headaches and wine

[fume338]

Perhaps someone can help out with the correct information here? What is it in red wine that can give some people headaches. More so than when drinking white wine.
Sue

[Allison]

Drinking too much of anything gives you headaches. The box wine is more apt to that. So watch drinking the cheap stuff too much and you should be in the clear.

[Kevin]

Fume,

Here's an excerpt from one of our latest news updates, An End To Red Wine Headaches:

For some people, it may take only a glass of red wine to cause a headache. Now, University of California at Berkeley researchers say they've developed a device that can help stave off the "red wine headache."

The device, about the size of a briefcase, will eventually be able to test the biogenic amine levels in a variety of foods and liquids, the Associated Press reports.
Biogenic amines are chemicals found in a variety of popular foods and beverages, including wine, chocolate, nuts, cheese, olives and cured meats, the wire service reports.

The amines tyramine and histamine are suspected of being causes of not only headaches in some people but also high blood pressure and elevated adrenaline levels, the AP reports. "The food you eat is so unbelievably coupled with your body's chemistry," researcher Richard Mathies is quoted as saying.
Right now, the amine test works only on liquids, the AP says. The study is published in the latest edition of the journal Analytical Chemistry. – (HealthDayNews)

[Berno]

Patrons where I work ask for sulfite free wines. They think sulfites cause headaches, though this happens, it's more of a histamine reaction. People get allergy attacks a lot, too. It happens to me from time to time. I'll keep track of what they were.

[budman]

Good luck finding sulfite-free wines. I suspect they are few and far between.

[kconnections]

A lot of people get headaches from when they drink alcohol of a variety of types including wine.

[justp]

This is news to me I have had a headache from wine but Gin really gives me a headache.

[fume338]

Thank you Kevin. I believe your article and Berno's comment were on target with the histamine idea.
fume

[alena824]

There are simply some people whose tolerance level for alcohol is very low thus they are prone to headaches when consuming wine. If you like drinking wine but will likely get a headache, try taking a small amount, just so to satisfy your "craving" for it, and to allow yourself the experience without having to suffer with a headache.

[molly00000]

I read in an article that thereason for the infamous headache after drinking red wine is due the presence of substance known as Tyramine, in the wine. Sometimes a cheap red wine may also lead to headaches.