These products provoke migraines - Nutritionist shared black list of foods

Why migraines occur

"Migraine is a neurological condition, broader than intense, exhausting headaches. This condition affects women more often. It appears during PMS because fatty cells have estrogen receptors. Fluctuations in female sex hormones can release a lot of histamine from mast cells, triggering migraine," the expert explains.

Causes of migraine:

• vascular causes often linked to the serotonin system. To resolve the problem, additional medical history needs to be considered;
• activation of mast cells, mastocytosis, and neuroinflammation;
• neuronal - cortical hyperexcitability and depression;
• nociceptive - pain pathways, trigeminal nerve activation, neuropeptides;
• release of histamine, tryptase, and other inflammatory cytokines - this depends on diet.

Foods that trigger migraines

When a migraine occurs, a trigger complex is activated. If considered from a dietary perspective, it arises due to a reaction to high histamine content. Insufficient DAO enzyme can increase sensitivity, leading to mast cell activation syndrome and chronic inflammation.

High histamine foods include:

• alcohol and excessive coffee;
• fermented products: kombucha, yogurt, kefir, cheese;
• shellfish: oysters, mussels, crabs, lobsters, shrimp;
• processed meats and sausages;
• avocado;
• eggplant;
• dried fruits;
• spinach;
• aged cheeses.

Preventing migraines

Holoborodko advises following these rules to reduce the likelihood of migraines:

• normalize sleep - return to circadian rhythms. Get plenty of daylight in the morning, go for walks, block blue "day" light in the evening;
• meditate - practice yoga, engage in regular physical activity;
• manage stress with non-drug methods;
• supplements that work with fatty cells may be beneficial for preventing migraines.

Earlier, we discussed how to take vitamin D and the risks of overdosing on it.

Also, read about what foods to eat for strong and healthy bones.

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.