Migraine Headaches: Food and Drink That Cause Headaches

Migraine headaches have been around for thousands of years and have been described in the ancient medical texts.

If you or someone you love suffers from migraine, you know the symptoms: blinding pain, so severe it causes nausea, sometimes associated with jagged vision, flashing lights, numbness or tingling, lasting for hours.

Although a group of drugs called triptans can be effective at relieving migraine, preventing these headaches is a major challenge.

So I am writing to share my knowledge and bring to light research, references, links and resources to help people learn more about this topic.

Many factors may act as migraine triggers, including stress, odors, temperature and hormonal changes, but the single migraine trigger over which you have the greatest control is food.

Migraine Headaches and Diet
Over the past 150 years, numerous researchers have reported a link between migraine and the food we eat. Some scientists attributed this link to allergy, others to a chemical effect of food on the brain.

Migraine diets have been developed but are of limited value for most people. They're based on the idea that certain foods, like nuts, cheese and chocolate, contain chemicals that produce changes in blood flow, which trigger the onset of headache.

The problem with the chemical induction theory of migraine is that it's never been proven to really occur.

Red Wine Headache
The only headache that's been proven to be chemically triggered is red wine headache, which is quite distinct from common migraine.

When studied in double-blind placebo control trials, Tyramine, found in aged cheeses and the principal food chemical believed to trigger migraine, was incapable of causing migraine headache. [1, 2]

Food Allergies Provoke Migraine Headaches
In contrast, numerous studies have shown that the immune system is involved in migraine. Italian researchers found that people with food-induced migraine develop complexes in their blood in which food proteins clump together with antibodies directed against these proteins; these are called circulating immune complexes. [3]

Their appearance is associated with an intricate set of immune responses, which indicate that some type of allergic reaction is taking place. [4, 5]

The significance of understanding that food allergy provokes migraine is the recognition that everyone's "migraine diet" will be different, depending upon which foods they're allergic to.

Many researchers have shown that an allergy blocker called sodium cromoglycate, taken orally before food, can block the induction of food-induced migraine [6, 7, 8, 9,10] and appears to work by preventing the formation of food-containing circulating immune complexes. This type of allergic reaction cannot be detected by conventional allergy testing, which is based on the presence of a type of antibody called IgE. [11] IgE antibodies are important for conditions like hay fever, but do not appear to play any role in migraine.

Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study
A recent double-blind placebo-controlled study demonstrated that dietary changes based on the presence of a different type of antibody to food protein, IgG antibody, is an effective strategy for reducing the frequency of migraine attacks. [12] IgG antibodies are the main type of antibodies found in circulating immune complexes. In this study, patients with frequent migraine headaches (at least 4 per month), had their blood screened for IgG antibodies to 266 foods. For each individual, foods to which they had high levels of IgG antibodies were identified. They were then given diets prepared with or without these foods, in such a way that neither they nor the scientists studying them knew which foods they were eating. When people consumed the diet that eliminated the high IgG foods, the frequency of migraine headaches was significantly reduced. The migraines were not completely eliminated, however, and their severity was not reduced. The headaches that occurred were the usual migraines the patient habitually experienced.

Food Allergy Testing
IgG food allergy testing is commercially available through many different laboratories in the U.S. It is not a perfect test, but it can help people with migraine headaches and their doctors create an individualized diet that will reduce migraine frequency.

If IgG food testing is not available to you or does not help you to design an effective migraine diet, you can identify food triggers for migraines by using a technique called "elimination and challenge."

You can find the details of this technique and studies showing its effectiveness, especially for migraine with onset in childhood, in an article I wrote with Dr. L. M. McEwen, "A Role for Food Intolerance in Childhood Migraine."

Dietary Supplements and Migraine Headaches
In addition to diet, there are several nutritional supplements that have been shown to decrease the frequency of migraine headaches in controlled clinical trials.

Supplements That Can Help Migraines
(The amounts given are approximate based upon the research, of course the amount each person should take varies according to the individual.)

• Magnesium, generally about 300 milligrams per day
• Coenzyme Q10, generally about 300 milligrams per day
• Alpha-lipoic acid, generally about 600 milligrams per day
• Riboflavin (vitamin B2), generally about 400 milligrams per day
• Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), dose will vary with preparation

For more on the benefits of the mineral Magnesium, see my article
"Holiday Stress and Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms"

And to get more information on the herb feverfew, read my article "Feverfew -- Know What Herbs Do What"

More information about the research that's been done with these supplements, including references, can be found, without charge, at the health application I created called Pill Advised, by logging in and looking for beneficial interactions between supplements and drugs for migraine. To locate the references, after login, enter the name of a migraine drug or enter "sumatriptan," which was the first migraine-specific drug. You can also use the application to learn more about drugs, supplements and over the counter medications you may want to know about.

WATCH:

If the video doesn't play, click here to watch on YouTube

Now I'd like to hear from you ...

Do you experience migraines or headaches?

Have you taken anything for it, and what helps?

Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.

Best Health,

Leo Galland, M.D.

Important: Share the Health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.

Leo Galland, M.D. is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.

References

1. Forsyth WI, Redmond A. "Two controlled trials of tyramine in children with migraine." Dev Med Child Neurol 1974; 16: 794-799

2. Moffatt A. M., Swash M, Scott D. F. "Effect of tyramine in migraine; a double-blind study." J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 1972; 35: 496-499.

3. Marteletti P, Sutherland J, Anastasi E et al. Evidence for immune-mediated mechanism in food-induced migraine from a study of activated T-cells, IgG4 subclass, anti-IgG antibodies and circulating immune complexes." Headache 1989; 29: 664-670

4. Marteletti P. T cells expressing IL-2 receptor in migraine. Acta Neurol (Napoli) 1991; 13: 448-456

5. Marteletti P, Stirparo G, Rinaldi C et al. "Disruption of the immunopeptidergic network in dietary migraine." Headache 1993; 33: 524-527

6. Marteletti P, Bussone G, Centoze V et al. "Prophylaxis of food-induced migraine with cromolyn sodium: efficacy of short- and long-term use." Cephalalgia 1989 (suppl 10): 441-442

7. Mansfield L.E., Vaughan T.R., Waller S.F. et al. "Food allergy and adult migraine: double blind and mediator conformation of an allergic etiology." Ann Allergy 1985; 55: 126-129

8. Monro J,BrostoffJ,Carini C. et al. "Food allergy in migraine." Lancet 1980; 2: 1-4

9. Monro J, Carini C, Brostoff J. "Migraine is a food allergic disease."Lancet 1984; 2: 719-721

10. Paganelli R, Levinsky R.J., Brostoff J. et al. Immune complexes containing food proteins in normal and atopic subjects after oral challenge and effect of sodium cromoglycate on antigen absorption. Lancet 1979; 1: 1270-1272

11. Doering P. "Drug therapy of food allergies." In: Perkins J. E. (ed) Food Allergies and Adverse Food Reactions. Aspen Publishers, Gaithersburg, Maryland. 1990. pp 69-79

12. Alpay K, Ertas M, Orhan EK, et al. "Diet restriction in migraine, based on IgG against foods: a clinical double-blind, randomised, cross-over trial." Cephalalgia. 2010;30:829-37.

This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician--patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.

 

 

 

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Comments

[Fileto Fish]

02:31 AM on 02/18/2011

White Flower Oil (embrocation.50webs.com) was introduced to me by my mother. During one of my headaches, she gave me this tiny bottle of oil and told me to massage it on my temples and forehead. Amazingly, it worked! Somehow the oil penetrates into the affected area and relieves the pain.

[johnsonamos]

05:28 AM on 01/22/2011

I'm a 50 year-old male who has had migraines, clusters, and tension headaches since I was 5. I've seen every type of Dr., taken every type of drug, & many procedures. I used to have a headache almost everyday. Marijuana offered the best prevention and relief. Talked my Dr. into prescribing marinol (syn THC) 2.5 mg in the morning. Daily use over a 5 year period has reduced the frequency by 90%. It is a crime that more suffers aren't offered this therapy. Headaches are manageable now.
Switched to vegan diet last year for the final piece of the puzzle.

[Denise Conyers]

03:29 PM on 01/21/2011

I have had migraines for over 45 years. I have to say that the drugs are much better today than in the past. I suffered up to 4 debilitating headaches per week. I believe in all of the mentioned food allergies, and have cut them all out of my diet, including milk products, artificial, and chocolate due to a severe chocolate allergy, that causes seizures. I finally met a fantastic neurologist that has me on Topamax, Lamictal, Atenolol, and Imitrex injection (due to severe nausea). I also take the CQ10. This has finally let me plan ahead, and lived a normal life!

[garystartswithg]

03:56 AM on 01/21/2011

I get clusters -- good luck with that one! Does anyone know the hows and whys? I started a series around christmas, part of why I am up at 4 am.
I occassionally get headaches beer and wine that are more like a bad hangover after one drink. I even think having a sugary, carbonated christmas ale might have triggered my current bout of clusters.
I think as a kid I got migraines from processed food -- I remember horrible head pain from things like hot dogs and baked beans in a can.

If you have patients with clusters the few things I have found to help are reduce your caffiene -- everyone praises caffiene because it helps reduce the headache, but I find the following days are better if you tough out a few days and just drink plenty of water instead of coffee or tea. If I chew some (5-6) 5-htp it helps some -- figure that one out. Chewing up melatonin helps some too.

[MsCanuck]

06:49 PM on 01/20/2011

I have been suffering for migraines for about 40 years - now 49 years old. My main triggers are barometric pressure changes, food (chocolate is a HUGE one), wine, stress, lack of sleep, too bright a light, i.e., sunlight reflectling off snow, stress, hormonal changes and in my younger days I could not take birth control days, as you can see, almost anything will set off a migraine.

I've always suffered from migraines, and I get them at least 5 days per week, I am on Topamax twice daily and the migraines still come through. When the pain is too unbearable, I have Fiorinal with codeine or Axert, a triptan - but that doesn't always work.

[MsCanuck]

06:55 PM on 01/20/2011

NOT birth control days - birth control pill!!!

[Cecelia Nunn Haack]

01:46 PM on 01/20/2011

Lima beans and peanut butter trigger my headaches. Even the smell of peanut butter can trigger a migraine. If the Lima beans are very young, tender and fresh I can enjoy a few. Chocolate is another trigger. I've learned to embrace fresh fruits for treats in place of dark chocolate. After a years of avoiding chocolate I don't crave it much any more.

[YankeeCanuck]

01:27 PM on 01/20/2011

My personal red wine anti-headache rule: only drink red wine that is 3 years old or older--it takes 3 years for any sulfites to dissipate from the wine. Young white wine is out for that reason.
It cut down on migraines and I get to drink ( in moderation, natch) red wine.
Sidebar: a much higher rate of neurologists suffer migraine than the rest of the population.

[PaineMan]

01:10 PM on 01/20/2011

My triggers are Ripe Bananas (which I want to revisit as I ate plenty of Banana's as teen, etc) and pressure system changes but I think that I need multiple things to set one off - ie food plus air-pressure = migraine.

[PaineMan]

01:07 PM on 01/20/2011

I've had them for decades and taken different things at different times but currently I find Kush, Cannabis Indica the most effective and fast method.

I went to a neurologist when I was in University decades ago and he prescribed me Fiornal which worked. Years later I moved from Montreal to Toronto and when I went to a clinic I was given 600MG of Ibuprofen. I stopped going to doctors after that.

I started using OTC ASA+Codeine, generic 222's which worked if I managed to determine that this is a migraine about to happen DOSE UP! Hated taking the opiates as they make you dim without realizing so plus a bunch of other side-effects. In that time I did try smoking cannabis but it made it worse so I never tried it again until recently.

I noticed that when I went through periods of smoking pure Indica Kush I got very few migraines versus not smoking. Still wary but after reading many many stories of others who found relief through Indica, I decided to try it and boom it was gone within 5-20 minutes.

Anyone who has had a real migraine will know what I mean when I write that. Almost miraculous.

You absolutely must have a 100% pure Indica and NO sativa. The Sativa's have high THC while the Indica's have low THC and high CBD's which make all the difference. The THC makes migraines far worse while the Indica produces 100% relief with their CBD's.

[ThisICanEat]

08:53 AM on 01/20/2011

I wish I knew more about why the double-blind study eliminated tyramine as a trigger. For 13 years the only way I've been able to actively control my migraines is through diet. My first full migraine was triggered by refried beans, the second by peanut butter. Since then, I've found that aged protein is a reliable trigger--cheese, cured meats, nuts, beans, fermented soy are all out. So maybe migraine theory is moving away from inflammation and towards auto-immunity, but I hope research is not ruling out the gut-brain connection altogether.

[you and oblivion]

01:04 AM on 01/20/2011

I've had migraines since I was about 12 years old. Triggers have been alcohol, light, barametric pressure drop, post-stress letdown, and foods. So it's interesting to read about such a specific tie with allergies. I usually take a xanax and a benadryl and go to bed to try to sleep. I take the benadryl because I've always thought it helped with nausea and sleep, but maybe if my migraines are more allergy-related than I'd realized, that's why it helps.

[blueskiesintexas]

10:27 PM on 01/19/2011

I get an average of 3 to 4 migraines a month. When I was younger - teens through early twenties, I had auras prior to a migraine starting. They went away in my late twenties thru late forties. Now that I am menopausal, they just come on with little to no warning. They usually come over the course of three days. I take Zomig and it usually helps. I feel foggy, but prefer that to debilitating pain. It's so bad that it hurts to lay down, to experience any light, sound, or any sensory stimulus. If the Zomig doesn't work, I take Vicodin and knock myself out. If I didn't have meds, I know that I would consider suicide over enduring days of pain. Triggers: Chemical/strong odors, barometric pressure changes, big box stores (the lighting? VOCs? formaldehydes? cleaners? pesticides? ???). With the exception of parmesan cheese, I haven't noticed any foods as triggers unless already "sensitive" which means I have a twinge-y feeling on my right temple and I can feel "popping" thoughout my body. I avoid all the usual food triggers, but truthfully, I'm not convinced that foods are triggers. To me, they just seem to accelerate the inevitable. I've been diagnosed as gluten-intolerant, but so far that big change in diet hasn't affected my migraines. I think there is a hormone connection, but don't know how to test that. I am very thankful for the meds I have and continue to hope for a cure.

[Danko]

08:59 PM on 01/19/2011

For me it is when the barometric pressure drops dramatically. Whenever a bad thunderstorm rolls in it triggers a horrible headache. For me the only relief is very hot water running over my face and a little cannabis.

[shuffleoff]

08:19 PM on 01/19/2011

When my estrogen level is taking a dive, there is nothing I can do to stop these monsters. Also, for me, it's cheap chocolate (my beloved M&M's) and too much coffee...and sometimes, a full moon. Seriously! For me it's every day chocolate and coffee, regular/decaf...

[Waterphoneman]

07:43 PM on 01/19/2011

My girl friend will get a headache if she does not drink her morning cup of coffee.

[saskatoonie]

12:55 PM on 01/20/2011

A headache is different than a migraine!