Are Your Meals Giving You a Headache?

February 25, 2008

Anyone who suffers from migraine headaches knows they can ruin a whole day. Your food choices may be able to help prevent migraines.

While migraines’ cause is still something of a mystery, doctors say everything from changing hormone levels to poor sleeping habits to low blood sugar can trigger them.

To help control migraines related to food, keep a diary of what you eat each day. This can help discover what might be triggering the migraines. Common triggers are red wine and aged cheese.

Eat small, frequent meals that contain magnesium, which can reduce migraines. Foods that are rich in magnesium include nuts, fish, legumes, bran flakes and dark green leafy vegetables.

If you think your migraines may be food-related, contact a registered dietitian for help.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team