Migraine headaches can cause throbbing head pain lasting four hours to three days. Headaches can be worsened by exposure to light or loud sounds, as well as activity, and can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Headaches can be triggered by stress, hormones and foods. Preservatives found in foods are often tiggers for migraine headaches, due to their ability to increase blood flow to the brain.
Nitrates
Nitrates are preservatives listed on ingredient labels as potassium nitrate, potassium nitrite, sodium nitrate, and sodium nitrite. Nitrates are found in processed meats, including deli meats, smoked meats, hot dogs, ham, bacon, bologna, pepperoni and sausage. Several food colorings contain nitrates, and some fruits and vegetables in salad bars or grocery stores are sprayed with a nitrate-containing solution to keep them fresh. Some vegetables are also high in nitrates due to treatment with fertilizer, including non-organic spinach, eggplant, beets, radishes, lettuce, celery, turnip greens and collard greens.
Sulfites
Sulfites are preservatives listed on ingredient labels as sulfur dioxide, sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite and potassium metabisulfite. Sulfites are present in high amounts in red wine, and in lower amounts in other wines. Sulfites are also found in dried fruits such as dates, prunes, figs and apricots; canned vegetables; and many processed foods. Sulfites are also sprayed on fruits and vegetables in salad bars to keep them fresh.
Benzoic Acid
Benzoic acid is listed as sodium benzoate on many ingredient labels. It is a preservative that prevents bacteria and yeast from growing. Its most common use is in carbonated beverages because the beverages' high sugar content is a breeding ground for bacteria. Sodium benzoate is also used in pickles, fruit juices, sauces, margarine, codfish, jellies, maraschino cherries, candies and edible coatings. Sodium benzoate also occurs naturally in fruits such as plums, apples and cranberries, as well as in the spices cinnamon and cloves. Foods containing sodium benzoate should be avoided by those with migraine headaches.
References
- The Merck Manual: Headaches
- What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Migraines: The Breakthrough Program that Can Help End Your Pain"; Alexander Mauskop and Barry Fox; 2001
- "A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives: Descriptions in Plain English of More Than 12,000 Ingredients Both Harmful and Desirable Found in Foods"; Ruth Winter; 2009
