common causes of headaches

Dietary causes

• Foods high in tyramine: aged cheese, yogurt, vinegar, and soy sauce.

• Foods that contain sulfites (sulfur dioxide): wine, dried fruit and some shellfish.

• Alcohol: It contains ethanol, which causes dehydration and expands blood vessels, leading to head pain.

• Cured meats, hot dogs, bacon, and deli meats: These foods all contain the preservative nitrite, which gives meat its pink hue and causes headaches.

• MSG (monosodium glutamate): Meant to enhance the flavor of food, this additive is found in Chinese food, some potato chips, nuts, and other processed foods.

• Caffeine: Although caffeine is found in many pain relievers to help improve the intestinal absorption of these drugs, it can also be the cause of headaches (due to excessive consumption or withdrawal). Because caffeine constricts blood vessels, a prolonged lack of caffeine after the body has gotten used to a regular dose can cause the blood vessels to dilate, leading to headaches.

How to stop the pain:

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You’re a busy guy. You have people to see, hearts to break, golf games to play, and American Idol to watch. You certainly can’t afford to take time out of your busy schedule for a headache. Unfortunately, headaches don’t care about your plans; they can creep up at any time.
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