Everyone in their lifetime, whether they are a teenager or a young adult, has experienced a headache. They are annoying, frustrating and painful. Most headaches can go away with some regular strength medicine or maybe even just some rest, but some headaches such as migraines can be much worse than an average headache. Migraines are severe headaches that may cause dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound and may make it nearly impossible to do anything until it is gone. Some times these headaches can be caused by stress, weather changes, changes in the body and even what a person may eat. It is important to know what foods may help those that may get migraines and what foods may need to be limited or avoided. This will help those with migraine headaches to feel better and to stay healthy.
According to WebMD, “Frequently Asked Questions about Food Triggers, Migraines, and Headaches”, certain foods, beverages or food additives can trigger a migraine. These foods would include: aged cheeses and foods containing tyramine which is found in some foods and is formed by the breakdown of protein in aged foods. The levels of tyramine in food may vary but people that may take monoamine oxidase to treat a headache may want to avoid foods containing tyramine such as: aged cheeses, red wine, alcoholic beverages and some processed meats because this can also trigger hypertension.
Other foods that may trigger a migraine include: food preservatives or additives contained in some foods may dilate blood vessels causing migraine headaches in some people. Cold foods can also trigger migraines in some people and is more likely to occur if you are overheated from exercise or hot temperatures. Some people that have migraines have said they have been triggered by ice cream and other cold substances.
More foods that may trigger migraines and may want to be avoided or limited include foods such as: peanuts, peanut butter, nuts, seeds, pizza, potato chip products, chicken liver and other meat organs, smoked or dried fish, sourdough bread, bread, crackers and desserts with cheese, ripe bananas, citrus fruits, papaya, red plums, raspberries, pineapple and kiwi, dried fruits, soup made from meat extracts, sour cream, buttermilk, yogurt, caffeine found in chocolate or coca and other caffeinated beverages such as: coffee, tea, and cola. Some artificial sweeteners and aspartame can also trigger migraine headaches in some people.
Finally, some cheeses that may have high levels of tyramine include: blue cheese, brie, cheddar, Stilton, feta, gorgonzola, mozzarella, muenster, parmesan, Swiss and processed cheese. Some foods that contain addictives which may trigger migraines in some people include: hot dogs, ham, sausage, bacon, lunch style deli meats, pepperoni, other processed meats and MSG which can be found in soy sauce and other oriental foods.
People that suffer from severe migraine headaches may want to avoid these foods and beverages that may trigger a migraine, but some of these foods do not trigger a migraine for everyone so a doctor should still be consulted in certain cases. Exercising and staying active can also help with migraine headaches. It is important for everyone especially those who may suffer from these severe headaches to eat a well-balanced diet and exercise daily to stay healthy.
Tags: alcoholic beverages, chicken liver, chip products, cold foods, food additives, food preservatives, foods containing tyramine, migraine headaches, severe headaches, weather changes
