Foods That Trigger Migraine Attacks

At least 10 percent of adults throughout the world suffer from migraines. These excruciating attacks can cause a variety of symptoms beyond a crushing headache, including vision problems, numbness, weakness, tingling, vomiting, nausea, and light sensitivity. Many kinds of triggers can set off a migraine, including foods and beverages. If you suffer from migraines, you need to steer clear of foods that trigger migraines.

Foods That Can Trigger a Migraine

While some people experience migraines due to physical or emotional stress, lack of sleep, weather changes, or hormonal imbalances, foods serve as migraine triggers in 27% of sufferers. Foods that trigger migraines include:

• Nuts and seeds - These popular snack foods contain tyramine, an amino acid closely associated with migraines.
• Processed meats - You may need to give up your beloved hot dogs, ham, and bacon. Processed, cured meats are rich in nitrates, which can trigger migraine attacks.
• MSG - Monosodium glutamate causes so many problems in vulnerable individuals, including migraines, that many restaurants either exclude it or warn their customers about it.
• Yeast - This essential ingredient in baked goods also contains tyramine, meaning that migraine sufferers should avoid it.
• Diet drinks - Certain non-sugar beverages can trigger migraines due to the presence of aspartame, an artificial sweetener.
• Chocolate - Chocolate contains caffeine, which can make you vulnerable to migraine attacks. (Oddly enough, caffeine can also ease symptoms in some individuals.)
• Cheese - Make a special effort to avoid aged cheeses, which contain both tyramine and another migraine-triggering amino acid called phenylethylamine.
• Citrus fruits - If you happen to be sensitive to a substance called octopamine, citrus fruits may trigger your migraines.
• Alcoholic beverages - Beer and red wine can both summon migraines. That's because beer contains yeast and red wine contains sulfites.

Since migraines can have so many potential triggers, you might continue to experience attacks even after crossing all these foods off your list. If so, you may want to seek professional evaluation and treatment.

Let a Migraine Chiropractor Help You

It might surprise you to learn that chiropractic care can help you achieve migraine relief quickly, effectively, and without drugs. An experienced migraine chiropractor can make adjustments to your cervical spine that help your nervous system work more normally, as opposed to relaying abnormal signals that lead to attacks. These adjustments can also ease the muscular strain in your neck and upper body, another potential cause of migraines. A migraine chiropractor can even provide you with a comprehensive health and wellness plan to help you recognize and avoid your individual triggers for life.

Jeranek Chiropractic can give you the migraine relief you seek. Our migraine chiropractor, Dr. Janet Jeranek, uses chiropractic adjustment and other complementary therapies to treat migraines, tension headaches, and a host of other musculoskeletal conditions. Her three decades of experience have resulted in countless Kenosha residents regaining their comfort and quality of life.

Our chiropractic clinic takes a holistic approach to healing, applying a variety of techniques to help you rid yourself of migraines and enjoy a higher overall standard of health. Our chiropractor provides dietary, nutritional, and general lifestyle advice to help you eat the right things and stay away from the wrong things. If stress and tension conspire with foods to trigger your migraines, you may also benefit from your physiotherapy services.

Take a Big Bite Out of Your Migraine Problem

From dietary and nutritional counseling to chiropractic adjustment, Jeranek Chiropractic can help you overcome your migraine issues and live your best life. Contact us for an appointment.