Sinus headaches are dull, throbbing headaches in the front part of your head. They may be caused by sinusitis, a condition in which the air-filled cavities around your cheeks, eyes and notes become inflamed, or from nasal congestion, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Although foods are not known to trigger sinus headaches, your eating habits can affect your symptoms in positive and negative ways. Before changing your diet, seek specified guidance from your doctor or dietitian.
Food Allergy Factors
In the minority of cases, food allergies underly sinus pain and inflammation, according to the "Harvard Medical School Guide to Healing Your Sinuses" by Ralph Metson and Steven Mardon. Of the most common food allergens, sinus pain is most often linked with wheat or dairy products. If you suspect a connection between your sinus headaches and wheat or dairy-containing foods, seek proper testing from your doctor. Once an allergy is confirmed, replace the food with nutritious alternatives. Oats, brown rice, quinoa and popcorn provide nutritious substitutes for wheat products. Instead of cow's milk, choose soy, rice or almond milk and other calcium-rich foods, like canned salmon, almonds and spinach.
Helpful Foods
Certain foods can help prevent sinus headaches from developing in the first place and help minimize symptoms once they arise. Eating ample vegetables and fruits can help keep your immune system strong, according to the UMMC, lowering your risk for sinus infections. The antioxidants in fruits and vegetables, such as vitamin C, also support your body's ability to heal from infections. Priobiotics, beneficial bacteria in yogurt and other cultured dairy products, may lower your risk for sinus problems related to allergies. Choose yogurt with "live active cultures," like lactobacillus, for best potential results. Staying well-hydrated can help congested sinuses drain more efficiently. Particularly hydrating foods and beverages include broth-based soups, fresh fruits and vegetables, pure juices, low-fat milk, herbal tea and water.
Exacerbating Foods
Although milk does not cause congestion, unless you are allergic, dairy products can thicken mucus, making your symptoms more bothersome, according to MayoClinic.com internist Dr. James M. Steckelberg. Eating too many low-nutrient foods, like wheat bread, low-fiber cereals, candy and snack chips, leaves little room in your diet for beneficial fare. Foods high in unhealthy fats, like fatty meats, fried foods and foods containing hydrogenated vegetable oil, can increase inflammation.
Migraine Confusion
In a study published in "The Laryngoscope" in December 2008, the symptoms and physical health of 38 adults with frequent self-reported sinus headaches were analyzed. When treated with migraine therapy, 92 percent of the participants demonstrated significantly reduced headache symptoms. The researchers concluded that many people who complain of "sinus headaches" are actually experiencing migraines. If your headache symptoms actually stem from migraines, medical treatment and lifestyle changes, including avoiding migraine triggers, can help manage your symptoms. Common migraine food triggers include smoked and cured meats, aged cheeses, chocolate and red wine.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Sinus Headache
- "Harvard Medical School Guide to Healing Your Sinuses"; Ralph Metson, Steven Mardon; 2005
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Sinusitis
- MayoClinic.com: Sinusitis Home Remedies
- MayoClinic.com: Milk and Phlegm
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Inflammation Information
- "The Laryngoscope"; Treatment of Sinus Headache as Migraine: The Diagnostic Utility of Triptans; Elina Kari et al.; Dec. 2008
- University of California, Berkeley: Migraine Triggers
