Foods that can trigger a migraine

Monday, October 14, 2013 by: Yanjun
Tags: migraine headaches, food triggers, proper diet

(NaturalNews) The symptoms of a migraine headache, which can include throbbing pain, nausea, light and sound sensitivity and other unpleasant side effects, is definitely something you want to avoid if you can. And yet, many migraine sufferers inadvertently bring on a migraine attack through the foods they eat. A proper diet that recognizes the risks of migraine inherent in certain foods can go a long way towards reducing the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.

While no diet is perfect for everyone, here are the more widely recognized migraine food triggers to avoid:

• Dairy and Meat Products

People who suffer from migraines need to be careful about what kinds of dairy, meat, fish and poultry products they eat. Especially risky are the more processed forms of meat, such as sausages of all types, cold cuts and spicy meats like pepperoni. Really rich dairy products like sour cream or cheeses such as cheddar and Swiss are also potential triggers

• Vegetable and Fruit Triggers

Migraine sufferers need to have a lot of fruits and vegetables in their diet, just like everybody else. However, fruits like plums, figs, avocados and raisins can cause problems, especially if they are overripe. Vegetables that one should go light on include raw garlic, string and lima beans and snow peas.

• Breads to Avoid

Fortunately, bread is not usually a trigger for migraines. However, there are a few varieties to beware of. Sour dough bread, coffee cake or any bread that contains cheese, should be eaten sparingly. Rice is a better substitute, as is barley or millet. Corn bread and pasta may also be bad for some people.

• Beverages to Avoid

It isn't just solid foods that can trigger a migraine attack. Certain drinks can also encourage migraines. Chocolate is not helpful to most migraine suffers, so all drinks containing it should be avoided. Sensitivity to caffeine is common, and some alcoholic drinks are also risky, especially wines and dark beers.

• Sugar Risks

There is no reason why migraine sufferers can't have sweets, as long as they take a few precautions. As previously stated, chocolate is a common migraine trigger but seems to be even worse if combined with nuts, which is commonly done in candy bars. So, if you must eat chocolate, skip the forms that come with nuts. Pastries that require a lot of yeast are also problematic. Pies are almost always okay, except for mincemeat.

• Better Practices

Sometimes, it's not what you eat but how you go about eating that is a problem. The University of California has said that skipping meals or letting your blood sugar fall too low can also trigger migraines. If you keep track of what you eat, determine what foods are bad for your migraines and then adjust your diet accordingly, you should find significant relief from your migraine symptoms.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.joybauer.com

http://health.usnews.com

http://www.healthline.com

About the author:
Sofiya has written articles on most health-related topics, including traditional medicine, alternative and naturopathic and natural treatments,health insurance, wellness, medical marijuana, diets and fitness.