Why do I get a headache after eating?

Food allergy and intolerance are one of the possible answers to why you get a headache after eating. They are not the same ailment, but both have in common the appearance of an adverse reaction of the body to the intake of certain substances contained in certain foods.

In allergy, the immune system releases antibodies and histamines to deal with the substance it considers foreign. Intolerance, on the other hand, is produced by deficiencies or deficiencies in the enzymatic system, which make the body unable to assimilate certain substances correctly. Thus, skin reactions, digestive discomfort and respiratory difficulties appear. In addition, a sudden headache with no apparent cause.

If after eating you suffer from headaches, identify what foods you have eaten and find out if the pain recurs whenever you take that particular food: dairy, cereals with gluten, chocolate … The pain you suffer may be a symptom of an allergic reaction or intolerance.

If you want to know more about these two food reactions, in this other article we will tell you more about the difference between allergy and intolerance.

Hypertension is considered a ‘silent’ disease because its symptoms are difficult to identify. It refers to the pressure with which the blood circulates through the blood vessels, exerting a certain force against their walls. Today we know that eating foods high in salt causes an increase in blood pressure, although the appearance of hypertension may be due to other causes.

One of the few symptoms that can put us on notice of the possibility of being hypertensive are, precisely, headaches, especially after the continued intake of very salty foods.

Maintaining adequate blood glucose levels is essential for general good health. When these levels are excessively low (hypoglycemia) or high (hyperglycemia), dizziness and headaches after eating can be common manifestations of this. blood glucose mismatch.

If you think you may have this pathology, see your doctor so he can measure your blood glucose concentration. You can also take a look at this other article on How to know if I have diabetes.

When in doubt about which foods can cause headaches, it must be clarified that there are no ‘good’ and ‘bad’ foods, because the effects they cause in each person depend on multiple factors (general health, physical activity, the whole diet …). Even so, those that contain tyramine could be considered possible triggers for headaches and migraines.

Tyramine is a amino acid that influences the dilation of blood vessels and that it can trigger headaches after ingestion. It is present naturally in some foods such as: cheeses, smoked or processed meats, canned foods, pickles, fermented foods (sauerkraut), sauces such as soy and some fruits, such as banana or avocado when they are very ripe. Also in certain nuts such as walnuts or peanuts, among others.

Sometimes, it is not a food in itself that can cause a headache after eating but the ingredients with which it has been treated for its conservation. The excessive presence of nitrites and nitrates, as well as the monosodium glutamate, could be behind the discomfort and headache after eating some cold cuts, ultra-processed products, pre-cooked dishes, soups or some sauces that are sold already prepared.

Headaches after eating food can also have their origin in some temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), the one that connects the jaw with the base of the skull. Without realizing it, misperforming the movement that involves biting and chewing could end up causing headaches, especially if the pain is concentrated in the area of ​​the temples.

Migraines may be related to insufficient fluid intake, either directly or through vegetables and fruits. When there is a lack of water in the brain, headaches often appear.

The same happens due to excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is a vasodilator substance that favors dehydration of the body, hence the typical ‘hangover’ headaches, a situation that occurs a few hours after consumption.

Heartburn and reflux that occurs when children stomach acids back up into the esophagus in the process of digestion it is a health problem that, if repeated frequently, requires medical consultation. Although its symptoms are mainly digestive, there are people who experience more or less intense headaches when they suffer from these pathologies.

Sometimes the problem of headaches after eating does not depend on a specific food but on poor nutritional habits. An unbalanced diet, which does not provide the adequate proportion of carbohydrates and, with them, the sufficient amount of energy that the body needs, can be behind the recurring headaches. Beware of diets that totally eliminate carbohydrates!

Now that you know the possible causes for a headache after eating, if the pain is very severe and persistent, go to the doctor because you could have a migraine. Learn more about it in this other article on Causes of Migraines.

This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

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