Which diet is best for migraine?
Much of the conversation around food and migraine is about avoiding trigger foods.
I’m sure you have seen the lists before…chocolate, alcohol, cheese, citrus, wheat, dairy, and so on.
While not chowing down on these foods can be a good start to prevent a migraine attack, it doesn’t look at the potential of food as medicine.
The concept of food as medicine – particularly when combined with individualised medicine – looks at the possibility of a tailored or special diet to promote health or reduce illness. In addition to the overall diet, you can look at foods with medicinal properties from nutrients and plant compounds.
In my experience as a naturopath with a special interest in migraine (as well as being a migraineur myself), there is no single diet which works best for all people with migraine. But there sure are a few key nutritional programs with which my clients have had great success.
Generally, through taking an extensive case history and sometimes testing, I work with the client to find the right diet the first time.
The most successful diets, I’ve found, include:
A general anti-inflammatory diet
Personalised nutrition such as the Metabolic Balance® program
Keto or low carbohydrate / healthy fat diets
The low histamine and/or low tyramine diet
Gluten-free or dairy-free diets
Additionally, we look at adding medicinal foods into your diet – such as ginger for its potent anti-inflammatory properties.
Sometimes, we also consider food intolerance testing to find out if there are any foods particular to you which are driving inflammation in your body.
The best thing about these programs, is that they increase your tolerance to foods which previously may have been a trigger for you. So, providing you follow your diet most of the time, then you can occasionally have the glass of champagne or piece of chocolate without causing a migraine attack.
If you are keen to explore how diet may reduce the number of migraine attacks for you in the future (and hey, who doesn’t want that?!) then feel free to reach out to me for a chat to see how I can help.
Keep on smiling migraine warriors x