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The Complete Guide to Migraine Headaches by Alice Peart Page 69 of 87

35. Avoiding Foods that
Trigger Migraine Headaches

Food is an important migraine trigger. More than 25% of migraines are due to

dietary factors. Food and their additives may contain certain chemicals that
affect blood pressure. This restricts blood vessels and reduces blood flow to

different body parts and mainly your brain. This leads to migraines.

Common chemicals present in food triggers are Monosodium glutamate (MSG),
Phenyl ethylamine, Sodium, Tryamine and Histam 5. Migraine food triggers may

include dairy products, pickles and marinated food, chocolate and cocoa, citrus
fruits, raisins, bananas, plums, peanuts and peanut butter and fermented

products with high levels of soy sauce.

It is easy to prescribe avoidance of migraine trigger foods. However, to arrive at
the exact trigger is a difficult job. Different foods function as triggers in different

individuals. You cannot eliminate large sections of your regular food intake as it
could lead to lack of sufficient nutrition.

Eliminate the major suspects like chocolate, Tryamine foods like aged cheese and

red wines and sodium-rich foods like pickles and marinated items. Similarly,
monosodium glutamate is a food additive which is also a trigger.

You can reduce the effect of such triggers by reducing your intake of them.

Thereafter, introduce them in small quantities to try to isolate your major
triggers. Stay away from such foods for a considerable time to regroup from your

migraine attacks.

You can try including them later.

Copyright © 2006 Alice Peart 69.