The National Headache Foundation claims that around 29.5 million Americans suffer from headaches. There are numerous types of headaches that can be experienced. Tension-based, sinus, cluster and migraines are some of the types mentioned. The question of whether sugar causes headaches has been under some debate by medical professionals.
Symptoms
Some symptoms of headaches can be described as tension around the head, pressure sensations and pulsing head and neck muscles, according to the National Headache Foundation. A tension headache can begin around the temples, forehead and the back of the neck. A cluster headache can appear without warning on one side of the head and is very painful. Sinus headache is caused by a sinus blockage and the inflammation results in localized pain.
Causes
Headaches can be caused by many factors, including sinus pressure, chemical reactions in the brain and hormones. Medical professionals are unsure if headaches are hereditary, yet a child will have a 50 percent chance of experiencing migraines if one parent has a history of having them and a 75 percent chance if both parents do. Emotional stress, anxiety or fear can cause a tension-based headache. Taking acute headache medicine often can also cause what is called a rebound headache.
Sugar
Nancy Appleton writes in her book Lick the Sugar Habit, that food consumption may be linked to headaches. In a study done at the Charing Cross Hospital in London in 2000, cane sugar was linked to cause headaches in three percent of the people tested. Chocolate caused 37 percent, orange juice at 65 percent, and tea and coffee at 40 percent. To see if sugar is causing headaches, it should be withdrawn from the diet for four days, and then reintroduced. Note that withdrawal symptoms may be experienced. Notice then if the headache comes back after consuming sugar.
Hypoglycemia
In the book Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth, Jonny Bowden writes that low blood sugar can cause headaches. People who have reactive hypoglycemia can experience a headache one to three hours after a meal. He suggests to reduce the consumption of refined sugar and eat smaller, more frequent meals that contain protein, fat and fiber. Bowden claims to also avoid eating chocolate and drinking alcohol, which may also trigger headaches.
References
- National Headache Foundation: Headache - Frequently Asked Questions
- "Lick the Sugar Habit"; Nancy Appleton; 1996
- "Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth"; Jonny Bowden; 2008
Member Comments