Why do we get headaches when transitioning from a diet high in processed carbohydrates to a diet high in protein? Many weight loss surgery patients wonder this.

There are actually several reasons for headaches when following a high-protein, low-carb diet. More importantly, there are several small things we can do to ease headaches:

First, when we transition from a diet of processed carbohydrates to one rich in protein, as recommended by most weight-loss (bariatric) surgery doctors and dietitians, we increase our intake of tryptophan. A short list of tryptophan-rich foods includes cheese, meat, nuts, and soy. Ingesting tryptophan releases serotonin in the brain, which is considered a vasoconstrictor: it constricts blood vessels. In modest amounts this helps us feel good; but in larger amounts than we are not used to, it causes headaches.

To balance the increase in tryptophan (an amino acid – a good thing) intake we should include appropriate complex carbohydrates in our weight loss surgery eating pattern: 2B/1B (2 protein bites/1 carb bite). Here are some smart food choices for your weight loss surgery diet:

carbohydrates:

apples

artichokes

Basil

bean sprouts

beets

carrots

celery

blueberries

cucumbers

green beans

pears

spinach

pumpkin

fat:

olive oil

protein:

lamb

slow

you do not have

Turkish

Next, we must be absolutely sure to supplement our diet with essential vitamins and minerals, and on this list I personally include herbal supplements that centuries of human use have proven to be beneficial to our health and well-being. Please review the list of supplements:

Feverfew: 200-300 milligrams daily

Ginger: 1500 milligrams taken in 3 (500 milligrams) daily doses

Magnesium: 1,000 milligrams per day (WLS post-ops are known to be magnesium deficient)

Calcium with vitamin D: 1,000 milligrams daily

Vitamin B6: 50-100 milligrams daily

Vitamin B complex as prescribed by your doctor, oral, sublingual, or injected

If you wake up in the morning with a headache, I encourage you to take a serving of Emergen-C. I strongly believe that Emergen-C is healthy for us because in a single dose you get 60mg of magnesium, 200mg of potassium; 60mg sodium; calcium carbonate 50mg; (your electrolytes); in addition to vitamin B6 and B12; vitamin C, niacin, thiamin, zinc and a few others. Our small gastric bypass and gastric band stomachs can absorb this supplement quickly and it is not difficult or painful to take. If you haven’t tried Emergen-C, please do. As a note, please continue your regular vitamin regimen when taking Emergen-C. Use this water soluble product for just a little extra nutrition.

If your headaches are chronic and you suspect something other than the high protein diet of weight loss surgery, keep a headache diary in an effort to identify the cause of your headaches. Dr. Alex Duarte suggests tracking these things:

Diet: Diet and food allergy is the most common cause of headache.

Hormones: Fluctuating hormone levels are known to cause frequent headaches.

Weather: Changes in barometric pressure and other weather conditions can trigger headaches.

Stress – Frequent cause of headaches.

Change in routine – Disruption from regular routine (such as a change in diet) has been known to cause headache.

Dental problems or endodontic surgery are known to cause headaches.

Sensory stimuli: sight, smell and hearing can cause headaches.

Hypoglycemia causes headache.

Herbal remedies for headaches are, in my opinion, more effective and less harmful than over-the-counter chemical remedies. Try supplementing your diet with feverfew, ginger, ginkgo biloba, chamomile, capsaicin, and/or valerian.