Can Sweets Cause Headaches?

When you consume too much sugar at once or don't eat for an extended period of time, you can cause rapid fluctuations in your blood sugar levels which can trigger a headache. Some people are more prone to these sugar-triggered headaches.

Why does sugar give me headaches?

Glucose level fluctuations affect your brain more than any other organ.” Sugar causes hormonal changes, specifically with epinephrine and norepinephrine. Those shifts change blood vessel behavior in the brain, causing a headache.

What does a sugar headache feel like?

Fluctuations in sugar levels cause changes in hormone levels. Specific hormones that can be affected include epinephrine and norepinephrine. These changes cause the blood vessels in the brain to dilate. 1 Headaches that occur due to hypoglycemia are often described as a dull, throbbing pain at the temples.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.