Headaches & Low Carb Diets

Dr. Arne Astrup of the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Denmark, conducted a survey of more than 60 studies on low-carb diets in 2004. His findings indicate that dieters who limit their carbohydrate intake suffer from headaches, as well as other complaints, more than those who attempt other diets. The website Low Carb Connoisseur quotes the Atkins Center as saying that this is proof that you are actually doing something good for your body by embracing this diet. The headaches are your body's reaction to being deprived of something it was addicted to--caffeine and sugar.

Causes

Astrup indicates that headaches can be the result of a lack of whole grains, fruits and vegetables in your diet. Your body needs 150 g of carbs a day, at a minimum, to function properly, and the induction phase of the Atkins diet drops that to 20 g. Other low-carb diets may allow as many as 100 g of carbs, but this is still not sufficient for normal function. As a result, your brain and muscles become carb-starved. This can cause side effects, including headaches. Dehydration can also cause headaches, and low-carb diets tend to have a diuretic effect, at least at first.

Other Factors

When eliminating refined sugar from your diets per low-carb diet protocol, you may substitute artificial sweeteners, instead. In fact, most low-carb diets allow diet sodas, almost all of which contain aspartame. If you drink even four of these per day, aspartame can potentially interrupt the natural processes of your neurotransmitters, according to Dr. Richard Wurtman, a professor of neuroendocrinology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This can result in headaches. People who are past the active diet phase and who are now maintaining their weight might begin drinking alcoholic beverages again if they can be sure that they're not consuming a great many carbohydrates. Many manufacturers offer low-carb versions of beer, reducing the carbohydrate content, but not the alcohol content. Alcohol can cause headaches, especially if you over-indulge.

Duration

Low Carb Connoisseur quotes the Atkins Center as indicating that if your headaches are coming from sugar and caffeine withdrawal, then they should disappear within a few days. If they continue past this point, you might be having a reaction to the loss of fruit and vegetables in your diet. A low-carb diet might not agree with you and it might not be your personal answer to weight loss. The Atkins Center says that if your headaches persist, you should consult your doctor about the advisability of staying on such a diet.

What To Do

Begin scaling down on sugar and caffeine products gradually before you begin one of these diets so you don't go through sudden withdrawal. Follow your diet's protocol precisely regarding your intake of water to avoid dehydration. Most recommend up to eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day.

The Good News

If you already suffer from migraines, a low-carb diet might actually alleviate your headaches. The website BeingHealthyNaturally.com cites research by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine that revealed that half of the individuals studied reported improvement in the severity and frequency of their headaches on a low-carb diet. Such diets forbid wheat and wheat products. Wheat contains gluten, which is linked to migraines. Eliminating carbs in the form of wheat, at least, might stop your headaches instead of starting them.