WineOh No! Your guide to Holiday cheer with no fear

If you’ve ever had a migraine crash your holiday festivities (and I mean truly crash—like a cousin who won't stop talking about politics), then you know what it’s like to have that throbbing, all-consuming pain take over. It’s the one thing that can turn a joyful “ho ho ho” into a painful “oh no no no.” If you’re prone to migraines, you might want to think twice before reaching for that glass of wine or spiked eggnog when even one drink has ruined your celebration in the past. Nobody wants to be the person on the couch with a migraine while everyone else is living their best turkey-and-tinsel-filled life. But we are going to change that today and give you drink options that are perfect for you!

Welcome back Warriors to Migraines and Margaritas where we share a deelish Margarita recipe and then get down to business creating a healthier happier pain free life

Today's Recipe to celebrate the Holidays is the Cranberry Gobbler Margarita! The taste of a crisp fall eve and the smell of turkey wafting out of the oven as you cozy up in your wearable blanket you bought off of Tik Tok Shop ;)

Ingredients:

• 2 oz 100% agave tequila top shelf

• 2 oz apple cider

• 1 oz fresh squeezed orange juice

• 1 squeeze lime juice

• 2 tbsp coarse sea salt, for rim

• apple slices, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks, for garnish – optional

• ½ oz cinnamon honey simple syrup, more if you like it sweeter!

  
  

Cinnamon Honey Simple Syrup

• ¼ cup honey

• ⅓ cup water

• 2 cinnamon sticks

  Instructions 

  • Make the simple syrup: Combine the honey, water, and cinnamon sticks in a small sauce pan and heat over medium high heat. Stir for 2-3 minutes until the honey is completely dissolved. Remove from heat.

  • Pour the salt on a plate. Use a lime wedge to wet the rim of your glass. Dip the rim into the salt to coat. Fill the glass with ice.

  • Add the tequila, apple cider, orange juice, lime juice, honey simple syrup, and ice to a shaker. Shake well, then pour into the glass. Garnish with an apple slice, cranberries, and a cinnamon stick. Enjoy!

Now on to the Holidays and that drink! So what can you do? Taking your daily Headzen supplement will help bulletproof you a lot, but you still need to make the right drink choices to guarantee you can join in the festivities in moderation without the Headache.  

So, what’s the deal with alcohol and migraines? Let’s break it down, holiday-style, and figure out which alcoholic drinks are best left off your festive table and which you can enjoy worry free

1. Red Wine: The Rudolph of Migraine Triggers

Let’s be honest: Red wine is a holiday classic. It pairs perfectly with everything from turkey to mashed potatoes to... those 14 types of pie you just had to try. But if you’ve got a migraine-prone brain, red wine might be your Grinch.

Why? Because of histamines and tannins. Histamines are the substances in red wine that can dilate blood vessels, and tannins, the compounds that give red wine its mouth-puckering kick, can trigger inflammation. Both of these can set off a migraine like a firecracker in your skull. So, while Aunt Linda is pouring glass after glass, you might want to just sip on something safer, like a white or blush wine.

Pro Tip: white wine has less histamine, fewer tannins.

2. Champagne: The Pop That Hurts

Nothing says “holiday celebration” like popping a bottle of bubbly, right? Whether it’s New Year’s Eve or toasting to Uncle Bob’s questionable Christmas sweater, champagne makes us feel fancy and festive. But here’s the thing: Champagne contains sulfites. And sulfites—while they’re awesome at preserving wine—are not awesome for your head.

Sulfites can trigger headaches and migraines. So, if you don’t want to end up spending the night clutching your temples while everyone else is toasting to the new year, maybe skip the bubbles.

Pro Tip: If you really want some bubbly avoid dry brut and go for a sweeter non dry option like Asti Spumante.

3. Cocktails with Artificial Sweeteners: The Fake Friend of the Season

It’s tempting, right? A sweet, sugary cocktail to go with that gingerbread cookie you're munching on. A holiday favorite like a cosmopolitan, a margarita, or maybe a sweet daiquiri? But hold on! Artificial sweeteners often used in pre-mixed cocktails (and in those holiday-flavored syrups) can be migraine triggers.

Aspartame and sucralose, often found in diet drinks or “sugar-free” mixers, have been linked to migraines. While you may think you're cutting calories, your head might be telling you that it’s too much. If you’re a fan of sweet cocktails, skip the skinny girl mix and stick to the classics like rum and coke (NOT Diet!) or make sure the mixer is a more natural high-quality option. As usual, always top shelf for the liquor.

Pro Tip: You can still enjoy a sweet cocktail, but maybe use natural sweeteners like honey, real sugar, or agave. Tres Agave is a great natural margarita mix. Avoid all Diet soda for your drinks. You’ll avoid the headache while still satisfying your sweet tooth.

4. Dark Spirits: The Unsung Villains of Holiday Cheer

Whiskey, bourbon, and dark rum are beloved holiday beverages. They warm you up on a cold winter’s night and add some spice to your eggnog. But here's a secret: dark spirits have congeners.

Congeners are the byproducts of alcohol fermentation, and while they’re what give these spirits their rich flavors, they also happen to be migraine triggers. In simple terms, these compounds can mess with your neurotransmitters and blood vessels, making you more prone to a migraine. So, while you might think a glass of whiskey is the key to the perfect holiday evening, it could be the recipe for a head-splitting disaster.

Pro Tip: If you love a good spirit, switch to vodka or gin, which tend to have fewer congeners. They may not have the depth of flavor, but they won’t have you hiding under a pile of blankets. And as always stick to top shelf. If you must have the rum or brown liquor stick to the light brown options which have less congeners.

5. The Eggnog Situation: The Triple Threat

Eggnog. It’s creamy, spicy, and absolutely delicious—so much so that it's practically the embodiment of holiday joy in a glass. But, here's the thing: Eggnog, especially the store-bought variety, is often loaded with dairy, sweeteners and alcohol. All of these are known migraine culprits.

Dairy can cause some serious issues for migraine sufferers because it contains tyramine, a substance that can trigger a headache. Combine that with the high alcohol content of the brandy or rum in the mix, and you might just end up with a holiday hangover before you even realize it.

Pro Tip: If you're set on eggnog, try making your own at home with Almond milk or lower-fat milk and a moderate amount of top shelf lighter alcohol like brandy or a light rum. Or, just go for a dairy-free version to keep the migraines at bay. Another great option which I love is to switch it up and make the puerto rican version of eggnog, the coquito which uses coconut milk.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Let Migraines Steal Your Holiday Cheer

The holidays are a time to relax, enjoy good food, and sip on a festive drink (without your head protesting). But if you're one of the many migraine sufferers out there, it’s important to know which alcohols to steer clear of if you want to avoid a holiday headache.

So this year, instead of spending the holidays in the dark with an ice pack on your head, take a little extra care when choosing your drinks. Stick to lighter options, opt for cocktails without artificial sweeteners, and don’t forget to hydrate (because no one wants to be the person who gets both a migraine and a hangover). Here’s to having a merry and migraine-free holiday season!

Now go ahead, pour yourself something festive—Cheers! 🎉

Happy Holidays!

XOXO

Jen from Headzen