WHY DO I GET A BRAIN FREEZE WHEN I EAT COLD FOOD?

— Karina,7, MO

The reason your head starts to hurt when you eat or drink cold items like ice cream or slushy drinks has to do with the nerves and blood vessels on your palate (the roof of your mouth) that reach all the way to your forehead. When the cold food hits your palate, it puts the nerves into high alert and the blood vessels quickly expand and swell. This reaction is what causes you to get the uncomfortable feeling of a so-called “brain freeze.” To avoid them, experts say to eat cold food slowly and let it warm up in the front of your mouth first.