What are typical migraine food triggers?
The usual suspects include chocolate, processed meats, aged cheese, alcohol, pickled and marinated foods, citrus fruits, bananas, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Substances in these particular foods trigger the painful headaches. For instance, chocolate contains vasoactive amines, which can bring on a headache by dilating blood vessels. Processed meats contain additives called nitrates that also cause blood vessels to swell. Food triggers are tricky because they may only cause problems 10 to 20 percent of the time that you eat them. Keep a migraine journal that records your triggers (food and otherwise) and be patient when it comes to uncovering the culprit.
