Migraine
Nutritional Approach
Migraine causes periodic, intense and painful headaches. Migraine attacks cannot be predicted. For some, foods appear to spark migraine attacks. If this is your case, you might be able to reduce the attacks by watching what you eat:
Eat snacks often
When you go without food for a prolonged period, especially after intensive exercise, your blood sugar level can become very low. Low blood sugar levels have sometimes been linked to migraine attacks.
Try to avoid certain foods
Certain foods appear to spark migraine attacks in some, but not all, migraine sufferers. Try to avoid these foods (one at a time) for some time and see if this reduces the frequency of your attacks. If there is no improvement, gradually reintroduce them into your diet. These foods are:
Aged cheese: Brie, camembert, cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, gruyère and others.
Caffeine: Coffee, tea and cola drinks.
Chocolate and cacao: Desserts and drinks.
Fruits: Strawberries, oranges, lemons, grapefruits and tomatoes.
Beans: Broad beans, chickpeas.
Alcoholic beverages: Beer, wine (especially red wine), porto, liqueurs.
Meat Extracts: Bovril and Oxo.
Yeast-containing foods: Brewers' yeast, fresh bread, fritters.
Foods with added fungi: Yogurt, sour cream, mushrooms, vinegar, soya sauce, sauerkraut, marinated condiments and foods.
Food additives: Monosodium glutamate (Chinese foods and spices, chips, nuts and peanuts);
aspartame (diet beverages and foods); nitrites (deli meats, bologna, salami, ham, etc).
There is no guarantee that these measures will decrease the number or intensity of your migraine attacks. However, some people have found them effective, and they are worth a try.
Always watch your diet: it has a strong impact on your health!
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The patient information leaflets are provided by Vigilance Santé Inc. This content is for information purposes only and does not in any manner whatsoever replace the opinion or advice of your health care professional. Always consult a health care professional before making a decision about your medication or treatment.