Diet | National Headache Foundation

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

Complexity of MSG as a Trigger: While MSG has been implicated as a migraine trigger, the evidence is mixed and somewhat inconclusive. Studies conducted with high doses of MSG have shown varied results in triggering headaches, making it challenging to…

Healthy Weight, Sugar & Migraine or Did my Doctor Just Talk About Weight in My Headache Appointment?

August 2022, Episode 130: There seems to be a lot of talk lately about doctors who brought up weight within conversations about migraine treatment. This might come across as inappropriate and insensitive when we are asking for help with our…

Alcohol and Headache

Beverages such as liquor, wine, and beer, contain a chemical called ethanol. There are a number of ways that ethanol may be triggering migraine episodes. First, ethanol is a direct vasodilator; in some individuals, vasodilation or the dilatation of blood vessels…

Migraine, Gut Health, and Probiotic Nutrition

In recent years, a new, heightened emphasis on the importance of “gut microbes” and “probiotics” has entered the public’s collective health consciousness. In addition to the rise of fermented, probiotic-friendly foods/drinks like kimchi, kefir, and kombucha, significant advancements in the…

Diet for People with Headache Disorders

The first step in the nutritional management of diet-triggered headaches is eating a well-balanced diet. It is especially important to eat three meals a day with a snack at night or 6 small meals spread through out the day. You…

Migraine Attacks and Diet Triggers

Jill Dehlin—RN, board member, National Headache Foundation, Chicago—identifies potential dietary triggers that induce a migraine attack for her, including monosodium glutamate (MSG), aspartame and alcohol, especially red wine. “When I was newly diagnosed with chronic migraine disease, I was cognizant…

FB Live – Fasting and Headache During the Holidays

Fasting and Headache with Mary Franklin, Executive Director of the National Headache Foundation.

The Fasting Headache

As the Jewish high holidays approach, one becomes aware that some religious and traditional practices may pose a problem for people living with migraine disease and headache disorders. Fasting is often reported by patients and cited in medical textbooks as…

Common Headache and Migraine Triggers

Figuring out exactly what triggers symptoms is one of the ongoing struggles of migraine and headache patients. While no two patients experience migraine the same, there are some general areas of consideration when narrowing down the list. Specific Foods There…

Educate Yourself: Avoid Rebound Headache

Medication overuse headache is a serious condition that is named after its cause. People get it from using too much medicine for their headaches. Over time, the overused medicine stops relieving their regular headaches and starts causing a new type…

Caffeine: A Little Bit Goes a Long Way

Caffeine is known to have vasoconstrictive properties, which means that it narrows the blood vessels and restricts the blood flow. This is useful in relieving headache pain, since blood vessels tend to enlarge before the beginning of some headache pain,…

Products that Contain Caffeine

The average American consumes about 227 mg of caffeine daily. Tea and soft drinks are the main sources of caffeine for the majority of children and young adults. As we get older, coffee becomes the primary source of caffeine in…

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