Are there specific foods that help w/ migraines?

Question

I suffer from Migraine headaches, but because of heart palpitations I can't have any caffein (which is found in many of the headache medications.) Are there any specific foods I can eat to help reduce my headaches?

Answer 1

Dark Chocolate and Sharp Cheddar Cheese make them worse, but thats all I know about it.

Answer 2

OK, I am somewhat qualified to answer this question as I have written a book on the subject (really I have). The answer is there are NO foods that will make your Migraine better. Migraine's are a biological disorder (often hereditary) and are caused by triggers. Triggers can be many things including stress, change in sleep patterns, menstruation, medications, light and different types of foods. The more common foods to avoid are Chocolate, Red Wine, Aged cheeses, preservatives often found in meats, caffeine (although some people feel caffeine helps their migraines), citrus fruits to name a few. Do not get me wrong........Just because these are the common foods that MIGHT trigger a migraine it does not mean that they ALL do and that you can't eat any of them!

My advice is to keep a diary. Track what you eat, when your menstrual cycle is (of you're female), your sleep patterns (what time you get up and go to sleep each day), your stress level, your food and water intake and when you get a migraine, look back 24 - 48 hours before in your diary to see what was going on.

Do this for 3 months then take it to your doctor and have them make sure of the diagnosis. There are some wonderful medications out there that will help.

OTC or over the counter medications are not always good for you and can actually make your situation WORSE!

Finally, learn to manage your migraines by eating properly and regularily, getting enough water, exercising and manageing your triggers.

Good luck!

Answer 3

There aren't specific foods that reduce migraines, but eating healthfully and drinking enough water are basic helpers. The way foods are more directly related to migraines is that some foods can trigger migraines. Keeping a migraine diary can be helpful to identify food triggers. You can also do an elimination diet where you cut out the most common trigger foods, then add them back into your diet, one food per week. You can get a list of potential trigger foods and a workbook at http://headaches.about.com/od/migrainetriggers/a/food_triggers.htm.

Answer 4

I don't know about foods to eat to avoid a migraine, but I know that chocolate, aged cheese, beer and red wine, and oranges are migraine triggers. I'm better now but I've had headaches for days now. Sometimes I can get away with some of these foods, but other times any will bother me. The list below mentions even more foods to avoid. You can try differerent ones and see how you do.

Good luck. I take Ibuprofen or Tylenol, sometimes both.

Christie

Answer 5

I don't know about HELPING migraines, I have read nothing about this, but I have read that cafeine has been shown to precipitate migraines (this includes chocolate, because of it's content). The only other factor that seems to be plausible is hormone levels. I tend to get more migraines during PMS than at any other time of the month.Take care!

Answer 6

There aren't any known foods that help, but you should avoid coffee, chocolate, wine, strong-flavored cheeses, fermented foods (like soy sauce and miso), sardines, anchovies, and pickled herring.

You can ask your doctor about taking high doses of vitamin B-2. A recent Belgian study found that 400 milligrams of B-2 daily (you'll need a prescription for that amount, though it appears to be quite safe) reduced the frequency and duration of migraines.

Answer 7

Whenever a migraine hits me I try to eat only soft foods with lots of fiber. Try to stay away from dairy though - because it can make them worse. Stick with mashed potatoes, soup, etc. Oatmeal is also good.

It's like a puzzle, isn't it? I have suffered from them all my life and it's ridiculous the hoops that we have to jump through just to stay out of pain!

Answer 8

Drink lots of watter. It definitely help. I got rid of my migraines just by drinking plain water. You can start with 8 cup a day then gradually increase the amount of water intake over time. I now drink about 18 cups a day

Answer 9

I have migraines and have tried to see what foods may cause mine. I finally had to go on a medication and had not had one since. I went on Topamax. I couldn't figure out what caused mine. I went to an allergist and found out a bunch of things I am allergic to, which could be causing them. Maybe you could go to an allergist to see if you allergic to certain foods. I am also on allergy medication, to reduce the symptoms I have. Together, I have went from 4 migraines a week to zero.

Here is a website about foods and migraines:http://www.bellaonline.com/ArticlesP/art37710.asp


Migraine Prevention Diets


A simple Internet search will show you that the connection between headaches/migraines and what you eat is a well-documented, but often debated, subject. In my opinion, common sense says that the connection is real and that you can take steps to modify your diet to help prevent migraines.

The bottom line is to follow a healthy diet full of fresh foods. For healthy diet information, check out the recently revised USDA Food Guide Pyramid recommendations. Recognizing that not everyone’s dietary needs are exactly the same, the new guidelines are more personalized and flexible. However, there is still a focus on fresh and nutritious foods. To help prevent migraines, a diet low in processed foods (such as cheeses and deli meats) and high in natural fiber and nutrients is a good place to start.

Next, familiarize yourself with foods commonly thought to cause migraines. Note however, that what triggers a migraine for someone else, may not be a trigger for you. To modify your diet without making drastic and sudden changes, start by keeping a food journal. Track foods that you eat as well as any comments, such as a stressful day or other emotional event. These comments can help you determine if a certain food was in fact the cause of the migraine.

After you have identified a potential trigger, talk to your doctor about beginning to reduce or eliminate the food from your diet. If your migraines lessen after reducing or eliminating the food, take steps to avoid it in the future. Keep your list of “danger” foods posted on the refrigerator and keep them in mind while grocery shopping. Also, share them with family members who cook often. Recently my sister identified pineapple as a migraine trigger. Had she not told me, I would never have considered avoiding it when baking for the family!

Remember that any sudden change in diet can also cause a migraine, so once you’ve identified a pain-causing food eliminate it slowly and work one food at a time. Also, be sure not to fast or allow yourself to get too hungry. A drop in your blood sugar can trigger a migraine but can easily be avoided by eating regular meals and snacks.

I’ve always believed that “you are what you eat”, so it only makes sense that if you over do it on processed foods, your head might end up feeling like it’s been in a food processor. Try the recommendations above and talk to your doctor about diet as part of your overall treatment plan. Ultimately, you will have to decide for yourself if certain foods cause you to get headaches or migraines. With any luck, small changes in your diet can help you prevent migraines without depravation and still allow you to enjoy a variety of delicious, nutritious foods.

Best wishes to you. Happy New Year.

Answer 10

I don't know about foods helping.But foods can be a trigger.As well as food colorings and additives.I started keeping track of all the ingredients in the foods. I found that yellow food coloring and MSG.trigger my headaches.I have also found that putting heat on my neck, as soon as it starts to tighten up that it will help with severity of the headache.

Answer 11

I also suffer from horrible miragraines. It makes it hard since you cant have caffein. So I recommend lying down in a quit dark room with a cold cloth on your eyes. Something nutritous that is easy on your stomach like some soup or crackers. Try to stay away from lots of sugar. I hope this helps.