Dietary Habits and Migraines

There are several different foods, beverages, and additives that are known to trigger migraines. But what you may not know is that your daily routine and dietary habits maybe a migraine trigger.

Skipping meals, fasting and dieting can cause headaches and trigger migraines.

I always recommend to my patients that they establish a strict daily routine and always eat meals around the same time each day. You should not only be keeping a food diary but also a headache diary to monitor what day and time they occur.

Check out the topic on specific food triggers for an in depth look at some food types that are notorious for causing headaches and triggering migraines.

Migraine Triggers

“’Triggers” are specific factors that may increase your risk of having a migraine attack. The migraine sufferer has inherited a sensitive nervous system that under certain circumstances can lead to migraine.

Triggers do not ‘cause’ migraine. Instead, they are thought to activate processes that cause migraine in people who are prone to the condition. A certain trigger will not induce a migraine in every person; and, in a single migraine sufferer, a trigger may not cause a migraine every time. By keeping a headache diary, you will be able to identify some triggers for your particular headaches. Check back on this website for a “Migraine Resources: page where we will post a form you can use for a headache diary.

Once you have identified triggers, it will be easier for you to avoid them and reduce your chances of having a migraine attack.” —American Council for Headache Education

The following is a list of the main categories of Migraine Triggers. Check the blog topics that discuss each main category in detail.

Migraine Trigger Categories

-Dietary

-Sleep

-Hormonal

-Stress

-Physical

-Environmental