I really enjoy going out to eat on occasion, sharing a good meal and good conversation with my wife and/or other friends. One friend in particular is great fun but finding the right place to eat is a bit of a challenge.
She is a migraine headache sufferer. She has been for most of her life but became extra sensitive after menopause. She never realized up until this point that her headaches became more frequent and more severe after she ate certain foods.
Always curious, I asked her to list out her “trigger” foods. The list was plentiful. While her reaction to foods and the subsequent migraine to follow isn’t technically a food allergy, the result might as well be.
Migraines have increased dramatically in children and adults within the last twenty years. A change in diet is one theory which holds weight.
While everyone is different, there is a common list of food triggers known to set off migraines. This list includes: Aged cheese, citrus fruits, chocolate, nuts (especially peanuts), cured meats, fatty foods, fried foods, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, pork, seafood, seafood, alcohol (especially red wine), food additives such as MSG, asparatame (found in many diet soft drinks), food dyes, vanilla flavoring (due to the alcohol), and caffeine. Although, if you are a caffeine drinker, you may notice that a sudden withdrawal can trigger a migraine headache.
Again, everyone is different and almost no one suffers from all of these triggers. To know if a certain food is the trigger, try eliminating it for several days (longer if your migraines are infrequent) and then re-introducing the food to the diet. If another migraine is triggered – you’ve likely found your culprit food.
OK, now we know what foods to avoid, it naturally follows that certain foods may help ward off migraines. While important to note that eating certain foods is by no way a cure for migraines, research does indicate that a healthy diet consisting of mostly unprocessed foods can help to ward off migraines.
Foods such as ginger, peppermint, fish (and fish oils), calcium rich foods (kale, broccoli, spinach), oatmeal, wheat and garlic do show promise in the fight against migraines.
That said, “All things in moderation,” is a noteworthy saying in this situation. It is never a good idea to drastically change your diet, whether it’s weight loss or migraine on the line.
Along with diet, getting enough sleep is also important on the road to migraine free living. Daily exercise has also proven to be beneficial due to the fact that oxygen deprivation is thought to be the culprit of most headaches. Exercise helps to deliver vital oxygen rich blood to the brain.
I also highly recommend my Migraine and Headache program. The results thus far have been incredible! Even better, all of my programs are all natural. No nasty side effects of medicine to cause a rebound headache!
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