Luckily, I am not one of those unfortunate souls who suffer from what is known as the dreaded "Red Wine Headache." Dozens upon dozens of articles have been written on the subject, but the fact is that no one is absolutely sure what causes it. A variety of compounds have been blamed: sulfites, tannins, histamines and tyramine. However, a group of California researchers are developing a test that can detect the presence of biogenic amines (toxins that exist in certain foods and have been known to cause nausea, headaches, and respiratory disorders). Tests for these toxins already exist, yes, but it can take a while to get your results. This new test is supposed to be quick and convenient - ideal for consumers.

From Science D`aily:

The new technique, called portable microchip capillary electrophoresis, involves labeling the sample with a fluorescent dye, separating the components by applying an electric field on a special microchip, and analyzing the pattern of light produced by the sample upon exposure to a laser beam. In the study, Mathies and colleagues used a prototype device to analyze tyramine and histamine concentrations in a variety of wines (both red and white), beer and sake. They found that the device accurately measured the biogenic amines present in the beverages in less than five minutes.

The highest levels of tyramine were found in red wine, and the highest levels of histidine were found in sake, the researchers note. The beer tested contained only small amounts of these biogenic amines, they say.

"Some foods have more biogenic amines than others, but you can't tell because they aren't listed on the food labels," Mathies says. Even a single glass of wine has been known to trigger elevated blood pressure, heart rate and headaches in some people, he notes. "I think that certain foods, especially wines, should indicate their biogenic amine content."

But don't look for this test anytime soon. More research is needed before you can sample your food and beverages at home. Still, the technology is interesting and it will certainly be helpful to those people who suffer from headaches after even a half-glass of merlot.