The Christmas dates are approaching and the shopping baskets begin to include, with a greater presence than at other times of the year, the different varieties of seafood that we can find in the market. Something that is also common on this holiday is that we do not put limits on the amounts we eat and that binge eating becomes an unhealthy habit. These habits, even if they are simply temporary, can have negative consequences on the health of our body. One of the discomforts that can most frequently occur due to excessive consumption of seafood is headache.
Seafood as a trigger for headaches
In this case, the origin of the headache is determined by the presence of the so-called biogenic amines –both in shellfish and fish-, which are nothing more than a group of substances such as phenylethylamine, histamine or tyramine. The concentrations of these compounds can become toxic depending, on the one hand, on each woman’s own metabolism and, on the other, on the amount of these foods that we are about to eat. Under normal conditions, the body is capable of metabolizing amines through the enzyme di amino oxidase, converting them into substances that can be used, however, there are women who have a deficiency in the activity of said enzyme, which is why they may suffer frequent headaches.
Headaches can also be triggered by some type of allergy to shellfish, since both the amount of protein contained in this food and the presence of the parasite known as anisakis can develop this type of adverse reaction in our body. Also women with high levels of cholesterol or uric acid can result in the development of headaches.
Obviously women who are especially sensitive to both migraines and headaches or allergic reactions, have to take special care in eating. If we suffer from any type of symptom such as those described above, in addition to going to the doctor, it is absolutely pertinent to consult a nutritionist so that we can access adequate food.