What Foods Trigger Migraines
A number of symptoms go along with migraines, or migraine disease, and are triggered by certain foods and additives. Once the foods that cause your migraine symptoms are identified, you can eliminate them from your diet.
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Identification
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Several foods have long been linked to causing migraines: chocolate, eggs, caffeine, wheat, cheese and alcohol.
Types
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Certain food additives are known to cause migraine symptoms: monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium nitrates found in processed meats, aspartame or Nutrasweet and sulfites from canned vegetables, fruits or tuna.
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Potential
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Some fruits and vegetables also have potential to cause migraines: avocado, apple, banana, cabbage, eggplant, grapes, onion, orange, pineapple, plum, potato and tomato.
Expert Insight
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Histamines found in cheese, beer and wine cause dilated blood vessels, a condition that causes migraines. Diamine oxidase is an enzyme that breaks down histamines, making them less harmful. Because women have a deficiency of the enzyme, they are more susceptible than men to migraines from these foods.
Prevention/Solution
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Vitamin B6 increases the amount of diamine oxidase in the body and thus can be used by women to prevent migraines caused by foods containing histamines.
Considerations
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Foods containing tyramine cause dilation of blood vessels and can trigger migraines. Soy sauce, sauerkraut and salami are considered to have dangerously high levels of the compound. Tyramine is also found in any other foods that have been aged or fermented: cheese, meats, pickles, nuts and olives.
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