5 Questions: Is it the Wine? or is it me?
Why does drinking wine cause headaches? The quickest answer is that it doesn’t. The most repeated information states that wine causes headaches because of an allergy or sensitivity to the sulfites used in most wines as a preservative.
This generally happens ONLY when sulfites are added during the process of mass creation of wine. Fine wines are aged naturally with no added sulfites. No sulfites, no headaches unless you run a reaction to other ingredients. I’m thinking of a small Spanish study. I’ll give you those results in just a minute.
Headaches are not a symptom of an allergic reaction. If you were allergic to any of the compounds used in the creation of this wonderful beverage, you would suffer from hives and difficulty in breathing if you have a severe reaction. You would get milder reactions if you have a lesser degree of allergic responses.
So, what is it about wine that can give you a headache?
Wines with higher levels of tannins and other flavonoids. Reds seem to have the most sulfites than Whites. Reds that have these higher levels of tannins and other flavonoids are those made with particular grapes such as Tannat or Cabernet Sauvignon. Others have higher levels from grapes grown in a particular location in Bordeaux and South America. These seem to cause headaches more often than not.
Another reason as noted on WebMD from doctors in Spain is insects. The doctor reported on a small section of test subjects who had allergic reactions and conducted tests on those subjects. The tests determined the subjects were allergic to bees which include ants, bees, and wasps.
As you know wine consists of all parts of the vine so those tested did in fact have an allergy to the insect parts that come from the various areas of the grapes. The only way to determine if you have an allergy to these insects would be a trip with your physician and a test to determine if you are allergic to aged wines.
So how do I avoid wines that cause me headaches since it’s not the sulfites? The first thing I would suggest is to know your wine.
- What region do the grapes come from?
- Are the grapes known for high tannin and flavonoid level?
- Is the wine a fine wine or something you purchase from a grocery store or mass produced?
- Are you allergic to ants, bees, or wasps?
- Do I react with hives or difficulty breathing? Or do I have a headache with no other symptoms?
Your answer to these 5 questions and a quick trip to your physician will determine if you are truly allergic to sulfites and flavonoids or if it is the wine and its contents that are causing your headache.
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