Is There a Link Between Preservatives and Headaches or Migraines?

Written by Alison Clinch on September 22, 2013. Posted in Cooking Tips, Health and Wellbeing, Miscellaneous.

One of our customers recently told us that since he’d started eating our products he’s no longer experiencing migraines. We were really pleased to hear this news so thought we’d share a bit more information about the topic.

Headaches are one of the most common ailments to affect Australians, with between 75 and 90 per cent of the population suffering one or more headaches each year.

Most headaches are associated with problems in the upper spine and muscle tension in the neck however headaches, and migraines, can also be triggered by diet. Foods that may be triggers include alcohol, caffeine, chocolate and foods with a high salt or sugar content. There is also evidence that foods that contain preservatives and nitrates (such as sausages, bacon and ham) can lead to expansion of blood vessels inside the skull, causing a moderate headache.

The good news however is that there’s no need to eliminate these foods entirely – you can just make different choices, for example; preservative free sausages, nitrate free ham and nitrate free bacon.

Have you seen any link between what you eat and your incidence of getting a headache or migraine? We’d love to know what your experience has been – you can leave a comment below, email us, or post a message on our Facebook page.

headaches, migraines, nitrates, preservatives

Alison Clinch

Alison Clinch has 20 years marketing experience gained in small and medium size business. She is especially passionate about supporting local communities, communications, and brand management. In her role with The Free Range Butcher Alison is responsible for the company’s branding, promotion, advertising and website. Her experience in the kitchen and passion for good food also brings refreshing new ideas for our recipe suggestions. Initially working alongside her husband Ben at the farmers markets, Alison is more ‘behind the scenes’ now, and keeping busy with two young apprentices’ / kids, Tom and Georgia.