McDonalds Sweet Tea and Headaches?

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I've been on a McD's sweet tea kick lately after years of not drinking sweet tea. It is SO good! I have noticed that for the past several days in a row that DD16 and I have both been getting migraines and wondered if the sweet tea could be the culprit. Artificial sweeteners are a huge trigger for both of us but I can't seem to find a definitive answer online as to whether or not McD's adds anything in addition to the sugar to their tea.

Anyone else get headaches when they drink the sweet tea?

 

[pilotwife_02]

Could it be caffeine withdrawal? I get headaches if I have too much caffeine for a few days and then I have to wean myself from it.

 

[Promomx2]

We mix the sweet tea with the unsweet tea.

 

[luvmy3]

OMG I can't believe you posted this. I have noticed that everytime I have a McD's sweet tea I get a terrible headache about half way through it. I looked up the ingredients on McD's website and was suprised to find it was just sugar in it and nothing artificial. My dh said I should see the doc because getting a headache after eating could be a sign of diabetes

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Could it be caffeine withdrawal? I get headaches if I have too much caffeine for a few days and then I have to wean myself from it.

I'm pretty sure the Sweet Tea would have plenty of caffeine in it since the decaf tea bags are much pricier than regular ones with caffeine in them. I also usually have a small Pepsi each day so still getting caffeine. Now that I type that out it I realize that I need to find some healthier beverages!!

OMG I can't believe you posted this. I have noticed that everytime I have a McD's sweet tea I get a terrible headache about half way through it. I looked up the ingredients on McD's website and was suprised to find it was just sugar in it and nothing artificial. My dh said I should see the doc because getting a headache after eating could be a sign of diabetes

Yikes. I have been tested for diabetes within the past month so I know that isn't the problem but that is scary stuff. I'm still not convinced there isn't an added artificial "something" in there - either sweetener or food coloring. Red food dye is also a headache trigger and that tea is awfully dark. Hmmm....

No more sweet tea for me though. I'll save $1 a day and find something healthier to drink (like water!).

I did a quick google search and see this question has been asked online many times and others have gotten headaches too. So weird.

 

[luvmy3]

I'm pretty sure the Sweet Tea would have plenty of caffeine in it since the decaf tea bags are much pricier than regular ones with caffeine in them. I also usually have a small Pepsi each day so still getting caffeine. Now that I type that out it I realize that I need to find some healthier beverages!!



Yikes. I have been tested for diabetes within the past month so I know that isn't the problem but that is scary stuff. I'm still not convinced there isn't an added artificial "something" in there - either sweetener or food coloring. Red food dye is also a headache trigger and that tea is awfully dark. Hmmm....

No more sweet tea for me though. I'll save $1 a day and find something healthier to drink (like water!).

I did a quick google search and see this question has been asked online many times and others have gotten headaches too. So weird.

At least we know we aren't alone, or crazy

 

[Shih-Tzu]

Aspertame is a big head ache trigger for me - I can have maybe one diet pop or Crystal Lite a day and that's it..... - but OP says there is none in it....are there artificial dyes??? Just a suggestion....

 

[MinnieMe87]

OMG I can't believe you posted this. I have noticed that everytime I have a McD's sweet tea I get a terrible headache about half way through it.

I do too!

 

[hulagirl87]

I was going to say if it has caffeine that would probably do it. I get a headache every time I drink something with caffeine, so I try to avoid it as much as possible

 

[disneychrista]

I agree that it is the caffiene.

 

[luvmy3]

I was going to say if it has caffeine that would probably do it. I get a headache every time I drink something with caffeine, so I try to avoid it as much as possible

I agree that it is the caffiene.

I don't know about the OP but I'm a regular coffee drinker, and I drink hot tea also, so its defintely not the caffeine for me. The only way I would get a headache that was caused by caffeine it would be because of a lack of it, because I'm addicted to it

 

[kydisneyfans]

Only after the 5th refill in the same hour.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Definitely not the caffeine - I drink Pepsi every day as well.

MSG or artificial sweetners are instant triggers for me so I really suspect there is some hidden artificial "something" in the tea.

 

[disneyfans95]

I like my sweet tea in those nice Shrek glasses they sell.

 

[nd5056]

..artificial sweetners are instant triggers for me so I really suspect there is some hidden artificial "something" in the tea.

Agreed 100%, I can't drink a Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi without getting a headache within 1/2 hour or so...

.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I like my sweet tea in those nice Shrek glasses they sell.

LOL

Agreed 100%, I can't drink a Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi without getting a headache within 1/2 hour or so...

.

Me too. That is why I highly suspect a hidden artificial ingredient here that McD's doesn't disclose. I grew up in the Deep South drinking tea sweeter than syrup and have never ever gotten a headache from that. I make decaf unsweet tea at home but have a Pepsi a day so I do get caffeine from that.

 

[kaytieeldr]

McDonald's Sweet Tea contains:
Water
Sugar
Orange Pekoe tea
Black Pekoe cut tea
Period.

Sweet tea is different from sweetened tea. The sugar is an integral ingredient. It's part of the preparation; it's not added after the fact, and it's not enhanced by anything artificial. The tea color is natural as well. It, too, is not enhanced by anything artificial - and there's never a reason to add MSG to tea.

Pepsi has 3.2 mg of caffeine per ounce; tea has between 5.9 and 7.5 milligrams. That, plus the fact that you're very likely drinking twice as much sweet tea at a sitting as you would Pepsi - the $1 size is, or was last year, 32 ounces - is probably why you're getting a headache.

McDonald's would have nothing to gain and a lot to lose by secretly adding any artificial ingredient to any product, but if you really there's something hinky about the sweet tea, contact the FDA.

 

[luvmy3]

Here is something very interesting OP. Did you eat anything with the sweet teas?

http://www.caffeineheadaches.com/

A headache caffeine connection – The Bad News
Many of the things that can help can also hinder. As a stimulant, especially combined with sugar, caffeine can pick you up but may also drop you quickly. One of the worst things a migraine prone person can do it to take in large amounts of sugar and caffeine on an empty stomach, which can make you blood sugar levels do some pretty wild things, and may stimulate that caffeine headache. In other words, if you’re stopping for tea, don’t forget the crumpets

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I think it's the sugar.

38 grams of sugar is in a 32 oz glass equals almost a pound of sugar per gallon of tea.

I used to live in the South and drank sweet tea daily. I recently grabbed a sweet tea from Mickey D's last week. (sweet tea finally found it's way to Washington State) I got a pounding headache. I drink coffee/diet soda all day, so I doubt it was the caffeine.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

McDonald's Sweet Tea contains:
Water
Sugar
Orange Pekoe tea
Black Pekoe cut tea
Period.

Sweet tea is different from sweetened tea. The sugar is an integral ingredient. It's part of the preparation; it's not added after the fact, and it's not enhanced by anything artificial. The tea color is natural as well. It, too, is not enhanced by anything artificial - and there's never a reason to add MSG to tea.

Pepsi has 3.2 mg of caffeine per ounce; tea has between 5.9 and 7.5 milligrams. That, plus the fact that you're very likely drinking twice as much sweet tea at a sitting as you would Pepsi - the $1 size is, or was last year, 32 ounces - is probably why you're getting a headache.

McDonald's would have nothing to gain and a lot to lose by secretly adding any artificial ingredient to any product, but if you really there's something hinky about the sweet tea, contact the FDA.

I didn't say there was MSG in the tea - just noted that MSG and artificial sweeteners are the 2 things that will give me instant migraines while I am eating/drinking items with those in them.

Here is something very interesting OP. Did you eat anything with the sweet teas?

http://www.caffeineheadaches.com/

A headache caffeine connection – The Bad News
Many of the things that can help can also hinder. As a stimulant, especially combined with sugar, caffeine can pick you up but may also drop you quickly. One of the worst things a migraine prone person can do it to take in large amounts of sugar and caffeine on an empty stomach, which can make you blood sugar levels do some pretty wild things, and may stimulate that caffeine headache. In other words, if you’re stopping for tea, don’t forget the crumpets

Always have had food when I have had a McD's sweet tea - either a breakfast biscuit or salad and fries.

I think it's the sugar.

38 grams of sugar is in a 32 oz glass equals almost a pound of sugar per gallon of tea.

I used to live in the South and drank sweet tea daily. I recently grabbed a sweet tea from Mickey D's last week. (sweet tea finally found it's way to Washington State) I got a pounding headache. I drink coffee/diet soda all day, so I doubt it was the caffeine.

It may be that I have been off the sweet tea for quite awhile then started back up with a daily mega dose of 32 oz a day.

Regardless, my McD's sweet tea days are over.