How do our diets affect migraine?
Many things can trigger a migraine attack, but what we eat and drink in a day is significant considering their consequences.
Ten common food triggers can cause migraine attacks to some people:
- Caffeine
Consuming too much caffeine and experiencing caffeine withdrawal can easily cause migraine or headaches.
Foods and drinks which includes caffeine are:
- coffee
- tea
- chocolate
- Artificial sweeteners
Many processed foods contain a lot of artificial sweeteners. These are sugar substitutes added to foods and drinks to increase the sweetness. However, these sweeteners can trigger and cause migraines.
- Alcohol
Alcohol causes dehydration, which is the main contributor in causing headaches.
- Chocolate
Chocolate is the second most common sweet that triggers migraine attacks very fast. Although chocolate helps relieve headaches, it can quickly start a migraine attack.
Chocolate contains caffeine and beta-phenylethylamine, which easily triggers headaches in people.
- Foods containing MSG
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a sodium salt of glutamic acid, which already exists in our bodies naturally.
MSG is found in various foods and is present as a food accompaniment. It’s considered safe to eat, but it can easily trigger migraine.
- Frozen meats
Frozen and preserved meats, including ham, hot dogs, and sausages, contain preservatives called nitrates. Nitrates are responsible for maintaining colour and flavour. Unfortunately, these foods can release harmful nitric oxide into the blood, which opens the blood vessels in the brain and triggers migraine.
- Old cheese
Old cheese contains a substance which is called tyramine. The tyramine substance forms when food is kept for a long time and gets old, which causes the breakdown of proteins.
The older the cheese is, the higher the tyramine content will be.
Tyramine is a chemical that easily triggers headaches and migraine. Typical cheeses that are pretty high in tyramine include:
- Blue cheese
- Parmesan
- Feta
- Pickled and fermented foods
Old cheese, pickles, and fermented foods contain pretty high amounts of tyramine, quickly triggering migraines. These foods include:
- pickles
- kimchi
- pickled jalapeños
- Frozen foods
Consumption of frozen foods and drinks like ice cream or cocktails can easily trigger severe, sharp pains in the head.
You will more likely experience headaches that become migraine attacks if you keep devouring cold food after exercising or overheating.
- Salty foods
Salty foods, mainly salty processed foods, which may contain harmful preservatives, can easily trigger migraine in many people.
Consumption of high sodium levels may increase blood pressure which can later cause migraine attacks and severe headaches.
Migraine treatment
Its treatment can combine over-the-counter (OTC) medications prescription and other remedies. For temporary headache or migraine pain, you can take OTC medications like Excedrin Migraine to relieve the unbearable pain. Your doctor may also advise triptan medications to ease the pain.
Suppose you ever experience a chronic migraine problem, in that case, your doctor could prescribe you preventive medications, including beta-blockers and help lower blood pressure and reduce the attacks of migraine.
Antidepressants are also sometimes advised to relieve migraine symptoms, even those without depression.
