Hi there. I'm on Day 19 and I just started experiencing headaches yesterday and again this morning. I was feeling good up to Day 18, with steady energy and virtually no digestive issues or other negative symptoms. (In fact, I have had a much easier time on the program than my husband, who has pretty much experienced everything the timeline suggests one will experience).
Prior to starting Whole30, I didn't have any obvious food sensitivities. I also did not get headaches. Since starting, I have been following the template and have specifically tried to increase my intake of starchy carbs/fats this week based upon other feedback I've read on the forum about common problems. The only thing I probably need to increase now would be my intake of green veggies.
Here's what I've been eating:
Breakfast this week: 3-4 egg scramble over a potato/chicken sausage hash + avocado + a piece of fruit
Lunch: some form of chicken or red meat cooked in coconut oil + more potatoes/root veggies + usually more avo or Tessa Mae's dressing
Dinner: some form of red meat or chicken cooked in ghee or EVOO or coconut oil + starchy carbs + maybe another non-starchy veg
Snacks/workout meals: I generally don't snack b/c I stay pretty full; if I snack, I comply with the recommendation to start with protein and add some fat. Thus, last night (b/c it had been 4 hours since I'd eaten), I had a snack of some compliant deli turkey with bell pepper and guac. I snacked b/c I thought maybe my headache yesterday was related to insufficient food the previous day.
My working theory is that I'm salt deficient. I tend to exercise 3-4 times a week. I sweat an abnormal amount when I exercise, so perhaps salt is the issue for me. But would it make sense that this issue would manifest at Day 18 rather than earlier? Also, when you recommend salting, is coarse sea salt adequate (no iodide) or is it necessary to add table salt?
Also, I recall an earlier post in this thread where someone experiencing headaches was asked if they were eating white potatoes, red peppers, etc., suggesting those might also contribute to headaches. I assume this might be a reference to FODMAP issues. Because I thought I should add more starchy veggies to my meals this week, I have definitely increased my intake of white potatoes. Historically, I've had no issues eating them or other foods containing FODMAPs (bell peppers are a go-to food for me). I came to the program without real GI issues of any kind. Could the headaches be related to the potatoes? If so, are all white potatoes problematic or just certain varieties?
Thanks for any advice anyone can give.