Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

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SarathW
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Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

Post by SarathW »

Why I get a severe headache when I eat chocolate?
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DNS
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Re: Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

Post by DNS »

Milk chocolate or Dark chocolate?

If milk, it could be lactose intolerance. If dark or both, it could be allergies. Food allergies can cause headaches.
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Sam Vara
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Re: Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

Post by Sam Vara »

The monks that I know are allowed chocolate after noon. Several don't take advantage of this, saying that it gives them really serious headaches. I believe this is a fairly common reaction, and is perhaps more severe when one has an otherwise empty stomach, or is more sensitive to physical conditions.
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Re: Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

Post by ieee23 »

Sugar spikes. Most of the calories from chocolate are from the sugar used to make it palatable. It gets out of the blood stream quickly, since the monks are an empty stomach their blood sugar levels are crashing.
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Mkoll
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Re: Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

Post by Mkoll »

I don't think you should eat something that gives you severe headaches. Some people are sensitive to the sugar in chocolate or something in the chocolate itself, such as the stimulants caffeine and/or theobromine. You may be one of those people.

Do you get a headache when you eat a chocolate product without sugar, e.g. cocoa powder or cacao nibs? If not, it's probably the sugar or milk. You could try eating chocolate with just sugar or just milk. Eliminate things and see how you feel to find the culprit.
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Re: Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

Post by rolling_boulder »

I don't know why but when I was going through puberty I suffered often from intense migraine headaches.

Since then they have completely ceased and I believe the change was dietary.

I think the trigger foods for me were chocolate, bananas, cheeses, and perhaps others. I remember once in 8th grade I had to walk out early from a Math final because my headache was so awful!

When you eat chocolate consider only eating a very small portion. Also the quality of the chocolate makes a big difference. The waxy chocolate you get off supermarket shelves is often very unhealthy and would be horrible without all the milk and sugar they put in to make it palatable.
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lostitude
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Re: Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

Post by lostitude »

Hello,

Eating chocolate releases serotonine in the brain, and this can cause migraine in migraine-prone people. It is best to simply avoid it (same goes with wine for some people too). There are many types of foods that can trigger a migraine, but each individual has their own triggers.
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mirco
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Re: Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

Post by mirco »

Dear Sarah,
SarathW wrote:Why I get a severe headache when I eat chocolate?
What do think about eating chocolate, what's your attitude?

Best Wishes :)
SarathW
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Re: Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

Post by SarathW »

Chocolate is another type of sweet we enjoy.
:)
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Ben
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Re: Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

Post by Ben »

SarathW wrote:Chocolate is another type of sweet we enjoy.
:)
I sometimes get headaches when I overdo the caffeine and chocolate does contain caffeine. If it gives you a headache then avoid it.
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mirco
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Re: Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

Post by mirco »

Dear Sarah,
mirco wrote:
SarathW wrote:Why I get a severe headache when I eat chocolate?
What do think about eating chocolate, what's your attitude?
SarathW wrote:Chocolate is another type of sweet we enjoy.
do you allow yourself this kind of enjoyment or do you regret crossing a self set line?

Best Wishes :)
SarathW
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Re: Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

Post by SarathW »

I have a sweet tooth.
I like to limit my sugar intake. (trying hard)
:)
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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mirco
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Re: Why I get a headache when I eat chocolate?

Post by mirco »

SarathW wrote:I have a sweet tooth. I like to limit my sugar intake. (trying hard) :)
Dear Sarah,

ah, ok. Maybe the headache arises from that hard trying.

Best Wishes
:)
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