10 Dietary Migraine Triggers

Migraine headaches could be triggered by the foods you eat. (Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

If your headaches are accompanied by throbbing pain on one or both sides of your head, dizziness, nausea or neck pain, you may be experiencing migraines, and research shows that certain foods may be the culprit. Here are the top 10 dietary offenders (via Care2):

1. Caffeine. Drinking too much coffee, tea or soda can cause an aching head, as can suddenly stopping your caffeine intake altogether. Aim for less than 200 mg per day.
2. Chocolate. Any food containing cocoa also contains?phenylethylamine, which may cause blood vessels to expand and contract.
3. Nuts. Any kind of nut or nut butter, from peanut to pistachio, can trigger head pain.
4. Monosodium glutamate. Commonly known as MSG and found in many Chinese dishes, ?this compound is also found in seasoned salt and many low-fat and low-calorie foods. Check the food nutrition labels at the grocery store or nutrition facts in a restaurant before making your purchase.
5. Deli meats and fish. Many of these are preserved with nitrites or nitrates, which can cause headaches and a host of other health problems. Also avoid chicken liver and beef liver.
6. Dairy products, particularly cheese. This includes all hard cheeses and foods prepared with cheese, excluding white cheeses like ricotta, cream cheese and cottage cheese. The more aged the cheese, the more potential it has to cause a migraine.
7. Red wine and dark alcohol. Of course, too much of any alcoholic beverage can cause head pain. But red wine and dark alcohols are particularly capable of doing so. Of all drinking alcohols, vodka is generally the safest for those prone to migraines. Balsamic vinegar can also trigger migraines.
8. Some fruits and vegetables. Fruits include citrus fruits, fruit juices, bananas, raisins, raspberries, red plums, papayas, passion fruit, red figs and avocados. Vegetables include sauerkraut, lentils and all types of beans. Of all fruits and vegetables, onions may be the worst, but baby onions are okay.
9. Freshly baked breads risen with yeast. Bagels, doughnuts, pizza dough and soft pretzels less than 24 hours out of the oven can trigger headaches. Sourdough bread is especially capable of triggering migraines.
10. Aspartame. This artificial sweetener found in many diet soft drinks and even some yogurts?contains excitotoxins known to affect nerve cells.

Source: http://healthiermn.com/10-dietary-migraine-triggers

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