Foods better to avoid if you have migraines


Headaches are one of the most annoying and painful things people go through on a day to day basis, and migraines are even worse. All you want to do when suffering from one is curl up in a dark room, turn off all technology, block out any sound, and hide from the world outside — people who suffer from conditions such as chronic head pain experience this distress more than anyone else. However, if you do suffer from this, you aren’t alone. Over 45 million Americans today suffer from chronic head pain, which involves experiencing migraines, tension, cluster headaches, and much more. It is a well-known fact that women do suffer from headaches more frequently than men, which is due to the different hormone levels in the brain. This isn’t to say, however, that men never experience headaches. Although it may seem that headaches are incurable, there are a few things we can avoid in our diet to help prevent the onset of migraines. Foods that trigger them do vary from person to person, but it may be worth cutting out some of these foods to see whether they improve your painful headaches.

Chocolate

We hate to break it to you, chocoholics, but eating chocolate may result in a migraine. Although it isn’t technically a trigger, it has been proven to lead to migraines. According to research, your body probably craves chocolate before a migraine is coming on anyway because the ingredients such as caffeine and other antioxidants in the sugary treats can help relieve some of the symptoms of migraines.

Foods better to avoid if you have migraines

Aged cheese and meats

According to new research, the nitrites in aged meats are thought to bring on migraine attacks and severe headaches. Scientists have said that they help to release a chemical that reacts in the brain, causing the pain and light sensitivity. Along with this, these foods typically include a lot of salt, more so than any other food group. Eating too much salt can result in dehydration, which is another huge factor that can lead to headaches and migraines.

Drinking

Drinking itself doesn’t trigger headaches; it is more the withdrawal from it the next day. It was commonly believed that red wine was to blame for triggering those pesky hangover headaches, but don’t blame the Pinot Noir just yet. However, there is actually no solid evidence that this is the case. It varies from person to person, so different drinks may affect migraines more than others.

Caffeine

Caffeine is actually believed to help relieve headaches, however it can also have adverse effects. If you consume caffeine every day, it may be that your body becomes dependent on it. If you consume just 80 milligrams less than usual, this can put your body into withdrawal and cause headaches. According to researchers, it is worth checking how much you usually consume and checking other foods and drinks that might contain caffeine.

Foods better to avoid if you have migraines

Spicy foods

If you’re into your spicy foods, but also experience migraines, you might want to cut back. According to scientists who have researched trigger foods, chili peppers are potentially the worst kind of food you can eat if you experience migraines. The spicier the food, the more likely someone is to experience a migraine after eating it.
It might be that you suspect one or a few of these food groups trigger your migraines. If you do, don’t completely cut them out, as this may result in a withdrawal migraine anyway. Try starting a headache journal, and track everything you eat in a day. It may be that you realize which food group is giving you a headache. Then, gradually try and eliminate the triggers a small bit at a time. Remember to drink enough water as well as cutting out bad foods, as being dehydrated is one of the most common reasons that people experience headaches and migraines.

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