So, you are enjoying a Friday evening with your friend, sipping a glass of wine; suddenly, your head starts aching. Has this ever happened to you? While some people never get wine headaches, there are a few people who get immediate splitting headaches after drinking just one glass of wine. For years, people believed these headaches were caused by sulphites present in the wine. So, they turn to natural wine that contains little naturally occurring sulphite. Although natural wines are a healthier alternative to conventional wines, there is no evidence that they will help you avoid wine headaches.
Why Do Wine Headaches Occur?
There is no single answer to this question. There may be many reasons why people get headaches after having a few sips or glasses of wine. One of the reasons might be drinking too much wine in a sitting without properly hydrating or eating food. If you are not hydrated or haven’t eaten food, it slows down the absorption of wine in your body and results in headaches. In other cases, if you feel pounding headaches after having a glass of wine, you may have an allergy to a particular ingredient in wine.
What Are Sulphites?
In conventional wines, sulphites are used as a preservative to protect the wine against oxidation, the growth of unwanted bacteria, preserve the colour of the wine, promote the growth of yeast for better fermentation, and more. Natural wines also contain a small amount of sulphite that occurs naturally during the fermentation process.
Generally, a small amount of sulphite does not cause problems in people. But, in some cases, such as people with sulphite-sensitive asthma, could suffer from respiratory and skin reactions. Some people may experience digestive issues too.
Does Sulphite Cause Wine Headaches?
While some people blame the sulphites in wine for their headaches, it’s not proven scientifically yet. You may get a wine hangover after drinking too much wine; however, getting severe headaches after a single glass of wine can be attributed to other factors more than sulphites.
Some experiments by experts show that people drinking red wine get headaches more often than people drinking white wine. White wines contain more sulphite compared to red wines; hence, sulphite alone cannot be blamed for these headaches. Moreover, sulphites are often found in foods such as pickles, dry fruits, and more. If sulphite causes wine headaches, these foods can also induce a similar reaction.
Other Factors That Cause Wine Headaches
Histamine:
Histamine is a natural element that occurs when fermenting grapes. Experts have found that this chemical can cause headaches by activating the receptors in the brain. Generally, our body can handle a few amounts of Histamine. However, people with Histamine-intolerance syndrome suffer from headaches, migraines, digestive issues, skin reactions, runny nose, and more.
Tannin:
Tannin is another chemical present in the skin of the grape used to make wine and is responsible for the colour of the wine. This chemical blocks a specific protein in the body, which maximises the effects of other chemicals found in wine called catecholamines, which cause headaches and migraines. Tannin also blocks an enzyme responsible for detoxification, which also results in headaches.
Flavonoids:
Like tannins, flavonoids are found in the skin of the grapes and make your brain release serotonin and trigger enzymatic reactions in the gut. Natural flavonoids are responsible for the taste and texture of the wine. Moreover, it gives the wine a mouthfeel and colour.
Biogenic Amines:
Biogenic amines are produced during the fermentation process and contain headache-causing chemicals such as Histamine and Tyramine. Red wines contain a higher amount of these amines, which causes headaches. Preservative-free wine contains fewer amounts of these chemicals, and they help prevent Histamine-induced headaches to an extent.
Sugar Content:
The combination of sugar and alcohol may induce headaches because they require a large quantity of water to process. When you are dehydrated, your body will draw water from other parts of your body, including the brain, which reduces the fluid content in your body. This causes severe headaches and other allergic reactions. So, always stay away from wines that are rich in sugar content, such as sweet dessert wines and semi-dry or sweet white wines. You should also avoid consuming cheaper wines, as the producers add more sugar during fermentation to increase the alcohol amount.
Tips to Prevent Wine Headaches
Drink Organic or Sulphite-Free Wines:
Even though wine headaches are not induced by sulphites, if you think your headache is triggered by them, go for organic wine that contains little sulphite.
Stay Hydrated:
Dehydration can cause wine headaches as your body tends to draw water from different parts of your body, including the brain. To avoid this, drink a glass of water between each drink to prevent dehydration and its effects on your body.
Say No to Carbonated Drinks:
Carbonated drinks tend to irritate the lining of your stomach, which results in digestive issues. So, whenever you take a wine of glass, stay away from carbonated drinks, such as soda, beer, and more.
Pair Wine with Food:
When you pair wine with the right food, it slows down the absorption of alcohol in your body.
Take Antihistamines:
If your wine headaches are caused by Histamines, take antihistamines 30 minutes before drinking a wine. However, check the label for drug interactions, as you may get super drowsy when mixed with alcohol. Or go for organic wine, which has low Histamine, to avoid any allergic reactions.
Avoid Too Much Sugar:
Combining cake and champagne may sound like perfection, but sugar headaches are a real thing. So, if you are susceptible to wine headaches, don’t take too much sugar. Instead, snack on something savoury to pair with your wine. However, if sugar is your first choice, choose drier types of wines to avoid headaches.
Don’t Drink on an Empty Stomach:
When you drink wine on an empty stomach, you may get drunk quickly. This can cause severe headaches and digestive issues. So, eat something before you are planning to drink wine. Choose lean proteins for better results.
Consume in Moderation:
According to Australian standard, two glasses of wine is recommended for both men and women. If you are drinking wine with high alcohol content, you must consider drinking less than the standard. But, if you know you are drinking more than a glass of wine, give sometime between the glasses and consume more water in between to avoid headaches.
Wrapping Up
While people enjoy wine as an everyday treat or have a few sips on a special occasion, some pay later with headaches and unpleasant effects. Follow the above tips to escape from the after-effects of drinking wine. You can also choose preservative-free wine in minimal amounts for a well-balanced effect with less sulphites, tannins, and histamine.
