Migraines are a type of recurring headache that causes moderate to severe pain. Patients describe it as a pulsing or throbbing pain, often on one side of the head. Other symptoms can include nausea, weakness, and sensitivity to light and sound. Various factors can cause a migraine, including consuming certains foods and drinks. By avoiding your migraine triggers, you could experience fewer occurrences.

Some of the common trigger foods for migraines include the following:

1. Caffeine

Over-consumption of caffeine can result in headaches, and the same goes for withdrawal from caffeine as it can also lead to headaches and migraine attacks. At times, caffeine helps relieve headaches or migraine attacks, but overconsumption of beverages with caffeine can do more harm than good. Occasionally caffeine consumption can provide relief from headaches, but it should only be consumed if the symptoms are not aggravated.

2. Artificial sweeteners

A lot of processed foods contain artificial sweeteners, and they are also used as alternatives for sugar in diabetes-friendly recipes. However, these sweeteners act as trigger foods for migraines, and aspartame, in particular, can trigger a migraine.

3. Alcohol

Another common trigger food for migraine attacks is alcohol. Beer and red wine are considered triggers that cause regular migraines in around 25% of the people who consume alcohol. Alcohol consumption causes dehydration, which is also a contributor to triggering a headache.

4. Chocolate

The next most common and significant trigger food for migraine attacks is chocolate. It has been reported to affect around 22% of the individuals affected by migraines. Chocolates contain caffeine as well as beta-phenylethylamine, which are known to trigger migraine attacks in many people. Additionally, chocolate also contains a small amount of tyramine.

5. MSG

Monosodium Glutamate or MSG exists in our body naturally, but this glutamic acid is also found in specific types of foods and food additives. It is regarded as safe for consumption, but it has been strongly linked to the development of migraines. In a considerable number of people, MSG has been observed to trigger severe migraines, and there are also many other preservatives that can result in migraines in many people.

6. Cured meats

Sausages, hot dogs, ham, and deli meats are all cured meats that have nitrates as preservatives to preserve the flavor and color. Such foods have a possibility to release nitric oxide in the person’s body through blood dialysis, which is considered to dilate the blood vessels in the brain. Nitric oxide can trigger migraines or worsen the symptoms of an existing one.

7. Aged cheese

Aged cheese has tyramine, a substance formed when the aging of the food leads to the breakdown of proteins. The longer the age of the cheese, the higher are the chances of the tyramine substance being present in these food items. There is a strong linkage between migraines and food with tyramine. Some common types of cheese with high tyramine content are parmesan, feta, and blue cheese.

8. Fermented foods

Similar to aged cheese, fermented and pickled food items like pickled okra, kimchi, pickled jalapenos, and kombucha also have high levels of tyramine.