Contents:
- Medical Video: Migraine Headaches : Foods Causing Migraines
- 1. Chocolate
- 2. Processed meat
- 3. Cold food or drink
- 4. Foods that contain MSG
- 5. Foods and beverages that contain artificial sweeteners
- 6. Coffee, tea, and soft drinks
Medical Video: Migraine Headaches : Foods Causing Migraines
Migraine or side headaches can happen to everyone and this makes people who experience it feel uncomfortable. Some things can become migraine triggers. One of them is the food or drink you consume. However, the effect may not be the same for each individual. The following are some of the triggers for migraines:
1. Chocolate
Chocolate can be a migraine trigger food, especially in sensitive people. According to the American Migraine Foundation, co-training is the second most common migraine trigger after alcohol. About 22% of people who experience migraines consider chocolate as one of the triggers. They feel migraines after eating chocolate.
This might not happen to everyone. However, for those of you who feel migraine after eating chocolate, you may have to avoid eating chocolate in large quantities. The content of phenylethylamine and caffeine in chocolate can be the reason why chocolate triggers migraines.
2. Processed meat
Sausages and ham are examples of processed meat that can trigger migraines. The content of nitrate and nitrite as preservatives in processed meat can widen blood vessels so that it can trigger migraines in some people. So, maybe not everyone will experience migraines after consuming processed meat.
3. Cold food or drink
Cold food or drinks such as ice cream can also be a trigger for migraines, especially in sensitive people. A study found that cold food can trigger migraines in 74% of 76 migraine sufferers who participated in the study. Meanwhile, only as many as 32% of participants who suffer from non-migraine headaches can experience pain after eating cold food.
The headache that is felt after eating cold food too quickly can make you experience migraines. This is more likely to occur when you feel too hot or after exercising. The peak of pain occurs around 30-60 seconds. This is more likely to occur in people who do suffer from migraines, but the pain usually disappears quickly. If you feel this, you should consume cold food or drinks slowly.
4. Foods that contain MSG
Packaged foods that have a savory taste generally contain MSG (monosodium glutamate). Some people report that MSG often triggers migraines. The American Migraine Foundation notes that 10-15% of people experience migraine headaches after eating foods containing MSG.
5. Foods and beverages that contain artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame commonly added to food or drinks, can also trigger migraines in migraine sufferers. According to one study, more than 50% of 11 participants in the study experienced an increase in the frequency of migraines after consuming large amounts of foods containing aspartame. Some migraine sufferers may be sensitive to aspartame. Its influence may differ between individuals.
6. Coffee, tea, and soft drinks
These three caffeinated drinks also include some that can trigger migraines. The content of caffeine in these three drinks is often associated with migraines. Although caffeine can help eliminate migraines, but not drastically consuming or reducing consumption of caffeinated beverages from consuming them in high amounts can actually trigger migraines. This might make people who are accustomed to drinking coffee become difficult to break the habit.
To avoid migraines, you should reduce your consumption of caffeinated drinks slowly if you want to stop the habit.
