Where are my migraine-haters? Oh, there you are, reading this article, because you wanna know if you’ve been eating something that has been causing all that mental pain! If you suffer from migraine attacks like me, then there are several ways to go about it.
We’re no David Copperfield in this matter, able to make your migraine vanish completely, but there are ways to keep it in hibernate mode. There are several factors as to why you even get migraines in the first place. Knowing the reasons and narrowing down the trigger-factors can help you temporarily avoid having one, or help you tone-down the severity of the pain.
Some common migraine triggers include:
- Hormone changes
- Stress
- Foods
- Skipping meals
- Caffeine
- Changes in weather
- Physical activity
- Tobacco
- Lack of or too much sleep
Now that you have a better idea as to what triggers a migraine, let’s dive specifically into foods and drinks that cause them, because they play a major role in our daily lives – and they’re among the heavyweight triggers for migraines.
It’s time to closely watch what foods and drinks you consume on a daily basis. Perhaps you can try to avoid these for some time and see if this improves your headaches.
Chocolate
Don’t be surprised by this one, although chocolate is reputed to be able to make anyone feel good! According to experts, chocolate contains both caffeine and beta-phenylethylamine, which may trigger a headache. It is also known to be the second most common trigger for migraines.
Caffeine
No, not coffee! (you must be silently screaming). Sorry to say this, but the cuppa that makes you smile in the morning can be a migraine-inducing beverage. If you’re an avid coffee lover, then you might want to consider switching to decaf momentarily and see if this helps, because experts suggest that caffeine can trigger migraines.
Aged Cheese
Oh, how can we accuse cheese of making us feel miserable when cheese is life? Blame science. According to experts, aged cheese contains a substance called tyramine that may trigger migraines. Feta, blue cheese, and Parmesan are proven to be rich in tyramine. If cheese has been a large portion of your diet, you might want to try cheeses other than the ones we mentioned – or limit your intake.
Fermented Foods
Kimchi lovers, it’s time to take it slow! Similar to aged cheese, fermented foods like kimchi have high amounts of tyramine that may cause migraines to pay a visit.
Cured Meat
Deli meats, hot dogs, sausages and ham are loaded with a preservative called nitrate. It is used to preserve the colour and flavour of these food items. So if these fast-food meats taste delish to you, that’s nitrate talking. According to a study, these foods release nitric oxide into the blood, which dilates blood vessels in the brain and leads to headaches and migraine.
If you are prone to getting migraines, it’s best to avoid or limit the intake of these foods and see if your condition improves. Often times, when ailments attack our body, it’s usually caused by our lifestyle and eating habits. A little tweak can do wonders and go a long way! So it’s time to eat, sleep and drink (water obviously!) better!
Image source: Freepik
More on health? Read this:
https://lipstiq.com/body-care/173404/5-tips-to-get-rid-of-itchy-mosquito-bites/
