A migraine is more than just a headache. It’s a neurological condition characterized by recurrent headaches that are moderate to severe. They can present themselves in various kinds of pain usually on one side of the head, such as throbbing, stabbing, or pulsing so immense that you feel your heartbeat. These headaches are so severe in nature that they cause nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
While researchers don’t know exactly what causes a migraine, there are some contributing factors that tend to trigger symptoms. Certain foods, such as dairy products, additives, preservatives and dyes in foods, alcohol, caffeine, lack of sleep, seasonal changes, molds, dust, mildews. Consider following a migraine diet:
1. Caffeine
Caffeinated beverages like soda, coffee, tea, and chocolate tend to constrict the blood vessels in the body. Caffeine-withdrawal may trigger a migraine.
2. Stress
Stress is very much alive in our world and seems to get worse with each passing year. When you are stressed out there are chemicals released in your brain that change the blood vessels, which can trigger a migraine.
3. Dyes, Additives, Preservatives
Prepared and processed foods are overloaded with additives, dyes, and preservatives. While it’s easy to think you may have a food allergy, it might be a food sensitivity that triggers your migraine. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), an ingredient used in Chinese food, is reported to trigger migraines.
4. Lack of Sleep
Long days and sleepless nights can affect more than your workday, it could also bring on a migraine. Your body requires rest and when it’s exhausted it has no way to fight off a migraine.
5. Seasonal Changes
Sudden changes in temperatures when the seasons change affects a body’s reaction to migraines when immunity is already low. Molds, mildew, and spores in the air trigger autoimmune systems to fight off these allergens, which can make you more susceptible to a migraine.
6. Rid the Kitchen of White
Some people report that consuming foods made with white flour, white sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda have been found to trigger a migraine.
If you can keep a log of every time a migraine attacks, you may be able to narrow down the reasons for the migraine and avoid those triggers. Migraines are no laughing matter and can be controlled with the help of your doctor.
