I don’t need to tell you, I’m sure, that when you have a migraine, food can either help or hurt. There are some nutritional aspects of foods that will help you suffer less when you choose wisely.
When you are going round the grocery store, labels can make it quite confusing. Then when you go out to a restaurant, it can be really difficult to pick the right foods that won’t trigger a migraine. You have to ask yourself all kinds of questions like “is there MSG hidden in this food,” or “what kind of preservatives are in the appetizer that might trigger a migraine.” There are so many things migraine sufferers have to take into consideration.
Of course, triggers are very personal to each of us. Unfortunately, the list of “bad’ foods can be very long. Avoiding trigger foods is tantamount to our well-being. This is one of the reasons I eat whole foods–foods from their most natural state. I learned a long time ago that those preservatives were a definite trigger for me.
Here are some tips to help you navigate your eating habits:
Restaurant Eating
When you go out to eat, it should be an enjoyable experience. So, learn to navigate a menu like a pro. All it takes is one lousy food trigger hiding in your meal to completely ruin your experience. You can avoid the usual suspects and eat with confidence. Check out this blog from nutritionist, Joy Bauer, where she shares her secrets for navigating a menu without fear of triggering a migraine.
Eat Magnesium-Rich Foods
I am a big proponent of magnesium-rich foods for building up your defenses against migraines. Magnesium is an awesome mineral, but research shows that almost half of migraine sufferers are deficient in it. While many of us take supplements, natural is always your best option. So you should intentionally eat magnesium-rich foods like brown rice, avocado, walnuts, beans, and garlic.
Skipping Meals
Skipping meals is a big no-no when it comes to migraines. Some healthcare providers even say that eating often is even more important than eating the right foods for migraines (although I always try to eat the right foods too). Eating irregularly or skipping meals causes a drastic dip in blood sugar and that can definitely trigger a migraine. As you well know, when the migraine hits it becomes even more difficult to eat. That makes it even more important for us to eat regularly and not skip meals.
Hydration
Drinking plenty of water is essential for migraine prevention. So please take extra care to make sure you don’t become dehydrated. Dehydration spells disaster for migraine sufferers. It can be hard to keep up your water consumption as sometimes plain water gets boring. The good news is that there are way to “spice up” your water and make it more enjoyable to drink. Check out my blog.
Reading Labels
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a common migraine trigger and it’s been know to hide in almost everything. Many processed foods contain MSG, and sometimes it’s hiding under a different name. Check out this blog on the “Hidden Sources of MSG or Monosodium Glutamate.”
Life is way too short to spend your time and energy avoiding good food if you don’t have to. Food and drink are some of the greatest pleasures in life, and migraine sufferers already have to avoid enough pleasures in life. Life is so much easier when we learn what our food triggers are so that you can make sure that the food you eat and the beverages you drink are helping and not hurting you.
Not sure which food triggers affect you? Download my FREE Migraine Diary to gain important insights and get on track to avoid you food triggers.
I would love to know if your diet affects your migraines. Have you found relief by altering it? Comment below to let me know.
It always helps to know you are not alone and someone out there understands. I want you to know that I do understand and I do know how it feels. I would love to support you, so If you want to chat, schedule your free breakthrough strategy session with me >>HERE<<.