Diet soda
While the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) recently gave the go-ahead to consume aspartame in moderation, the FDA has received thousands of consumer complaints about aspartame due mostly to symptoms such as dizziness, memory loss, and headaches. The 2015 Scientific Report of the DGAC says,
“If individuals choose to drink beverages that are sweetened with aspartame, they should stay below the aspartame Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of no more than 50 mg/day.” (A 12-ounce diet beverage contains approximately 180 mg of aspartame.)
Ripe bananas and avocados
You’ve heard nutrition experts praise bananas and avocados because of their many health benefits, but ripe bananas and avocados are also high in tyramine. “Certain foods that are high in tyramine can cause migraines,” says Jennifer Kriegler, MD, of the Center for Neurological Restoration at the Cleveland Clinic. Even if you’re not prone to migraines, high tyramine levels can still cause headaches. Tyramine is an amino acid that most people can digest without issue.
However, if a person has the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) deficiency or if the person is taking certain antidepressants, it can interfere with the breakdown process. “Ripe bananas and ripe avocados can be potent headache triggers because they contain high amounts of tyramine,” says Kriegler.
