Nitrates / Nitrites

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Nitrates / Nitrites ( Potassium nitrite/nitrate, Sodium nitrite/nitrate )

Migraine Trigger
Found in: Hot Dogs, Pepperoni, Bacon, Cooked and Cured Meat, Sausages, salami, Corned Beef, Pate

See: Environmental Protection Agency

Nitrates are preservatives found in most aged, cured or prepared meats such as ham, bologna, pepperoni, salami and bacon; smoked fish; meat tenderizers; and seasoning mixes. Some people develop a "hot dog headache" and a flushed face soon after having hot dogs or lunch meats containing sodium nitrite. Processed meats and smoked fish are not the only foods containing these preservatives. They may be sprayed on produce in some grocery stores or salad fixings at a restaurant salad bar in order to preserve color. Wash produce carefully, and be suspicious of all-day salad buffets.

Nitrates themselves are relatively nontoxic. However, when
swallowed, they are converted to nitrites that can react with hemoglobin in the blood, oxidizing its iron and creating methemoglobin. This methemoglobin cannot bind oxygen,
which decreases the capacity of the blood to transport oxygen so less oxygen is transported from the lungs
to the body tissues, thus causing a condition known as methemoglobinemia.

http://www.achenet.org/articles/45.php

For detailed research see:
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1468-2982.2002.00304.x?journalCode=cha
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10376166&dopt=Abstract

Oh, and if that's not enough it's also carcinogenic:
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/4/1/29

If you must eat foods containing nitrates, have a glass of orange juice at the same time. Vitamin C is known to inhibit the conversion to cancer-causing nitrites in your stomach.