A glass of Red Wine = Headache vs. Sulfite allergy

[jagalman]

For some people, a glass of red wine is an invitation to a roaring headache. After a few episodes of headache and queasiness, those who suffer them may banish wine from their tables for life. The symptoms are part of a syndrome known as Red Wine Headache, or RWH.

This is the problem i get always! A headeche after a glass of Red wine!! :roll:

i asked and searched why, it seems i am not the only one who suffer this!!

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/7026/headache1624619qs9.jpg

Do you get a headache after drinking even a small amount red wine but not when drinking white? While it is known a small percentage of wine drinkers get a headache from drinking red wine, the cause is unknown. Sulfites, histamines, tannins, or even the alcohol in wine might trigger this unpleasant side effect. Find out how you might prevent wine headaches and what is to blame.

Sulfites
Are sulfites the blame for this phenomenon? Sulfites are a naturally occurring compound that nature uses to prevent the microbial growth found on grapes and other dried fruits. However, you do not hear that people suffer from dried fruit headaches. Scientist have pointed out that because of their higher sugar content, many sweet white wines contain more sulfites than red wines yet do not cause headaches. In fact, sulfites can cause an allergic reaction but will only give headaches to asthmatics. At this point in time, no study has proved that sulfites are the culprit.

Alcohol
Alcohol has a powerful dilation effect on the blood vessels of the skin and your extremities. This means that it causes the vessels to open, allowing increased blood flow. The alcohol stimulates blood flow to the skin and extremities making you feel warm inside. However, it also makes you lose body heat more quickly. Therefore, the alcohol in wine can cause the blood vessels in your nose and sinus area to swell causing a feeling of pressure. Depending on how sensitive you are to this effect, you might experience a headache.

Histamines
Many people may be sensitive to histamines. These are naturally produced chemicals, and are in wines. Histamines are more concentrated in red wines than whites, so you might try switching to whites to see if this brings relief.

Tannins
Some experts say that the tannins in the red wine are at the root of the headaches. Tannins are the flavonoids in wine and are also present in chocolate and tea because of their coloring effect. Again though, no direct connection in causing headaches.

Is there Relief?
Some people report that taking Sudafed before drinking red wine helps to prevent the headaches, and does not cause drowsiness. Another possibility is taking an aspirin. Personally I am fond of enteric coated aspirins because they do not bother my stomach. However, I am not a physician and this should not be construed as medical advice.

Yet for most people who suffer from red wine headaches, the theories are irrelevant. They want to know what to do about the problem. And don't confuse red wine headaches with the headache that comes after a full evening of drinking. That's called a hangover. The fact of the matter is no one knows what causes red wine headaches. The solution is to try to find a wine that doesn't cause you a headache and stick to it. If the wine is going to affect you, it will probably do so in about 15 minutes.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Wine_Headache

http://www.beekmanwine.com/prevtopbd.htm

http://www.winedefinitions.com/learningcenter/articles/redwineheadachemystery.htm

[melbo]

I'm fine on a glass its when I have a full bottle (or two) that I get a raging headache!

[jagalman]

I'm fine on a glass its when I have a full bottle (or two) that I get a raging headache!

Lol!!

here is from one glass of red wine i get that headeche for 24 hours!!
:confused:

[notaslave]

Very interesting post.

I get headaches from some red wine really powerful headaches too, you wouldnt mind so much if you got the headache after a good drinking session but on the first glass or two - no thanks lol

I also get it from some beers - what we call lagers. Bud is a bad one for it with me as is Miller. And a few others I tend to stick to one I know I can drink without a headache as I do tend to forget the names of all the ones which give me the headache. I dont drink often enough lol.

But a friend makes his own wine and that is usually what I drink these days seeing as he brings me a bottle when we meet up. :)

[jagalman]

Very interesting post.

I get headaches from some red wine really powerful headaches too, you wouldnt mind so much if you got the headache after a good drinking session but on the first glass or two -
I dont drink often enough lol.

Cheers!! Same here!!
i am not a drinker to but sometimes in a very cold weather with a nice dinner i like Red Wine, but the problem is from a glass i got an awesome headeche!! :eek:

[Anders Lindman]

The solution is to try to find a wine that doesn't cause you a headache and stick to it.

I have noticed that red Bourgogne (Burgundy) wines made from Pinot Noir sometimes don't cause headache. One problem is that decent wines of this sort are expensive as hell.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourgogne_wine

[melbo]

Have you tried organic wine? It will be less likely to cause headaches for you.

[jagalman]

Have you tried organic wine? It will be less likely to cause headaches for you.


The wine we have all come's from Organic grapes!!:)

Grapes in Lebanon
http://static.flickr.com/93/217552464_20f4ff2853_m.jpghttp://www.skilebanon.co.uk/images/lebwine.jpg


Wine of Lebanon

Lebanon is one of the oldest sites of wine production in the world. In Baalbeck, the ancient Greek city in the Bekaa Valley, the majority of vines are grown. French influence on the country is apparent in the grape varieties most commonly planted: Cinsaut, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mourvedre, Grenache and Syrah.

Although today more known of its majestic cedars, Lebanon is blessed with 300 days of sunshine a year, and enjoys a burgeoning industry producing award-winning wines for export to a wide Lebanese community now living throughout the world, mainly in the UK, Europe and the United States.

With wine making tradition dating back 5,000 years the Phoenicians, the ancient dwellers of Lebanon, were tending vineyards, making wine and trading with other major cities long before the Greeks and Romans. And it was here that later Jesus changed water into wine, performing his first miracle at the wedding of Cana.

The term wine, or Cherem in Phoenician, is derived from a Phoenician word referring specifically to the fermentation of grapes. Wines were a specialty of the Phoenicians and their ancient Ugaritic poetry and epics mentioned wine with ringing praise. The Rapiuma and others were specific in identifying the choice wine of Lebanon as being one nurtured by their god El and fit for gods and kings. They must have learned about wine from earlier civilizations; however, they perfected viticulture and oenology so that Phoenician wines became prized commodities of the ancient world and a major source of revenue in their exports.

The Phoenician Canaanites were avid wine drinkers. The Bible mentions that the Phoenician Canaanite Melchizedek, King of Salem (King of Jerusalem) and Priest of the Most High God (El Elion), offered bread and wine to Abraham and Ezekiel refers to the wine of Helbon as a unique commodity. Some believe that the village of Qana (Cana) where Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding feast was a town near Tyre, Phoenicia and not elsewhere. Also, wine was central to the Passover observance among the Jews and continues to be so. It was served for the Passover of the Last Supper betwixt Jesus and his disciples and continues to be central to Christian Eucharistic liturgy of the Mass.

Some of the icons of Phoenician philosophy, Zeno of Citium and Chrysippus of Soli, Phoenician co-founder of the Stoic School of Philosophy were "serious" wine drinkers. The former's main enjoyment was sitting in the sun, eating figs and drinking wine while the latter is said to have died as a result of drinking too much over proof wine.

The Egyptians never succeeded in growing enough grapes to produce wine, a drink foreign to the Egyptians, and relied on imports. In fact, a fresco in an Egyptian tomb of the 18th dynasty depicts seven Phoenician merchant ships anchored at an Egyptian port to sell their goods, including the distinctive Canaanite wine jars in which wine was imported. Egypt recorded the harvest of grapes on stone tablets and the Egyptians drank wine from cups or from a jar through a straw. The Pharaohs were especially fond of wine and some even had bottles buried with them in order to make their journey to the underworld more tolerable. Also, wines were given to dead kings, so that they might entertain their friends in the afterlife. Wine was a very social drink in Ancient Egypt and great importance was given to its limited production and consumption.

Even the Greeks couldn't offer vintages to compare with the Phoenicians until much later. At the table, most people drank their wine mixed with water, quite frequently half and half. So the opportunity to drink pure wine at a ritual was a special occasion. This is why getting drunk was so special and originally considered a spiritual state, in which deities could talk or act through the person in that condition. Some scholars believe that Dionysus was originally from the Middle East, home of wine and ecstatic worship. Also, in pagan worship, wine was used to anoint idols.

Below are some wine producers in Lebanon:

Chateau Musar
Chateau Ksara
Chateau Kefraya
Domaine Wardy
Vin Héritage
Chateau Faqra
Chateau Nakad
Massaya
Domaine des Tourelles
Clos Saint Thomas
Cave Kouroum
Cloas de Cana
Nabise Mont Liban
Enotica
Chateau Khoury
Couvent St. Sauveur

Although these wines are sometimes found in the United States and Canada, it is far easier to buy them when visiting London. Best stores for finding the wines of Chateau Musar are Waitrose, Tanners, Majestic Wine and Adnams. The wines of Kefraya and Ksara are more difficult to find but are sometimes available at Tanners and Adnams.

http://www.lebwine.com/