Diet is an influential factor in many conditions. Certain foods can have enduring effects long after they have been eaten and because their reaction is not so immediate, detection is often shoddy. Foods can be thought of as having medicinal qualities in many cases. As such, their effects on the body are often stronger than first perceived and may be the last thing to be eliminated in trying to pinpoint disease triggers or aggravations. Some migraine sufferers appear to be affected by a variety of natural and artificial food ingredients.
Migraines
Migraines are a chronic type of painful headache. They often begin in childhood, according to Mayo Clinic.com, occur on one side and are described as a pulsating or throbbing. The pain can be so severe that it can interfere with work, school and other daily activities. Some types of migraines present with a warning, also known as an aura, which may include an increasing sensitivity to light, loud or annoying noises, and even some smells. MayoClinic.com notes that other premonitions or warnings of the ensuing headache include intense energy, cravings for sweet foods, increased thirst, drowsiness, irritability or depression. The headaches can also be triggered by a variety of foods, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Migraines are believed to occur secondary to increased activity--excessive dilation or constriction-- of the blood vessels of the head, and in certain sensitive individuals, some foods are suspected to worsen these effects.
Tyramines
The foods most commonly indicated in food-induced migraine headaches belongs to tyramine family. The National Headache Foundation notes that tyramine is the byproduct of tyrosine breakdown within the body or during the aging or fermenting of foods. Tyrosine is a commonly encountered amino acid in the diet, but the body also makes its own supply. When foods are aged, such as cheeses, aged meats, red wine and fermented soy products, including miso and tempeh, NHF notes that their tyramine content increases. Other foods high in tyramine are noted by the Cleveland Clinic as pickles, onions and olives. Tyramines are believed to increase the blood flow to the brain and potentially trigger migraine attacks.
MSG And Preservatives
While tyramines are not added to food but are specific to certain types of foods, migraine sufferers must also be wary about processed and prepared foods. Food additives, preservatives and flavor enhancers may also be indicated in migraine attacks, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Sulfites, nitrates and nitrites commonly found in processed meats, such as hot dogs, cured ham, sausage, bacon, pepperoni and lunch meats, can lead to excessive blood vessel dilation and in turn trigger migraine attacks. Monosodium glutamate is a commonly used flavor enhancer and meat tenderizer used in prepared and prepackaged food as well as Asian cuisine. MSG may also be listed on packaging as "hydrolyzed fat", "hydrolyzed protein" or "all-natural preservatives," and the Cleveland Clinic warns that effects may take hold in as little as 25 minutes after consuming the preservative. Aspartame, a commonly used artificial sweetening agent, is implicated by the Cleveland Clinic to have a link to migraine headaches.
Dietary Habits
Habits of eating and eating rituals may trigger migraine headaches. Skipping meals, fasting and eating a high sugar diet may incite migraines, according to the National Headache Foundation. Many Americans drink coffee as part of their morning ritual and even throughout the day to perform optimally. Caffeine, in the form of coffee, but also found in cocoa and chocolate can also trigger migraines in some people.
Suggestions
A diary or journal of headaches can assist with determining if and which foods may trigger a migraine attack. Drugs.com suggests that details regarding the headache, including onset, duration, what you were doing when they started and any foods or beverages consumed within the 24 hours before the headache occurring, be recorded. It is equally important to list foods or beverages, as well as other techniques that may have been helpful in lessening the severity and intensity of the migraine. While caffeine can trigger migraines in some people, others use caffeine acutely to treat their headaches, notes Drugs.com. It is important to consider that one man's food may be someone else's poison. A diet-migraine diary may prove helpful in delineating between the two.
