According to the National Headache Foundation, there may be an association between headaches and food triggers. If you suffer from problem headaches or migraines, eliminating or limiting certain foods and beverages may help curb your headache symptoms. Since headaches may be a symptom in a variety of medical conditions, you should consult with your doctor to verify whether or not there is a connection between your headaches and food triggers.
About 50 to 66% of women and 35 to 40% of men who have a panic disorder suffer from frequent headaches. And, people with panic disorder are up to seven times more likely to suffer the most severe of all headaches -- migraine. One study showed that two out of three patients with panic disorder met the criteria for problem headaches, with migraine being the most prevalent form. While avoiding or limiting certain foods may not “cure” your condition, it is possible that certain food triggers are contributing to your suffering. The following is a list of the most likely culprits.
Headaches and Food Triggers - Foods to Avoid
- Ripened cheeses (cheddar, Emmenthaler, Stilton, Brie, Camembert)
- Herring (pickled or dried)
- Chocolate
- Any fermented, pickled, or marinated food
- Nuts, peanut butter
- Sourdough bread, breads and crackers that contain cheese or chocolate
- Broad beans, lima beans, fava beans, snow peas
- Foods that contain monosodium glutamate (eg, soy sauce, meat tenderizers, seasoned salt)
- Artificial sweeteners (aspartame)
- Pizza
- Foods that contain nitrates (eg, bacon, bologna, pepperoni, salami, hot dogs)
- Chicken liver paté
And, you should limit:
- Sour cream (no more than ½ cup daily)
- Figs, raisins, papayas, avocados, and red plums (no more than ½ cup daily)
- Citrus fruits (no more than ½ cup daily)
- Bananas (no more than ½ banana daily)
- Tea, coffee, or cola beverages
- Alcoholic beverages
Keep in mind that exact food triggers for an individual headache or migraine sufferer vary. Chocolate or artificial sweeteners may trigger headaches in some, but not others. In order to find out what (if any) dietary substances trigger your headaches or migraines, it best keep a food diary and track your symptoms over time.
Sources:
Manix, Lisa MD. "Comorbidities of Migraine." 2001. National Headache Foundation.
Marazziti, Donatella; Toni, Cristina; Pedri, Simone; Bonuccelli Ubaldo; Pavese, Nicola; Lucetti, Claudio; Nuti, Angelo; Muratorio, Alberto; and Cassano, Giovanni Battista. “Prevalence of Headache Syndromes in Panic Disorder.” Int Clin Psychopharmacol 14 July 1999 4:247-51.
National Headache Foundation. "Diet and Headache." 25 Sept 2008
