Can Chocolate Cause Headaches?

On some occasions, some of us have heard friends or relatives recommend that we avoid eating certain foods, such as chocolate or cheese, due to their ability to aggravate symptoms related to headaches. A statement that, a priori, may seem like a mere myth has a real and scientifically proven basis since some foods, due to their composition, can enhance the generation of headaches and migraines. Despite the existing predisposition, it does not always affect the same way or everyone equally. It is the women who have a greater tendency to suffer from these ailments who should take care of their diet avoiding this kind of food.

Chocolate can cause headaches

Migraine attacks are related to the existence of naturally generated amines in products such as chocolate. These elements are found in both plants and animals and their function is to give food characteristics such as its aroma or flavor. Specifically, chocolate contains phenylethylamine and tyramine, both of which are known to have significant effects on women’s health. According to medical research on the matter, those of us who suffer from migraines are unable to metabolize these substances correctly and fast enough, so they end up staying in our bodies longer than necessary, causing migraine attacks.

As we have commented, this is only the theory but the truth is that there are doctors who are inclined to think that, although the effects of amines in our body could potentially be harmful to our health, the presence in chocolate of both tyramine as phenylethylamine is so low that it is unlikely that they could cause a seizure on their own. However, it is the women with the greatest propensity to suffer disorders of this type who should take special care in their diet so as not to enhance the negative effects of the intake of products such as chocolate.

Although, given the case, we should consult both a nutrition specialist and a doctor, there are a series of basic recommendations that we can follow: maintain orderly meal times, avoiding spending more than 3 hours without eating food, avoiding consuming excessive sweets and staying away both alcoholic beverages and excessive caffeine consumption.

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