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Migraine Diet
There is no complete cure for migraine, however making changes in the lifestyle and diet can help make these headaches more tolerable. Other factors that bring about migraine headaches include lack of sleep, stress, fatigue, exercise, menstruation, oral contraceptives, head trauma and bright lights. 'Migraine triggers' are factors considered to cause the migraine reaction, hence a lot of emphasis is laid on a good nutritious diet which can help in fighting these headaches.
Triggers
Certain foods and beverages are supposed to trigger migraine headaches in those susceptible to such headaches, which includes, preserved foods (hot dogs, bacon, salami), caffiene (tea, coffee, cocoa), citrus fruits, tyramine found in aged cheese, chocolates, alcoholic drinks especially red wine and beer, Monosodium glutamate (MSG), Aspartame (sugar substitute), nitrites and sulphates. Abnormal sensitivity towards these dietary items can be something similar to food allergic reactions where migraines are concerned. Serotonin when released in blood vessels can cause headaches due to an abnormal constriction of cranial artery, a chemical mostly contained in fatty foods. Maintaining a low-fat diet considerably decreases the intensity of attacks. Also, tyramine, being the main chemical found in foods, triggers headaches, along with phenylethylamine and histamine.
Aged cheddar variety cheese, beer, wine, chicken liver, coffee and yeast, contains tyramine which provokes migraines. Hence people with dietary migraine should try and eliminate it from their diet ultimately resulting in the prevention or reduction of the the number of occurrances of migraine attacks. Tyramine and histamine contained in many red wines and beer triggers headaches due to aits chemical effect on cranial blood vessels, which gets worse with stress and fatigue.
Chocolates containing phenylethylamine, is another chemical trigger causing headaches. Caffiene drinks like tea, coffee and cocoa, consumed in excess causes constriction of cerebral blood vessels, when stopped, there is a dilation in the blood vessels resulting in migraine headaches.
Migraine Management
Managing a headache diary can help identify food triggers if the migraine is caused due to a certain diet. Anti-inflammatory and pain relieving drugs are most commonly used to provide relief from these acute, throbbing headaches. However, non-medicative treatments such as diet alternatives, massage, accupuncture, cold packs, exercises, can help in managing to cope with these headaches.
Conclusion
Diet is not the only factor that triggers migraine headaches, however it is considered an important factor. Identifying them can help reduce or prevent such attacks, hence eliminating such foods, is worth considering if relief is provided from the severe discomfort caused by migraine headaches. However, before eliminating nutritious foods from the diet, careful monitoring of dietary triggers should be observed, after consulting with a doctor.