Everytime I start eating healthy I get really bad headaches
cschof18
Posts: 34 Member
Hi there,
Every time I start a new diet/healthy lifestyle, I get really bad migraines that end up making me sick and then discouraging me from wanting to continue. I thought it may be not eating enough food, but I certainly try to fill up as much as possible. Or maybe its withdrawls from bad, fatty foods? Anyone else experience this?
Every time I start a new diet/healthy lifestyle, I get really bad migraines that end up making me sick and then discouraging me from wanting to continue. I thought it may be not eating enough food, but I certainly try to fill up as much as possible. Or maybe its withdrawls from bad, fatty foods? Anyone else experience this?
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Replies
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What exactly are you considering a diet/healthy lifestyle? Elaborate please.0
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^Yep, that kind of info would be helpful. When you eat "healthy" do you cut out soda, or any other kind of caffeinated beverages?0
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Maybe it's not so healthy after all.0
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I'd say headaches caused by caffeine withdrawal or from not enough food. Also make sure drinking enough water. Could be from stress from starting new "diet".0
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Since you don't give a lot of info to help. Why not take it as a sign that you might be making some unreasonable and drastic changes that aren't necessary.
When you could find a reasonable calorie deficit, log your food accurately and honestly, find an activity you enjoy.. and not make yourself so miserable.
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If "getting healthy" means stopping the coffee or caffeinated soda cold turkey, I can suggest one issue...0
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Did you eat a lot of sugar previously? My diet was really really high in sugar and the first week was a little rough for me, but it all evened out.0
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This happens to me when I go from eating stupid amounts of desserts/candy to consuming them in moderation. Goes away after a couple days. Hang in there.0
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Hi there,
Every time I start a new diet/healthy lifestyle, I get really bad migraines that end up making me sick and then discouraging me from wanting to continue. I thought it may be not eating enough food, but I certainly try to fill up as much as possible. Or maybe its withdrawls from bad, fatty foods? Anyone else experience this?
What changes did you make?
You might just have to let your body adjust for a couple of weeks or reduce amounts of certain foods/drinks more gradually instead of cutting them out all at once.
If you are starting to eat or drink products with artificial sweeteners that might be a cause of your headaches. I get migraines from those. If I eat or drink things with regular sugar, honey, or naturally low sugar then I feel fine.0 -
Whenever I cut out processed sugar and caffeine I also get headaches. It usually is worst the first week.0
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kellybauerfl wrote: »Whenever I cut out processed sugar and caffeine I also get headaches. It usually is worst the first week.
In this case, it's the caffeine that's doing it. Caffeine is addictive and when you cut it out cold turkey, it often leads to headaches.0 -
Hi there,
Every time I start a new diet/healthy lifestyle, I get really bad migraines that end up making me sick and then discouraging me from wanting to continue. I thought it may be not eating enough food, but I certainly try to fill up as much as possible. Or maybe its withdrawls from bad, fatty foods? Anyone else experience this?
Like others have said, the most likely culprits are caffeine withdrawal, eating too little, or getting dehydrated from not drinking enough fluids. Try making the changes one at a time instead of diving headfirst into the deep end.
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Why would one stop ingesting caffeine? That's not healthy!!! Caffeine is the drug of choice for most folks in the USA and elsewhere.0
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When I first stopped drinking caffeinated beverages, I had a minor bumper bender in my car because I was distracted and a little woozie. It took a bit (don't remember how long) for the stuff to get out of my system. Now I drink regular coffee about once or twice a week and only in the morning.
It used to be harder to find decaf or non-caf drinks.
Adding enough water and not getting too hungry (i.e., not skipping meals, for me) are also key.0 -
I agree caffeine withdrawal causes headaches, but where did the OP say anything about caffeine? Oh, by "this case" you meant the person cutting out sugar and caffeine?MayTehSporksBeWithYou wrote: »kellybauerfl wrote: »Whenever I cut out processed sugar and caffeine I also get headaches. It usually is worst the first week.
In this case, it's the caffeine that's doing it. Caffeine is addictive and when you cut it out cold turkey, it often leads to headaches.
I think that going from a high calorie diet to a lower one also causes many people headaches for a few weeks. It goes away. Or there might be food allergies going on.
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WalkingAlong wrote: »
I agree caffeine withdrawal causes headaches, but where did the OP say anything about caffeine? Oh, by "this case" you meant the person cutting out sugar and caffeine?MayTehSporksBeWithYou wrote: »kellybauerfl wrote: »Whenever I cut out processed sugar and caffeine I also get headaches. It usually is worst the first week.
In this case, it's the caffeine that's doing it. Caffeine is addictive and when you cut it out cold turkey, it often leads to headaches.
I think that going from a high calorie diet to a lower one also causes many people headaches for a few weeks. It goes away. Or there might be food allergies going on.
Since the OP didn't give much information, posters are speculating as to possible causes. Caffeine withdrawal is the most common (since so many go "healthy" by cutting out soda which is often caffeinated) so, in the absence of more information, that is a highly likely cause. You are right that a significant drop in calories can cause headaches, as can dehydration if the OP hasn't been drinking enough fluids.
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Probably sugar withdrawal. It will pass0
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Any excuse to give up, right?
Stick with it. They'll go away. I promise.0 -
WalkingAlong wrote: »
I agree caffeine withdrawal causes headaches, but where did the OP say anything about caffeine? Oh, by "this case" you meant the person cutting out sugar and caffeine?MayTehSporksBeWithYou wrote: »kellybauerfl wrote: »Whenever I cut out processed sugar and caffeine I also get headaches. It usually is worst the first week.
In this case, it's the caffeine that's doing it. Caffeine is addictive and when you cut it out cold turkey, it often leads to headaches.
I think that going from a high calorie diet to a lower one also causes many people headaches for a few weeks. It goes away. Or there might be food allergies going on.
By "this case" I was referring to the poster who said they get headaches when they cut out caffeine and "processed sugars." All sugars are processed in some way unless you're getting them straight from the fruit or chewing sugar cane and sugar has not been proven to be physically addictive in the way that caffeine is.
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MayTehSporksBeWithYou wrote: »kellybauerfl wrote: »Whenever I cut out processed sugar and caffeine I also get headaches. It usually is worst the first week.
In this case, it's the caffeine that's doing it. Caffeine is addictive and when you cut it out cold turkey, it often leads to headaches.
Most likely caffeine.0 -
Why would one stop ingesting caffeine? That's not healthy!!! Caffeine is the drug of choice for most folks in the USA and elsewhere.
Just because you do fine with caffeine does not mean everybody does. Seriously, I love caffeine but every time I overload on it I ache, have increased hot flashes (which are already there due to menopause), and my mind races. Do I want those symptoms? No, therefore I tightly moderate my caffeine because I can go hog wild on it.
I don't believe in cutting out anything unless I don't like it or am intolerant.
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If you've cut or significantly reduced caffeine - yes your going thru caffeine withdraw and that will def cause headaches. Test it: Have a coffee and see if your headache goes away.
However, the main cause for headaches when you change your eating habits to a "cleaner" version are from your body releasing toxins. When you start eating cleaner, your body takes advantage to clean house and get rid of all the crap that was in the foods you were previously eating. Consuming high doses of vit C (in citrus fruits like lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits) will aid the body in getting rid of those toxins. Vit C binds with toxins and issues them out of the body via bowels movements. Hot Lemon water 2-3 times a day will help.
If you're not having daily bowel movements, that's another prob.
Hope this was helpful!0 -
If you've cut or significantly reduced caffeine - yes your going thru caffeine withdraw and that will def cause headaches. Test it: Have a coffee and see if your headache goes away.
However, the main cause for headaches when you change your eating habits to a "cleaner" version are from your body releasing toxins. When you start eating cleaner, your body takes advantage to clean house and get rid of all the crap that was in the foods you were previously eating. Consuming high doses of vit C (in citrus fruits like lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits) will aid the body in getting rid of those toxins. Vit C binds with toxins and issues them out of the body via bowels movements. Hot Lemon water 2-3 times a day will help.
If you're not having daily bowel movements, that's another prob.
Hope this was helpful!
No. Just no. None of that.
You can’t detox your body. It’s a myth.0 -
Hi there,
Every time I start a new diet/healthy lifestyle, I get really bad migraines that end up making me sick and then discouraging me from wanting to continue. I thought it may be not eating enough food, but I certainly try to fill up as much as possible. Or maybe its withdrawls from bad, fatty foods? Anyone else experience this?
Are you eating enough?
I doubt it's withdrawal from certain foods because none are good or bad in of themselves, they are just food.
I experienced headaches with caffeine, but they went away after I cut way back.0 -
However, the main cause for headaches when you change your eating habits to a "cleaner" version are from your body releasing toxins. When you start eating cleaner, your body takes advantage to clean house and get rid of all the crap that was in the foods you were previously eating. Consuming high doses of vit C (in citrus fruits like lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits) will aid the body in getting rid of those toxins. Vit C binds with toxins and issues them out of the body via bowels movements. Hot Lemon water 2-3 times a day will help.
Hope this was helpful!
Nope.0 -
Ugh. "Toxins." No. Just for god's sake, no.0
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Go to the doctor.0
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Can you give us more information? I know a lot of people have asked, but they do have a point. It could be a number of things.
Are you eating enough? Restricting calories too heavily can cause things like dizziness and headaches. Even restricting to 1,200 (the amount generally recommended by MFP) can be too much of a restriction for some people. You say you try to fill up as much as possible, though, so that's probably not it.
Is it stress related? Some headaches can be caused by stress. If you don't want to cut out the foods that you're cutting out, I imagine that could - in theory - cause you some stress. Maybe you could work on trying to eat them in moderation instead, if that's the case.
It could, also, be related to caffeine if you're cutting out soda (or similar beverages) as another poster suggested.
There are a lot of possible reasons, it's hard to say without knowing what you're eating and cutting out. I doubt it's withdrawals, unless it is caffeine. I know from experience that withdrawal from caffeine can cause nasty headaches.0 -
Hi there,
Every time I start a new diet/healthy lifestyle, I get really bad migraines that end up making me sick and then discouraging me from wanting to continue. I thought it may be not eating enough food, but I certainly try to fill up as much as possible. Or maybe its withdrawls from bad, fatty foods? Anyone else experience this?
Are you eating enough?
I doubt it's withdrawal from certain foods because none are good or bad in of themselves, they are just food.
I experienced headaches with caffeine, but they went away after I cut way back.
Exactly why I doubt it, too.
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