Research has stated that certain foods can trigger a migraine attack. But, the exact cause of migraine is still unknown. However, certain foods can bring brief changes in your brain, which may trigger the symptoms of migraine. We also need to understand that not every migraine is tied to a trigger. However, to practice the best ways to prevent it, we must learn about the probable food triggers and avoid them completely. 

This article is an effort to make you understand migraine and the dietary habits one should follow.

1. Coffee
The world’s most popular beverage is coffee; we do not need to re-introduce the same to you. The quantity of caffeine found in coffee is highest, though it is also found in tea, soda, and energy drinks. The relation between caffeine and headache or migraine is complex. Among certain people, consumption of a high amount of caffeine seems to trigger the symptoms of migraines.

On the other, if we combine caffeine with aspirin and Tylenol, it becomes an effective treatment for migraine or headache-like symptoms. If you are a coffee lover and need a cup of hot coffee daily, skipping it may cause withdrawal headaches or other symptoms. Some of the popularly known withdrawal symptoms include headache, nausea, low mood, and poor concentration.

2. Aged cheese
Consumption of aged cheese also causes migraines in some people. According to various researches, high tyramine content found in aged cheese works as a migraine trigger. Tyramine is the key compound that forms when bacteria break down the amino acid tyrosine during the aging process of cheese. The richest source of Tyramine is aged cheese, though it is found in other food and beverages such as wine, yeast extract, chocolate, and processed meat products.

3. Alcoholic beverages
Understanding the effect of alcohol consumption is important. Alcoholic beverages may trigger a migraine within few hours of consumption in few people. Red wine is more deadly for people with migraines, and it is much more likely to trigger a migraine than other alcoholic beverages, especially among women. It is believed that histamine found in red wine has adverse effects. In addition to red wine, histamine is also found in processed meat, some fish, cheese, and fermented foods. It is noted that dietary histamine intolerance is a recognized health disorder. In addition to headaches, histamine intolerance also leads to various other symptoms such as flushing, wheezing, sneezing, skin itching, skin rashes, and fatigue.

4. Processed meat
Consumption of processed meat products also leads to migraine-like symptoms in some people. It is believed that the presence of nitrites such as potassium nitrite and sodium nitrite in the preservatives of processed meat is responsible for migraine triggers.

In all, these are four known triggers of migraine. Hence, one must maintain a robust dietary habit. For migraine prevention, you need to identify your trigger food and eliminate it from your diet as much as possible. In addition, maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat a balanced diet, avoid stress and get good sleep.