Dietary Tips to Prevent Migraines
Millions of individuals around the world experience the pain from a migraine attack. Although the role of diet in managing migraines is controversial, there are multiple studies, which suggest that there are a few foods, which trigger a migraine attack. Simultaneously, there are foods, which reduce the symptoms of this condition. Here, we discuss with you some dietary tips to prevent migraines.
Eat Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
On the whole, eating a nutritious diet is quintessential for all of us. However, the consumption of a lot of processed foods does trigger migraines. To ensure positive dietary changes, it is important to have plenty of fruits and vegetables. The ideal diet would be much like the principled Mediterranean diet.
Choose Healthy Foods
It is best to cook your meals. When you prepare a meal from scratch, it is on you to control what food items would be in every diet. So, try to eat simple ingredients and fresh fruits. Though you don’t have to remove all the items mentioned above, you could try finding out which among these are migraine triggers for you. You can follow an elimination diet to identify triggers. Eliminate certain triggers from your diet, such as
- Processed meats
- Aged cheese, which is blue cheese
- Red wine that contains tyramine
- Chocolate that has beta-phenylethylamine
- Artificial sweeteners like sucralose and aspartame
Know Which Foods Trigger Migraines
Of course, a nutritious and a healthy diet is essential, but there are a few healthy foods that could trigger migraines, such as
- Beans
- Peanuts
- Citrus fruits
- Tree nuts
- Cultured dairy items
Hence, you have to pay closer attention to what goes into your mouth. Try to maintain a journal and write down everything you are eating. A few people with migraines suffer from celiac disease. If that’s the case, you have to cut gluten from your diet, as it might trigger a migraine attack. However, you don’t need to go on eliminating every food group containing this protein. Also, whenever you make any significant dietary changes, consulting an expert is necessary.
Add Omega-3s to Your Diet
Studies suggest that the addition of anti-inflammatory foods reduces the chance of migraine attacks. Hence, you should include omega-3-rich foods to your diet as they can lower the inflammation. On the other hand, you should restrict the consumption of omega-6-rich foods in your diet as they only increase the inflammation. Thus, you have to maintain a ratio between the two fatty acids. It is an important dietary tip to prevent migraines Some omega-3-rich foods include flaxseed, walnuts, and olive oil. On the other hand, omega-6 is found in corn oil and vegetable oil. Moreover, switching to a diet that is low-fat can reduce the risk of migraines.
These dietary tips will not only help you prevent migraines but also live a healthy life in general.