Certain foods, including peanuts and chocolate, may trigger or worsen a headache. Alternatively, chocolate and peanuts may help to relieve some types of headaches. It can be difficult to determine the cause of a headache. The most common types of headaches are cluster, tension and migraine. Low blood sugar, neurological and hormonal changes may also cause headaches. Experimenting with your diet can help you determine what helps and what worsens your headaches.
Dietary Triggers
Cheese, chocolate, alcohol, cured meats, peanuts and monosodium glutemate (MSG) are some of the most common dietary headache triggers. Ingesting these foods and beverages may prompt or worsen an existing headache. Conversely, withdrawal from caffeine can trigger a headache, as when you miss your daily coffee or tea. Lack of food can lower your blood sugar, triggering a headache.
Chocolate and Peanuts
Chocolate may help relieve a headache that is prompted by caffeine withdrawal. Peanuts may help to relieve a headache that is prompted by hunger. Both chocolate and peanuts can trigger a migraine headache. Eating chocolate or peanuts may also make a migraine headache worse. However, some migraine sufferers find that eating these foods relieves some of their symptoms. Take note of how chocolate and peanuts affect your headache to determine whether to avoid them in the future.
Cluster and Migraine Headaches
Cluster headaches occur for short periods of time several times a day. They are the least common type of headache. Cluster headaches may be related to a sudden release of histamine or serotonin in the body. Possible dietary triggers for cluster headaches are foods high in nitrates, such as cured meats. Migraine headaches are often accompanied by nausea and visual disturbances. Foods are more likely to trigger or worsen a migraine than another type of headache.
Other Types of Headaches
Tension headaches are caused by tight muscles in your shoulders, scalp, neck and jaw. Excessive muscle tightness can result from stress, grinding your teeth, staying in one position for too long or sleeping in an awkward position. You can relieve tension headaches by loosening your muscles through a hot shower, massage or rest. Dietary triggers are not thought to cause or worsen tension headaches. Headaches may also result from lack of food, lack of caffeine, sinus problems and neurological or hormonal changes.
