily ripened cheeses such as cheddar, emmentaler, stilton, brie and cam-embert. Cheeses that are permitted include American, cottage, cream cheese and Velveeta. Head-ache sufferers should have no more than one-half cup daily of sour cream.
– Meats and fish. Herring either pickled or dried, sausage, bologna, pepperoni, salami, summer saus-age, hot dogs, chicken livers and pate.
– Fruits and vegetables. Broad beans, Lima beans, fava beans and snow peas. No more than one-half cup daily of citrus fruits, figs, raisins, papayas, avocados or red plums. Less than one-half 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 seasoned salt. Fermented, pickled or marinated foods. Chocolate, nuts, peanut butter and pizza.
– Beverages. Avoid excessive amounts of caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee and 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 and Cutty Sark. Especially avoid red wine.
A list of dietary triggers and foods to avoid can be found at the educational resources section of the NHF Web site www.head-aches.org, under the consumer topic sheets tab. A more complete list is available to MHF members.
So before you grab that hot dog off the grill or add cheddar to your burger, consider the possible impact of these foods to avoid them.