Understanding the Causes Behind Red Wine Headaches: Debunking the Myth of Alcohol Volume

Researchers from the University of California have identified a compound in red grapes that could be responsible for causing headaches after consuming red wine. According to the team, a compound called quercetin, which is an antioxidant, interferes with the body's alcohol metabolism. It was found that red grapes produce more quercetin when exposed to sunlight, meaning that higher-quality red wines are more likely to cause headaches compared to cheaper ones. However, some experts are skeptical and suggest that other additives used in lower-end mass-market red wines could be the cause. Other theories for red-wine headaches include sulphites, histamine, and a gene that affects how the body metabolizes alcohol. The researchers aim to conduct further experiments involving volunteers to confirm their findings.