Hello and welcome to the Nutrition Diva podcast, a show where we take a closer look at

nutrition science, news, and lore to help you sort fact from fiction. I'm your host, Monica

Reinagle, and today we're going to clear up some of the most widespread misunderstandings about

sulfites, wine, and headaches. If drinking red wine gives you a headache, you've probably

had someone tell you that sulfites are the likely culprit. And maybe you've been advised to stick to white wine or organic wines,

or maybe wines made in Europe on the grounds that these will be lower in sulfites. If so,

you're going to want to listen to this episode. First, just a little background. Sulfur dioxide is a chemical compound made up of sulfur

and oxygen, and it occurs naturally in foods, but it can also be produced in a laboratory.

And sulfite is used to preserve foods and beverages. It does this by acting as an antioxidant and also as a natural

antimicrobial agent. Sulfites are often used to preserve the color and the texture of dried

fruits, for example. And sulfite has also been used in winemaking for thousands of years. Ever since,

the ancient Romans discovered that it would keep their wine from turning into vinegar. And to this day,

winemakers use sulfur dioxide to preserve the flavor and the freshness of their wines.

Sulfites don't cause problems for the vast majority of people. Perhaps one in every hundred people has either an allergy or a sensitivity to them.

Sulfite sensitivity is more common in those who suffer from asthma, however. Among those with asthma, chances of

sulfite sensitivity are about 1 in 10. And in fact, the most common reaction to sulfites is something

like an asthma attack. Well, actually, the most common reaction to sulfites is no reaction at all.

But for those who are sensitive to them,

consuming sulfites can cause breathing difficulties and, less commonly, hives, or other allergy-like

symptoms. And these reactions can range from so mild you might not even notice to quite severe. People who are sensitive to

sulfites are well advised to steer clear of wine, but there are a ton of misunderstandings and

myths about sulfites and wine and their relationship to headaches. So let's see if we can

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