Food does not necessarily contribute or trigger a migraine in all individuals, but there are particular foods that may trigger attacks in certain people only on occasions.
Learn to keep a journal of what you eat to document what causes or triggers your migraine. By keeping a journal of what you have eaten before a migraine attack, you will learn whether the overeating or reduction of certain food improves your migraine condition.
A report from the University of California Health Services showed that there are certain food items that are not known to be migraine triggers and some that are possible migraine triggers. For example, food item like beverages (fruit juice, club soda, noncola soda (gingerale, 7-Up), decaffeinated coffee, herbal tea, soy sauce and rice milk) are not known triggers of migraine but possible migraine triggers are chocolate and cocoa. Also, alcoholic beverages especially red wine, beer and sherry as well as caffeine.
Chocolate as Trigger of Migraine
Chocolate, cocoa and non-decaffeinated coffee are triggers for sure. I know this for a fact because these are the main triggers of my migraine. While I love eating chocolate and love drinking coffee or cocoa, I tried to avoid them because of the pain that it causes when I am attacked with a migraine headache.
I did a research as to why chocolate can trigger a migraine headache and found out that there are two ingredients in chocolates: caffeine and phenylethylamine. These substances can constrict blood vessels and constriction causes head pain. No wonder why I always get a migraine headache every time I eat chocolate.
Some people get headache when they eat chocolate but not when they drink beverages. I get when I do both. The reason is that I am sensitive to both.
So, that brought me to dig deeper into what composes caffeine and phenylethylamine.
What is Caffeine?
Caffeine is a stimulat present in drinks such as coffee, tea, colas and other soft drinks. Being a stimulant, caffeine works on the central nervous system. It can constrict blood vessels or increase blood pressure.
What is Phenylethylamine?
Phenylethylamine is an endogenous neuroamine which increases attention and activity and has been shown to relieve depression. Low levels of phenylethylamine in the body may result in depression.
I love eating chocolate and my research frustrates me because it showed clearly that eating to much or too little will not do anything good to minimize, if not stop, my migraine. It only means one thing and that is to completely stop eating chocolate.
