Do You Get a Red-Wine Headache? Scientists May Have Figured Out Why

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If you're prone to the dreaded red-wine headache, it's not necessarily because you drank too much the night before. A new study from the University of California, Davis, published in Scientific Reports, may have found the actual reason for why red wine seems to trigger migraines in people who don't otherwise get them from alcohol.

Red wine contains a high concentration of the antioxidant quercetin, which is found in grape skins and therefore red wine. When consumed, quercetin impedes how the body metabolizes alcohol, which can start the buildup of the toxin acetaldehyde. This is known to cause facial flushing, nausea, and, of course, headaches.

“The study suggests red wine has a much higher concentration of these compounds than other types of alcohol, making it more likely for people to experience headaches after drinking,” explains Tochi Iroku-Malize, MD, a family physician and board chair of the American Academy of Family Physician who is not affiliated with the study.

Fortunately for wine lovers, there are varying amounts of quercetin in different kinds of wines. Wines from especially sunny climates tend to have more quercetin, since it's formed in response to sunlight. Thus the researchers' next step is to examine how individuals respond to red wines with high levels of quercetin versus those with very little.

Wellness

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This could offer a potential treatment for the ailment down the line, though that's not a be-all and end-all cure. “Alcohol consumption in general also causes dehydration and widens blood vessels, which can result in headaches,” Dr. Iroku-Malize points out. “I always advise patients to practice moderation when drinking alcohol, avoid drinking on an empty stomach, and to make sure they’re drinking plenty of water. This helps people stay hydrated, which can reduce the chance of getting a headache or other adverse effects.”

Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, a board-certified internist and author of From Fatigued to Fantastic, agrees, asserting that doctors already had “a pretty good idea of what triggers most red-wine headaches: dehydration, as noted above, as well as sulfite sensitivity.

“The role of sulfites in red-wine headache and humans has been previously studied and clearly documented,” he says. “In a different study, people with a history of red-wine headaches were more than 22 times as likely to get a headache if they were blindly given a red wine with higher levels of the sulfites than one with low levels.” His suggestion? Switch to sulfite-free wine and take a high-potency multivitamin.

“Clinical Essentials, which has 50–125 mcg of molybdenum, will help detoxify the sulfites and decrease sulfite sensitivity. Molybdenum does so by increasing the effectiveness of sulfite oxidase," Dr. Teitelbaum explains, noting that there are herbal pain relievers can help treat headaches too. “Curamin Headache is a powerful mix of a highly absorbed curcumin, boswellia (frankincense) B6, and magnesium. It's quite wonderful for headaches and pain in general.”

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There are a handful of lifestyle changes you can make as well, especially as we head into end-of-year celebrations. “It can be challenging to make healthy food and drink choices during the holidays,” notes Dr. Iroku-Malize. “Stress and feelings of anxiety and loneliness can also make it harder to maintain a healthy diet. It’s important to balance special foods and alcohol with nutrient-dense meals and plenty of water.”

Her approach? “Aim to have one glass of water for every alcoholic drink, and set a limit for how many drinks you plan to have ahead of time. Try to also opt for alcohol-free options.”

Overall, you have plenty of options when it comes to preventing that red-wine headache, Dr. Teitelbaum concludes. “Take a good multivitamin, get a brand of red wine that is sulfite-free, and stay hydrated. And enjoy the holidays!”

Danielle Sinay is the associate beauty editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @daniellesinay.

Originally Appeared on Glamour