• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Joy of Wellness

Living better and longer, Natural Health

Main navigation

The Joy of Wellness

What? Would you like to find?
Browse by categories
  • Weight Loss
  • Health and Beauty
  • Diets and Nutrition
  • Natural Remedies
  • Alternative Medicine
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Life in Fullness
  • The Joy of Wellness from A to Z
  • All topics

9 Foods which can cause a Migraine

  • Enzymes: the enzymatic power of fermented foods
  • Ozone therapy: a natural oxidant and purifier

Published: 05/16/2016 - Updated: 08/28/2018

Author: MSc. Miriam Reyes

A migraine is a headache characterised by unilateral, pulsating pains in the head. In most cases, it is described as a moderate to severe pain experience and can be accompanied by a halo of light or blurred vision.9 Foods which can cause a Migraine


The aura (light halo surrounding objects) is a sign heralding the onset of migraine, which often occurrs a few hours or minutes before,
and may present as a temporary loss of vision or blurred vision, flashes and a tingling sensation may also appear on the cheeks, lips, tongue and down the arms, among other symptoms, which disappear after a few minutes or after an hour before the onset of this severe headache. It is estimated that one out of four migraine sufferers suffer from this “aura”.

Contents

  • What causes a migraine?
  • Foods which can cause Migraine
  • 1. Cured meats
  • 2. Caffeine
  • 3. Cured Cheeses
  • 4. Wine
  • 5. Chocolate
  • 6. Peanuts
  • 7. Citrus fruits
  • 8. Beer
  • 9. Gluten
  • Do not forget

What causes a migraine?

Although it is unknown what makes some people suffer from a migraine, while others do not, it is known that there are several factors that can provoke these headaches, so it is very important to know to take action on the matter and avoid them where possible.

Some psychological factors that can trigger migraines are accumulated stress and anxiety. On the other hand sleep disorders can be very important factors, as it is known that poor sleep patterns such as a lack of sleep and sleep too much can cause migraines.

In addition, hormonal changes play an important role in women during their menstrual period or menopause and therefore may be more susceptible to having a migraine. Last but not least, it has been found that eating some foods can be associated with developing a migraine.

Foods which can cause Migraine

1. Cured meats

Cured and processed meats such as sausages and cured hams, among other things, are rich conservatives of elements like nitrites and nitrates that are linked to having a migraine, thus they are discouraged.

2. Caffeine

This is a commonly consumed stimulant in many people’s diet, however caffeine consumption can trigger the onset of a migraine. It is therefore recommended to avoid caffeine in any form, from tea and coffee, to soft drinks containing caffeine. You can opt for decaffeinated coffee, but these products are not always well tolerated by the body, because although there is less caffeine than the conventional version, decaffeinated coffee still contains caffeine. Intake depends on the tolerance of each individual.

3. Cured Cheeses

Although cheese may seem harmless, its consumption can trigger a migraine in susceptible people. This is because they contain tyramine and other biogenic amines, which can have a vasodilator effect on the arteries in the brain and cause inflammation. It is recommended to avoid these types of cheese, instead opting for fresh or less fermented cheeses.

  • The benefits of Facial Exercises
    MORE IN THE JOY OF WELLNESS
    The benefits of Facial Exercises

4. Wine

A glass of wine is often recommended because of its antioxidant content, however, if you are someone who constantly suffers migraines, it is important to know that wine is an inadvisable drink, not only due to its alcohol content, but also due to the tannins it contains, whose consumption can trigger a migraine.

5. Chocolate

While some types of chocolate can be beneficial for headaches, thanks to its magnesium content, consumption in excess is a trigger for migraines, especially for people who are susceptible to tyramine, an amino acid that can alter vasodilation in the blood vessels of the brain.

6. Peanuts

Peanuts and peanut butter can lead to migraines because they contain tyramine. Moreover, it is also believed that migraines may be related to a possible allergy to peanuts, which must also be considered.

7. Citrus fruits

Although you may not have imagined it, citrus and many other fruits can cause migraines if they are rich in tyramine. Some of the following have been identified as possible migraine triggers are lemons, grapefruit, limes, oranges, guavas and other fruits like melon, pineapple and even banana.

  • Is Technology compatible with Love?
    MORE IN THE JOY OF WELLNESS
    Is Technology compatible with Love?

8. Beer

Alcoholic beverages are not recommended for people who suffer from migraines and this includes beer. Tyramine is generated in the fermentation process and adding alcohol in combination with this substance can trigger migraines very quickly.

9. Gluten

This protein is part of some grains, especially wheat, but also barley and rye. Although not all people are intolerant to gluten, for those who are, the consumption of gluten appears to be an important factor with regard to suffering from migraines. Celiacs or gluten intolerant people show improvements when they stop eating food which contains gluten.

Do not forget

This list of foods can be used a guide, however, while some people who suffer from migraines may experience these severe headaches after eating these foods, not all people react the same way. It is important to remember what we have consumed before the onset of a migraine to correctly identify whether a food has acted as a trigger or not.

Revised by: Dra. Loredana Lunadei on 08/28/2018 linkedin

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Loading...

About the author

By MSc. Miriam Reyes

Mire Reyes has a mayor in nutrition and is a renowned therapist with years of experience in the care of overweight patients and nutritional problems. She offers help from her therapeutic approach that brings together the best of conventional therapies and alternative or complementary therapies. Linkedin

Reader Interactions

You may also be interested

  • Natural Ingredients for Health and Cosmetics Natural Ingredients for Health and Cosmetics It's becoming more and more fashionable to use cosmetic ingredients made from plants or the [...]
  • Six Foods that Increase Stress Six Foods that Increase Stress Stress currently affects 70% of the world's population.  Did you know that there are foods [...]
  • Beauty tips for your Back Beauty tips for your Back Is there anyone who's never felt tempted to touch a well-sculpted, smooth skinned, and well postured back [...]

You are here: The Joy of Wellness » Health and Beauty » 9 Foods which can cause a Migraine

All about Health and Beauty

  • Yellow eyes?  Causes and Natural treatment Yellow eyes? Causes and Natural treatment Yellow discoloration in the sclera of the eye, which is the membrane that surrounds the [...]
  • Understand a little bit more (part two) Understand a little bit more (part two) It's important to search for deep understanding of what we do in each and every [...]
  • The properties of Apples The properties of Apples "An apple a day keeps the doctor away".  This is a well-known proverb, and for [...]
  • The Benefits of Meditation The Benefits of Meditation Hi everyone! Today I want to talk about the benefits of meditation, not as part [...]
  • Polyps and the Colon: Cures and Natural Treatment Polyps and the Colon: Cures and Natural Treatment The word "polyp" literally means "several feet", and it is used in zoology to designate [...]
Footer
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2023 · The Joy of Wellness
   
Disclaimer  About Us  Cookies Policy  Privacy Policy  Contact  Topics
The services, content and products on our website are for information purposes only. The Joy of Wellness does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment