Instant Headache Hell - Trigger?

KnitOrMiss

So, I have gotten instant headaches from sugar unintentionally and those faded quickly. but I have also discovered a couple other things that trigger it instantly and they don't fade.

Stevia On The Go (liquid)
Walden Farms Sugar Free Zero Cal Chocolate Syrup

Things with no reaction:
Powdered Splenda
Splenda On The Go (liquid)
Pure Via non-gmo Stevia

Does anyone have any idea what is in both of those first two items that could cause this type instant and miserable reaction?!?! I'm freaking out some, but I need to know what I can avoid. thanks.

GSD_Mama

I don't take any of these as I can't stand the taste

jordanify

Cut out the sweets all together this crap is too artificial

Dragonwolf

I can't get the Stevia on the Go, but the Walden Farms chocolate syrup contains:

Triple Filtered Purified Water, Defatted Cocoa Powder, Caramel Color, Natural Flavors, Cellulose Gum, Sucralose, Salt, Xantham Gum, Sodium Benzoate (to preserve freshness)

My guess is something in the "natural flavors," if the sucralose (Splenda) isn't a trigger for you. May also be the sodium benzoate. Best bet is to look at the ingredient list of both and see what they both have.

KnitOrMiss

@itcphotog I understand. I'm fairly picky myself. I like the PureVia the best I think

@jordanify I will once I can. Right now, I primarily use it only to take the sharp edge off of flavors I'm not adapted back to yet. For the chocolate, I was attempting to "fix" some fat bombs I made and used an entire packed of koolaid mix in (it was way too tart and miserable to try to eat, no matter what I did)...

@Dragonwolf The Stevia On The Go is:
Water, Erythtirol, Stevia Extract, Natural Flavors, Malic Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative).

The Splenda one is called "Sweetener On The Go" and it is:
Water, Sucralose, Malic Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative).

The PureVia Stevia is: Dextrose, Reb A (Stevia Extract), Natural Flavors.

That natural flavors crap is such a pain in the butt. How the heck can you identify problems if these people refuse to actually tell you what they put into it? And that chocolate syrup was so bad it triggered major sugar cravings all day, almost instantly. I had to fat-log myself to survive, and barely at that. I don't know what part of it threw my body into such a tizzy, but my body surely thought it was real sugar or something, which doesn't happen with any of the others... I took it back to the store. Luckily, they gave me my money back, but I know they just threw it in the trash instead of sending it back to the manufacturer... Next time I'll spill out for the decent cocoa powder and do my own fix on something I screw up. Luckily my guy is willing to use them up because he said it helps his ear pressure (extended injuries/long story)...

So I guess I will stick with what works - I was just wanting to know what to avoid in the future...

Oh, and this stuff didn't bother me either, though I could have done without some of it... I need to figure out how to get sugar free flavor extracts, because I have unsweetened plain gelatin...(Aspartame used to give me headaches long before starting on this part of my life's changes, but it isn't so bad anymore, particularly in small doses... Gelatin, Adipic Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Maltodextrin, Fumaric Acid, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Acesulfame Potassium, Aspartame*, Salt, Dehydrated Lemon Juice, Color (Yellow 5 And Blue 1). *Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine. Allergy Warning: May Contain Traces Of Milk And Soy.

sljohnson1207

AS's are notorious for causing headaches (and migraines) in those who are sensitive. So is MSG. MSG is allowed to be hidden under "natural flavors" and a whole host of other names because technically it is natural from the processing of some foods. Other names that MSG hides under are:

malt extract
yeast extract
textured protein
whey protein concentrate

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html

http://www.rense.com/general92/hidename.html

KnitOrMiss

I don't think my trigger is MSG, as I have had it in other forms, and not had the headaches, but I'll check out your other links... Thanks!

Sajyana

Benzoates would send my son into massive,uncontrollable, furious tantrums when he was about 2. I cut preservatives and colours from his diet and they disappeared in 2 days. The largest contributing factor was bread and sweets. We avoid them like the plague.

KnitOrMiss

Yes, Red Dye #40 and I are lifelong enemies, so I completely understand the preservative thing... I wonder if that is a component of this issue - even though the liquid Splenda has it, maybe it doesn't have whatever the complicating factor is... Thanks for the idea...