Migraine and diet
Migraine is multidimensional and complicated condition stemming from both genetic and environmental factors. Efforts have been made to find efficient and safe prevention and treatment strategies, however the available medications or protocols not related to drugs are still an incomplete solution. Therefore, migraine is still difficult to manage. Researchers have tried to elaborate lifestyle change strategies to prevent and treat headache, inlc. to adjust diet as a therapy for headache, including migraine .
The idea of specific migraine diets evolved along with other diets. Many of them are not targeting migraine-triggering mechanisms and are not evidence-based. In order to achieve the optimum result, it could be worthwhile to try diets with proven efficiency.
Referring to the results of a study we recommend consuming or to avoiding the following products for migraine prevention:
Products to be avoided
Grains:
- Wheat
- Rye
- Barley
- Corn
Pulses:
- Soybeans
- Peas
- Peanuts
Fruit:
- Citrus fruits (all)
- Bananas
- Apples
Vegetables:
- Nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants, bell peppers, potatoes)
- Allium genus (onions, garlic)
- Sweet potato,
- Celery
Other:
- Animal products (all)
- Nuts and seeds (all)
- Chocolate
- Sugar
- Coffee
- Tea
- Alcohol
Products to be consumed
Grains:
- Oats
- Rice
- Quinoa
- Buckwheat
- Sorghum
- Millet
- Teff
Pulses:
- Lentils
Fruit:
- Pears
- Apricots
- Blueberries
- Plums
Vegetables:
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Broccoli, cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Mustard, spinach, leafy greens
- Zucchini, pumpkin
Condiments:
- Olive oil
- Vanilla extract
- Maple syrup
- Brown rice syrup
- Salt