It cannot be said with any amount of certainty what causes migraines. The best explanation available is that a series of minor reactions or irritations pile up over a period of time, thereby triggering migraine headaches. Now, migraine triggers vary from migraineur to migraneur, and it is impossible to say accurately what foods will definitely lead to an attack.
Another thing to note is that scientist look at these foods that trigger migraines with a lot of skepticism. There’s absolutely no conclusive evidence that can connect certain food items to migraine headaches.
Therefore, all the information out there is based purely on anecdotes and personal experience. But the tons of anecdotal evidence out there cannot be ignored. Therefore, a second look at migraine trigger foods is definitely warranted.
It’s difficult to go over each and every food that may trigger a migraine. However, there are some foods that are more responsible for migraine headaches than others. We are going to look at some the more common triggers.
Cheese
Cheese tops the list of migraine triggers, and several migraineurs have found a direct link between the intake of cheese and the occurrence of an attack. The cheeses that are more likely to cause migraines are aged cheese or hard cheese. If you are fond of cream cheese and other varieties of soft and new cheese, you may have them without worry, as they don’t cause any problems.
Processed Meats
Processed meats contain high amounts of nitrates, which are considered to be major triggers of migraines. Processed meats like sausages, processed lunchmeats, hot dogs, and bacon should be eaten in moderation as they are likely to trigger migraine headaches.
Condiments, Spices & Additives
Several condiments and spices are among the foods that trigger migraines. Some of them worth a mention are salad dressings, artificial sweeteners, vinegar, and food dyes. Spices can be a trigger due to their pungent odor, and those who have a sensitive sense of smell may end up with a migraine headache. Finally, avoid foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG) as it is considered a major migraine trigger.
If you suspect that your migraine attack is triggered off by some foods, try a systematic elimination of the major foods from your diet to pinpoint which one is causing the problem.
