monicapink
12-23-02, 05:12 PM
I have always collected articles to keep me better informed on a variety of topics. I came across this article* in my Sunday Newspaper and I found it very interesting; I hope you will find it informative and helpful.
"SIDESTEP YOUR HEADACHES: What You Eat And Drink Can Trigger The Pain"
David Buchholz **, a neurologist at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, says chemicals in foods and beverages are common headache triggers in the thousands of patients he has treated. Buchholz makes no distinction between migraine, tension and sinus headaches, considering them all forms of migraine.
According to David Buchholz, at the holidays headache triggers are everywhere: nuts, chocolate, cheese, caffeine and alcohol; they conspire with another seasonal headache maker -- stress, to raise your risk.
Discovering your own headache triggers will take trial and error. A food induced headache might appear immediately or take a day or two to show up.
David Buchholz finds WE NEED TO BEWARE THESE TEN FOODS -- INCLUDING ORANGES AND PEANUT BUTTER: [list=1]
CAFFEINE: It is the top dietary cause of headaches; it constricts blood vessels which eases pain, but when it wears off, the vessels swell with a vengeance and the pain returns. So caffeine can relieve a headache BUT THEN START A VICIOUS CYCLE. If you give up caffeine you may have withdrawal headaches, lasting a few days to a few weeks, but eventually the blood vessels will calm down.
MONSODIUM GLUTAMATE: This flavor enhancer is a potent trigger even in small amounts. AND IT IS EVERYWHERE, HIDING UNDER SUCH NAMES AS "NATURAL FLAVORINGS" AND HYDROLYZED PROTEIN. Buchholz advises "that the best way to avoid MSG is to eat food made from fresh ingredients or otherwise read food labels."
CHOCOLATE: According to Buchholz, the probable culprit: the chemicals THEOBROMINE AND PHENYLETHYLAMINE in cocoa, which is the foundation of chocolate candies and baked goods. WHITE CHOCOLATE, WHICH DOESN'T CONTAIN COCOA, DOES NOT CAUSE HEADACHES. It isn't clear whether the chocolate substitute CAROB triggers headaches.
PROCESSED MEAT AND FISH: Hot dogs, salami, bacon, pepperoni, lunch meats and some sausages and hams are preserved with NITRITES AND NITRATES, chemicals long known to trigger headaches. CHECK LABELS. Certain seafoods -- smoked salmon, trout, caviar, anchovies and pickled fish, such as herring -- provokes headaches because of fermentation or chemicals.
STRONG CHEESE: Aged hard cheeses -- blue cheese, old Cheddar cheese are highest in TYRAMINE, a headache inducing chemical. Some people also react to yogurt, sour cream and buttermilk. SAFE COTTAGE CHEESE, RICOTTA. CREAM CHEESE AND PROCESSED AMERICAN CHEESE.
NUTS: VIRTUALLY ALL NUTS -- PISTACHIOS, WALNUTS, CASHEWS, BRAZIL NUTS, PECANS AND ALMONDS -- as well as peanuts and coconut contain high concentrations of the headache culprit TYRAMINE. That also means nut butters, including peanut butter. SEEDS SUCH AS PUMPKIN AND SUNFLOWER SEEDS ARE NOT A PROBLEM.
ALCOHOL: Red wine, cognac, brandy and other dark liqueurs, spirits and sparkling wines including champagne, are most likely to trigger headaches. One reason is that they contain more "CONGENERS" -- chemicals that give beverages their distinctive color, flavor and aroma as well as inspire headaches. WHITE WINE IS SAFER FOR THOSE PRONE TO HEADACHES. Vodka, which is low in congeners, is least apt to be a trigger.
CERTAIN FRUITS: Citrus fruits and juices, bananas, raspberries, red plums, papayas, passion fruit, avocados and raisins are POTENTIAL TROUBLEMAKERS. Also OTHER DRIED FRUITS if they are preserved with SULFITES, which is noted on labels.
CERTAIN VEGETABLES: Whole Onions (especially when raw), sauerkraut, pea pods, lentils and lima and navy beans.
FRESH YEAST RISEN BAKED GOODS: That includes freshly made doughnuts,bagels, bread (ESPECIALLY SOURDOUGH), soft pretzels and coffeecakes. Buchholz suggests LET THEM SIT A DAY OR BUY DAY OLD PRODUCTS. Packaged commercial breads in supermarkets pose less of a threat. BEWARE OF CROUTONS AND BREAD CRUMBS THAT ARE SEASONED WITH MSG.
[/list=1]
*Article taken from EATSmart by Jean Carper
** David Buchholz has authored the book HEAL YOUR HEADACHE: THE 1-2-3 PROGRAM FOR TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR PAIN
No Headache Holiday Sauce Recipe will be found in the Holiday Dessert Forum.
"SIDESTEP YOUR HEADACHES: What You Eat And Drink Can Trigger The Pain"
David Buchholz **, a neurologist at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, says chemicals in foods and beverages are common headache triggers in the thousands of patients he has treated. Buchholz makes no distinction between migraine, tension and sinus headaches, considering them all forms of migraine.
According to David Buchholz, at the holidays headache triggers are everywhere: nuts, chocolate, cheese, caffeine and alcohol; they conspire with another seasonal headache maker -- stress, to raise your risk.
Discovering your own headache triggers will take trial and error. A food induced headache might appear immediately or take a day or two to show up.
David Buchholz finds WE NEED TO BEWARE THESE TEN FOODS -- INCLUDING ORANGES AND PEANUT BUTTER: [list=1]
CAFFEINE: It is the top dietary cause of headaches; it constricts blood vessels which eases pain, but when it wears off, the vessels swell with a vengeance and the pain returns. So caffeine can relieve a headache BUT THEN START A VICIOUS CYCLE. If you give up caffeine you may have withdrawal headaches, lasting a few days to a few weeks, but eventually the blood vessels will calm down.
MONSODIUM GLUTAMATE: This flavor enhancer is a potent trigger even in small amounts. AND IT IS EVERYWHERE, HIDING UNDER SUCH NAMES AS "NATURAL FLAVORINGS" AND HYDROLYZED PROTEIN. Buchholz advises "that the best way to avoid MSG is to eat food made from fresh ingredients or otherwise read food labels."
CHOCOLATE: According to Buchholz, the probable culprit: the chemicals THEOBROMINE AND PHENYLETHYLAMINE in cocoa, which is the foundation of chocolate candies and baked goods. WHITE CHOCOLATE, WHICH DOESN'T CONTAIN COCOA, DOES NOT CAUSE HEADACHES. It isn't clear whether the chocolate substitute CAROB triggers headaches.
PROCESSED MEAT AND FISH: Hot dogs, salami, bacon, pepperoni, lunch meats and some sausages and hams are preserved with NITRITES AND NITRATES, chemicals long known to trigger headaches. CHECK LABELS. Certain seafoods -- smoked salmon, trout, caviar, anchovies and pickled fish, such as herring -- provokes headaches because of fermentation or chemicals.
STRONG CHEESE: Aged hard cheeses -- blue cheese, old Cheddar cheese are highest in TYRAMINE, a headache inducing chemical. Some people also react to yogurt, sour cream and buttermilk. SAFE COTTAGE CHEESE, RICOTTA. CREAM CHEESE AND PROCESSED AMERICAN CHEESE.
NUTS: VIRTUALLY ALL NUTS -- PISTACHIOS, WALNUTS, CASHEWS, BRAZIL NUTS, PECANS AND ALMONDS -- as well as peanuts and coconut contain high concentrations of the headache culprit TYRAMINE. That also means nut butters, including peanut butter. SEEDS SUCH AS PUMPKIN AND SUNFLOWER SEEDS ARE NOT A PROBLEM.
ALCOHOL: Red wine, cognac, brandy and other dark liqueurs, spirits and sparkling wines including champagne, are most likely to trigger headaches. One reason is that they contain more "CONGENERS" -- chemicals that give beverages their distinctive color, flavor and aroma as well as inspire headaches. WHITE WINE IS SAFER FOR THOSE PRONE TO HEADACHES. Vodka, which is low in congeners, is least apt to be a trigger.
CERTAIN FRUITS: Citrus fruits and juices, bananas, raspberries, red plums, papayas, passion fruit, avocados and raisins are POTENTIAL TROUBLEMAKERS. Also OTHER DRIED FRUITS if they are preserved with SULFITES, which is noted on labels.
CERTAIN VEGETABLES: Whole Onions (especially when raw), sauerkraut, pea pods, lentils and lima and navy beans.
FRESH YEAST RISEN BAKED GOODS: That includes freshly made doughnuts,bagels, bread (ESPECIALLY SOURDOUGH), soft pretzels and coffeecakes. Buchholz suggests LET THEM SIT A DAY OR BUY DAY OLD PRODUCTS. Packaged commercial breads in supermarkets pose less of a threat. BEWARE OF CROUTONS AND BREAD CRUMBS THAT ARE SEASONED WITH MSG.
[/list=1]
*Article taken from EATSmart by Jean Carper
** David Buchholz has authored the book HEAL YOUR HEADACHE: THE 1-2-3 PROGRAM FOR TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR PAIN
No Headache Holiday Sauce Recipe will be found in the Holiday Dessert Forum.