Another Migraine Food Trigger: Tannins

Written and verified by Holly Hazen

Why are tannins considered a migraine food trigger? Black tea, beer, dried fruit and wines all have tannins in them. What are tannins and why the connection to migraines?

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Horvath's (1981) definition of tannins:

"Any phenolic compound of sufficiently high molecular weight containing sufficient hydroxyls and other suitable groups (i.e. carboxyls) to form effectively strong complexes with protein and other macromolecules" studied in a particular environment.

Ok! So - in English please?

Tannins are plant compounds that interfere with protein absorption in the body. Black tea, beer, dried fruits and many wines have tannins in them.

Adding cream or milk to tea stops not only the bitter taste, but inhibits that protein interference in the body. This does not mean it stops being a migraine food trigger.

Why exactly do tannins cause migraines?

Tannins contribute to many aspects of our daily lives. They are responsible for the astringent taste we experience when we eat unripe fruits or drink wine, and for the enchanting colors seen in flowers and in autumn leaves. _[2]

It's very complicated but to keep it simple they can interact with other macromolecules and have a major impact on how we assimilate them. Protein, starch, cellulose and minerals are all "complexed" by tannins. _[2]

Cornell University says it much better than I can here – have a look at their website if you would like a very thorough scientific explanation.

Now... let's get a much clearer picture of why tannins are a migraine food trigger.

Why Do Tannins Cause Headaches?

Do tannins in wine cause headaches? Yes they can, especially if you get migraines. Here's why...

What Foods Are High in Tannins?

Black tea, beer, dried fruit and wines all have tannins in them.

Tannins are widely distributed in nature and are present in most plant foods and some beverages. They are mainly found in fruits, especially berries, cocoa and beverages containing those ingredients. Cereals with sorghum and barley, also contain tannins.

So that's...

• Black walnuts and English walnuts

• Chocolate, of course

• Guarana

• Red wine (the tannins are in the grapes)

• Black tea, herbal teas and Green tea just to name a few

• Fruits: peaches, blackberries and cranberries
  
  

Sadly some of my favorite spices: Cinnamon, Tarragon, Thyme, Turmeric, and Vanilla have tannins.

According to e-how.com there are "at least 44 herbs that contain tannins": Chamomile, Echinacea, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, FLAX seeds (boohoo) and Slippery Elm which aids and can repair the digestive tract.

Alarmingly they also list the "malted barley flour" found in most commercially made breads and bread products like crackers and pizza bases.

Click here to see a more extensive list of foods that trigger migraines.

Even Chemicals In Food Can Trigger An Attack

The category that never ceases to amaze me is the chemicals in food and other products area when it comes to unrecognized (unadvertised) migraine triggers.

On Janette Navia’s site she also mentions “other products with phenolic additives” like: food dyes in yellow cheese and margarine's, vitamin pills and most herbal products! Some margarine is green or black before they dye it yellow.

And surprise surprise - petroleum based cleaning products, perfumes, paint fumes, and some fragrances in soaps and shampoos.

Perhaps that explains the high incidence of migraines with perfume as a trigger. Yeah! It's not just my imagination.

Sorry, I digressed, back to tannins.

Learn More About This Migraine Food Trigger - Wine Tannins 101

Check out this video from Jane Nickles, the author of "Wine Speak 101" on Tannins and Wine Pairing and the natural tannin rule. For a migraineur I believe it to be a sure fire way to bring on a migraine! Just in case you don’t know this already!

She says that if you eat pecans or walnuts, which are also high in tannins, with your main meal - chicken, red meat, or even on bread - that will remove the tannin in the red wine. Now is that just the taste or will it work for us too? Sounds the wrong way around...tannin and more tannin!

And this video "What are Tannins" by Daniel Delaney - it is just too much fun! I know ... we don't get to drink red wine. Well some of us don't.

He says that Pinot Noir and Sangiovese grapes are the lowest in Tannins. If that helps at all!

More Ways To Find Relief

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How to be more MIGRAINE SAVVY right now...

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Migraine Food Trigger Page Source:
1. Harvard Health (2020) Ask the doctor: What causes red wine headaches? Available [online] at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/what-causes-red-wine-headaches Accessed Feb.13, 2020
2. Cornell CALS (2020) Tannins: fascinating but sometimes dangerous molecules. Available [online] at: http://poisonousplants.ansci.cornell.edu/toxicagents/tannin.html Accessed Feb. 13, 2020

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