Caffeine Headaches - some people believe
that an allergy to caffeine can cause headache. More commonly caffeine
withdrawal headache can occur in persons who consume large quantities of
coffee or tea and suddenly stop.
Sinus Headaches - Sinus pain and congestion
can cause severe headaches and facial pain. The congestion can be provoked
by an allergic reaction. allergic rhinitis, hay fever etc
Air Travel - Pressure Headache - The changes in air
pressure which occur on going up and down in an aircraft can also provoke
sinus related headaches. Sometimes these can be exacerbated by what appears
to be an allergy to the atmosphere in the cabin of a plane. In a confined
space it is easy for a mild allergy to some environmental factor to be
magnified. Taking a mild antihistamine before flying can relieve this.
Discuss with your doctor.
.
Headache Avoidance Diet
This is
controversial - A diet here is as suggested in the
The Headache
Prevention Cookbook
The list of foods
that have been reported to trigger headaches is long and varied. The foods
included here are the ones most commonly reported to cause headaches; that's
why it's difficult to avoid them without following the headache-prevention
diet. Some of you may be susceptible to many of these foods, others to only
a few. If you are lucky, you'll find you're not susceptible to any of these
foods.The only way to tell is by going on the headache-prevention diet. If
you discover an ingredient that triggers your headaches and is not on this
list, you should obviously avoid it too.
Vegetables
Prohibited: Beans (lima, Italian, pole, broad, fava, string, navy,
pinto, garbanzo, lentils, snow peas), pickles, chili peppers, olives.
Allowed: All other fresh, frozen, dried, and canned vegetables and
vegetable juices. Limit tomatoes to 1/2 cup per day; limit onions to 1/2 cup
per day.
Fruits
Prohibited: Dried fruits that contain preservatives (such as raisins,
dates, figs, apricots), avocados, papayas, passion fruit, red plums,
banana-peel extract.
Allowed: All other fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and juices. Limit
citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, lemons, limes) and
pineapple to 1/2 cup per day. Limit bananas to 1/2 banana per day.
(Technically, a tomato is a fruit, so remember to limit tomatoes to 1/2 cup
per day.) Organic dried fruits without preservatives (particularly sulfites).
Breads and Cereals
Prohibited: Any fresh yeast product straight out of the oven; for
example, yeast breads, crackers, pizza dough, doughnuts, soft pretzels.
Allowed: Store-bought and homemade breads (white, whole wheat,
French, Italian, bagels, etc.) are fine as long as they are not straight out
of the oven and have been allowed to cool (it's OK to reheat them). Just be
careful that they don't contain other prohibited ingredients, such as
raisins, nuts, chocolate, or cheeses. Likewise, you can eat all hot and cold
cereals unless they contain specifically prohibited items, such as dried
fruit or artificial sweeteners.
Dairy Products and Eggs
Prohibited: Most cheeses. Sour cream, whole milk, chocolate milk,
buttermilk, cream.
Allowed: Skim milk or 1% homogenized milk. Cheeses: American,
ricotta, cream cheese, Velveeta, pot, farmer, cottage. Skim milkbased yogurt
(limit it to 1/2 cup per day). Eggs.
Beverages
Prohibited: Alcoholic beverages, especially red wine; beverages
containing chocolate or cocoa; diet beverages containing artificial
sweeteners.
Allowed: Fruit and vegetable juices, noncaffeinated drinks (if they
don't contain artificial sweeteners). Limit caffeinated drinks, such as
coffee, tea, or soda, to 2 cups (approximately 16 ounces) per day. For soda,
that's a little more than one can a day.
Soups
Prohibited: Most canned soups and bouillon cubes (they usually
contain MSG, preservatives, or other prohibited ingredients).
Allowed: Homemade soups and stocks, unless they contain other
specifically prohibited foods, such as beans, cheese, or large amounts of
onion or tomato.
Desserts
Prohibited: Chocolate, carob, and licorice; ice cream; desserts
containing other prohibited foods, such as nuts or dried fruit, or those
made with liqueurs; whipped cream.
Allowed: Cakes, cookies, candies, and pies, unless they contain
prohibited ingredients; gelatin, sherbet, and sorbet.
Miscellaneous
Prohibited: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) and tenderizers containing
MSG; soy sauce; vinegar, except for white and cider vinegars; salad
dressings containing wine or vinegar, unless it is white or cider vinegar;
cooking sherry; olive oil; seeds, nuts, peanuts, and peanut butter; all
artificial sweeteners; preservatives, such as nitrates and sulfites;
coconuts; capers. Most mustards, ketchups, and mayonnaises.
Allowed: Anything else not specifically prohibited, all herbs and
spices, white vinegar, cider vinegar, honey, jams, jellies, dry mustard.
Meat and Seafood
Prohibited: Bacon, hot dogs, pepperoni, sausage, salami, bologna,
ham; organs (liver and other organ meats) all aged, canned, cured, or
processed meat products; caviar.
Allowed: All fresh beef, poultry, fish, or pork products, unless
specifically prohibited; tuna and other canned seafood that is packed in
water
