You’ve Got ?Brain Freeze: How To Prevent It

Credit: Wellness Matters

Eat cold foods slowly to avoid adverse effects

On a warm summer day, a refreshing treat hits the spot. But what if that sensation is overshadowed by a painful brain freeze?

You’re happily sipping on an ice-cold smoothie or eating an ice cream cone on a hot summer’s day when your head is suddenly gripped by excruciating pain. You’re experiencing what’s commonly known as brain freeze. 



Why it Happens

When ice-cold food touches nerves in the 
roof of the mouth, it can initiate a cycle of 
blood vessel contraction and dilation as the body works to warm the area. It’s this action that causes the blinding pain in the forehead and behind the eye. 



How to Prevent a Brain Freeze

To avoid brain freeze, eat frozen foods slowly and pause between bites so your mouth doesn’t get too cold. Also try moving cold foods to the side of your mouth, away from the nerves in the roof of your mouth.

Originally published in Wellness Matters, Canada Wide Media’s quarterly newsletter on health and wellness.