Migraine Friendly Ingredients: Avoiding Triggers

By Nicole Wednesday, January 17, 2007

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Possibly one of the best things that anyone with migraines can do is befriend their local butcher or knowledgeable meat counter clerk. Prepared sausages, meats and fish can contain preservatives that can wreak havoc on your head. This can be avoided by getting freshly made sausages, and fresh cuts of beef, pork and chicken. It also means that you get fresher cuts of meats, and can always get preservative free.

In the end, I do a lot of label reading. More than I care to admit. It does look a little funny, me standing in an aisle, reading 5 different jars of whatever, but the headache free time is worth it!

Have you found any hidden Migraine triggers in foods? Share your tips by leaving a comment below, or posting it on the Migraine Message Boards.

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Comments (9) |

Kerrie

1/19/07 12:11am

Thanks for the great information. I avoid MSG too, but my major food trigger is legumes (peanut butter, beans, lentils, peas...). It took a long time to find that out, but I was so grateful when I finally did. I have no idea how much the Swanson broth is, but I found a six-pack of Pacific Natural Foods organic chicken broth at Costco for a great price (about $10 I think). I spend so much money on MSG- and additive-free food that I'm always thankful for a deal!

Amie

1/19/07 9:57am

Label reading: if only more people would stand around in the aisles reading labels - the food at the grocery store is full of so many things that one might hardly consider proper food, headaches not-withstanding. Rest assured if I ever saw you reading labels in the store, I'd probably offer to help.

Anne

1/23/07 11:57am

Hi Food migraineurs! Many of my migraines are triggered by citric acid. Not the stuff in lemons and oranges, but the chemical (E330) that is often used to adjust pH in prepared food (jam, sauces, broths, bakery etc.). I figure that it contains phenylethylamine, which is also abundant in chocolate, wine and many types of beer, and aspartame (Nutrasweet). So I also read labels - loads of them. Even on products I think I know, for they change their ingreditents, from time to time. However, I do not react to tyramine, mainly found in mature cheese, smoked meat and fish, MSG and soy products. It just goes to show that we may have different types of food migraine. There is a fine review on http://www.migraeniker.dk/english/documents/foedevaremigraene.htm (in English). The recommendation is to eat fresh foods and generally avoid prepared types. Not easy these days, but certainly possible. Hope somebody out there can use this to avoid a few attacks. Anne

Robert

9/24/07 11:44am

I suffered from migraines caused by Citric Acid for around a year before identifying the cause. Note that Citric Acid and E330 are one and the same there is no difference. So yes very definately the stuff in lemons and oranges.

I first developed the allergy when at University, when I think I used to drink just a bit too much cheap Orange Juice. Now I avoid Citric Acid as much as possible, with probably one notable acception...

I believe (i.e. never told this by a Doctor) that the cause of my migraines is down to having difficulty digesting Citric Acid, and my preferred medication if I feel one coming on is an Anti-Emetic/Prokinetic Metoclopramide (effective against vomiting and nausea, and augments the speed of intestinal transit), and I don't tend to take any pain medication at all.

One strange thing is that I cannot normally tolerate tomatoes which are a citrus fruit, however if they have been chopped and cooked then they are OK in moderation. Since cooking is effectively helping along with the digestion, this kind of makes sense to me. So a Pizza for example is fine, however not if it has slices of tomatoe on it. A few sun-dried tomatoes are also OK.

If you think you may be allergic to Citric Acid then be aware it is found in more foods than you may think..

Most Crisps except maybe Ready Salted, Cheese and Onion and some newer flavours like Lamb and Mint.

Most fizzy drinks, except Full Fat Coke, Dr Pepper, Apple Tango.

Most Jams, except some of the most expensive which don't use lemon juice for Pectin.

Things that have a glace on them like Pastries, or Glace Cherries No loss there!).

Most sweets with the exception of Chocolate, and mints.

Don't forget always check the label, even if you have had something before. Manufacturers do change the ingredients.

I haven't found many references to Citric Acid being a trigger for Migraines on the Internet so I hope my experiences could be useful to some one.

tripletimestep

10/16/08 1:33pm

hi - thanks for that info. my son 16 is a migraine sufferer. he's been bad recently and quite innocently said well I've been drinking a lot of Oasis drink recently. checking the label yep sure enough citric acid. He knows to avoid oranges, orange juice but hadn't made the connection cos he thought the flavour was apple and blackcurrant!

he also has chocolate as a trigger.

we find eating plenty of starchy food helps and not missing meals.

Robert

10/17/08 7:35am

Take a look at this link for a big list of things to avoid, although Personally I have never had a problem with Pineapple or Berries they also contain citric acid.

http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~vclarke/citric_foods.html#natural

Laura

4/10/09 12:44am

It also took me awhile and lots of testing but I found that citric acid definitely triggers my migraines. Unfortunately just about every beverage except water has citric acid. The flavored waters do have it added! I can drink one glass (about 12 oz) of a beverage with citric acid with no consequences. But if I drink a second glass, the migraine comes in a couple of hours. I was glad to find this web site because I don't think my doctor believed me!

hilary

12/13/07 7:13am

Citric acid gives me migraine too, but not tomatoes-

dee day

9/ 3/08 5:25pm

there are over 40 "terms" for MSG which allow MSG to be hidden even in health food stores....up to 80%...GO TO www.truthinlabeling.com to learn all about the most dangerous MSG

Migraine Friendly Ingredients: Avoiding Triggers

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