Migraine Diet

Migraine Sufferers Diet

Migraine Diet...

Public health officials estimate that over 45 million American adults suffer from migraines.

Work productivity experts say that migraines result in 157 million lost days of work per year, and cost American industry over $50 billion in lost work time, lessened productivity and medical costs.

If you're one of those who suffers from migraines, those statistics mean far less to you than the simple fact that the debilitating pain can make it impossible for you to work, study, cook, play or take care of your children.

Research holds some good news for migraine sufferers. A migraine diet can hold the key to managing, decreasing and eliminating migraines.

Migraine Headache Diet

Migraines are characterized by a number of symptoms. Along with headache, often localized on one side of the head, sufferers report sensitivity to light, sound and sensation, nausea, vomiting and dizziness.

In severe cases, the symptoms may include confusion, depression, difficulty swallowing, difficulty remembering things, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, and an increased risk of stroke.

Some researchers believe that there is a clear link between migraine and diet.

Migraine headache diet...

*** The Migraine Diet Link ***

Scientists have concluded that for a large majority of migraine sufferers, diet triggers are the primary underlying cause of recurrent headaches. A look at the actual physical causes of migraine can help explain the migraine diet link.

Researchers believe that migraines are caused by a change in vascular tension in blood vessels in the brain. Whenever something causes the capillaries in the brain to contract and then expand, the result could be a migraine. Food, medications, drugs and environmental factors have all been implicated in vasodilation and contraction.

The most common migraine diet triggers include: caffeine, chocolate, red wine, aged cheeses, foods containing nitrites and nitrates and monosodium glutamate, and nicotine.

The migraine headache diet link appears to be a bit more complex, however. Not all food triggers cause reactions in all, or even most migraine sufferers.

The most common migraine sufferers diet cause is chocolate, for instance, but it is only implicated in about 20% of recorded cases.

In addition, it appears that in some migraine sufferers, diet combinations of particular foods trigger migraines, while those same foods eaten by themselves or with other foods do not. The research points to the necessity of customizing a migraine diet for each individual.

*** Creating a Personalized Migraine Diet ***

The first step in customizing a migraine headache diet that will work for you is determining which, if any, foods trigger your migraines.

You may already have a suspicion - perhaps every time you eat cheddar cheese, you get a migraine. If so, you've got a great start. To get a better idea, though, doctors who specialize in treating migraines suggest an elimination diet to identify your own specific migraine triggers.

The list of foods that has been implicated in causing migraines includes chocolate, caffeine, peanut butter and peanuts, processed meats, aged cheeses, gluten, red wine and to a lesser extent all alcohol, canned soups, and foods containing monosodium glutamate.

When you identify a food that triggers migraines, add it to your list of migraine diet no-no's and eliminate it from your diet. Eliminating all food triggers from your diet could concievably eliminate migraines from your life.

*** Foods to Add to Your Migraine Diet ***

In addition to eliminating food triggers from your migraine diet, there are some foods and supplements that have shown promise in lessening the severity of migraines in many people.

Research seems to suggest a link between magnesium and calcium deficiencies and migraines. Foods that help the body to absorb and use calcium and magnesium, and that affect the creation and regulation of serotonin can be helpful in the migraine sufferers diet.

For best effect, the migraine headache diet may include the following:

Magnesium

An increase in dietary calcium and magnesium is believed to contribute to vascular health and decrease migraines. Magnesium in the diet increases vascular tone and helps regulate nerve excitability, both believed to help decrease migraines.

5-HTP

5-HTP occurs naturally in the body and helps in the creation of serotonin, a substance crucial in the regulation of pain, sleep, mood and other brain functions. Supplementing the diet with 5-HTP can help decrease the incidence of migraines.

Riboflavin

Vitamin B6 and B2 are necessary for your body to process tryptophan, which is converted by your body into serotonin. Low levels of serotonin have been associated with migraines.

*** A Simplified Migraine Diet ***

AVOID in a migraine diet: Foods with a strong link to migraines: Chocolate, caffeine, red wine, peanuts and peanut butter, bacon, hot dogs, packaged and preserved meats, high salt processed foods, freshly baked breads, MSG

ADD to a migraine headache diet: Foods rich in complex B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, whole grain cereals, calcium enriched juices, orange juice, citrus fruits, berries, whole grain breads

SUPPLEMENT a migraine sufferers diet with: 5-HTP, B-complex vitamins

Finally, beyond the migraine diet, other lifestyle changes can have a beneficial effect.

Regular sleep patterns and smaller more frequent meals both have a proven effect in decreasing the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.

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