What causes your brain to hurt when you eat cold things like ice cream?

When you come in contact with something cold, a cluster of nerves in the roof of your mouth triggers a message to your brain that it has dropped its temperature considerably, in order to keep the head warm, the nerves in your head get extremely thin. This is what causes the pain commonly known as a brainfreeze. To go rid of a "brainfreeze" you should put your tongue to the roof of your mouth, which makes the cluster of nerves warm up again.

The reaction is (obviously) triggered by the cold ice cream or beverage; coming into contact with the roof of the mouth. It triggers nerves that give the brain the impression of a very cold environment. To heat up the brain again, blood vessels start to swell, which causes the headache-like pain for approximately 30 seconds.

I have noticed that when I am tired or a little ill, the cold ice cream hits my sinuses and makes them hurt ...I don't think the cold actually reaches your brain, but it sure feels that way!! Ouch!

the reaction can be sometimes triggered within a few seconds after a very cold substance consumed comes into contact with the roof of the mouth.

It's on the Yahoo home page today, check it out.

beetroot