Nutrition & Migraines

There is an interesting correlation between nutrition and migraines. Some foods can trigger migraines. Other foods can prevent migraines or possibly treat them. Sufferers of migraines may be able to mitigate, control or even treat their headaches through nutrition. (Ref. 1.)

Food as a Trigger

• Just as some people may have an allergic reaction to a certain food, migraine sufferers have reactions to foods that manifest in the form of migraine headaches. The "dirty dozen" of migraine trigger foods are: dairy products, chocolate, eggs, citrus fruits, meat, wheat, nuts, tomatoes, onions, corn products, apples, and bananas. (Ref. 1.)

Tyramine

• Tyramine is a compound derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Foods that contain tyramine can cause blood vessels to dilate, triggering headaches in migraine sufferers. Tyramine can be found in foods such as aged cheese, nuts, herring, and chicken liver. It is also found in some antidepressants. (Ref. 2.)

Find Your Triggers

• To find which, if any, foods are triggers, simply remove all common migraine trigger food from your diet. Carefully log any migraines that do occur. After a couple of weeks, introduce foods from the "dirty dozen" list, one at a time, back into your diet to see if they trigger a migraine. (Ref. 1.)

Food that is Pain-Safe

• Food that is commonly referred to as "pain-safe," or food that does not trigger migraine headaches, is also common. Brown rice, cooked greens, orange and yellow vegetables, non-citrus fruits like cherries, cranberries, pears and prunes are all well-tolerated. (Ref. 1.)

Using Food as Treatment

• Avoid trigger foods completely and emphasize safe foods such as brown rice, cooked vegetables and dried fruits. Minimize hormonal shifts by avoiding animal products, instead eating whole grains and beans. Consult with your doctor and try adding feverfew, ginger, magnesium, and calcium supplements to your diet. (Ref. 1.)