It’s time to ditch bacon as ‘nitrates in processed meat can trigger migraines’
Scientists believe nitrates, which are used to cure processed meat, mix with bacteria in the mouth to increase the risk of the agonising headaches
IT MIGHT be time to ditch the bacon sarnie and fry up as new research suggests eating rashers, sausages and other processed meats can trigger severe headaches.
Experts think the nitrates which are used to preserve them could cause migraine attacks.
Around eight million people in the UK get severe headache attacks every year - and three quarters of that number are women.
Other symptoms of migraines include nausea, vomiting and dizziness.
The research was carried out by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.
It found that people who get migraines regularly had high levels of bacteria in their guts and mouths which process nitrates.
Nitrates are also found naturally in leafy greens, like spinach.
The bacteria turns nitrates into nitric oxide which can help cardiovascular health but also starts migraines.
The team looked at 172 oral samples and 1996 stool samples.
Researcher Dr Embriette Hyde said: "We know for a fact that nitrate-reducing bacteria are found in the oral cavity.
"We definitely think this pathway is advantageous to cardiovascular health."
Dr Hyde, whose work is published in the journal MSystems, added: "We now also have a potential connection to migraines, though it remains to be seen whether these bacteria are a cause or result of migraines, or are indirectly linked in some other way."
Professor Antonio Gonzalez said: "There is this idea out there that certain foods trigger migraines - chocolate, wine and especially foods containing nitrates.
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"We thought that perhaps there are connections between what people are eating, their microbiomes and their experiences with migraines."
Dr Gonzalez added they wanted to conduct more research before nitrates could be established as the direct cause of migraines: "If you suspect that nitrates are causing you migraines you should try to avoid them in your diet."
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