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Does Diet Affect Migraines?

Posted by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250, Mar 19, 2025

After many years of vestibular migraines, I found a doctor who suggested a book called, Heal Your Headache: The 1-2-3 Approach. For me, this book was an eye-opener as it discussed the many triggers that can result in migraines. The one trigger that was true for me was diet. Several categories of food and drink were mentioned that can be triggers for some people prone to migraines. The ones that I realized were a problem for me were certain cheeses, caffeine, and chocolate.

This made me wonder if anyone else has found dietary triggers for your headaches. If you have found some of the dietary triggers, will you share them?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Headache & Migraine Support Group.

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Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | 2 days ago
In reply to @ashle "Same reactions to these foods plus MsG and nitrates." + (show)
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Same reactions to these foods plus MsG and nitrates.

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Hello @ashle and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see that this is your first post in the Headache/Migraine support group. Share, as you are comfortable, how you are managing your migraines. Are there any other factors that trigger your headaches? Have you found any medications helpful?

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tbgreif625 | @tbgreif625 | 3 days ago

For me salt is a big trigger. I avoid processed foods and any added salt when cooking or eating out.

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ashle | @ashle | 4 days ago

Same reactions to these foods plus MsG and nitrates.

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awesomemomx2 | @awesomemomx2 | Jun 6 10:33am
In reply to @californiazebra "Caffeine, chocolate and cheese are also triggers for my afib. I discovered the reason cheese is..." + (show)
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Caffeine, chocolate and cheese are also triggers for my afib. I discovered the reason cheese is a trigger is the tyramine in it. Chocolate has both caffeine and tyramine. You might want to look up foods with tyramine. It’s a long list and I’ve identified several foods on it that are triggers for my afib. The tyramine lists online were actually created for migraine sufferers. They vary a bit so check more than one and vet the source.

Soy sauce is also a big trigger for me on the tyramine list. That eliminates a lot of foods. A lot of Asian foods contain soy sauce but I recently learned the hard way that many Mexican meat marinades contain soy sauce. Surprise!

Tyramine is an amino acid and won’t be on food labels so you need to memorize the tyramine food list.

Aged foods, cured and processed meats, fermented foods/drinks, nuts and seeds, overripe fruit, aging leftovers, and more. Best of luck in finding your food triggers.

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@californiazebra Tyramine is a huge trigger for me also along with nitrates. Gluten too. Diet has a big impact for me.

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Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jun 6 6:25am
In reply to @theirishfolk "Well, I am in the cluster headache (eCH) group and have read about the red wine..." + (show)
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Well, I am in the cluster headache (eCH) group and have read about the red wine effect. What I haven't read about is beer. And not a Coors light, but a stout, hearty Porter or ale. Anyone tried excluding this from the "migraine diet?"

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Hello @theirishfolk and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You are asking a good question. Have you noticed a correlation between the type of ale you mentioned in your post and migraines? Keeping track of food, drinks, and activities that you have had prior to a migraine is the best way to know what your personal triggers might be. Here is an article from WebMD regarding migraine triggers and alcohol.
https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/migraine-triggers-alcohol.
As I read this article, it appears that dark alcoholic drinks might be a trigger, but I would encourage you to read the article for yourself.

How long have migraines been a problem for you?

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theirishfolk | @theirishfolk | Jun 6 3:54am

Well, I am in the cluster headache (eCH) group and have read about the red wine effect. What I haven't read about is beer. And not a Coors light, but a stout, hearty Porter or ale. Anyone tried excluding this from the "migraine diet?"

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goatgirl28 | @goatgirl28 | Jun 5 5:36pm
In reply to @lisalucier "Tagging a few members who've mentioned diet and migraine who may have comments on this potential..." + (show)
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Tagging a few members who've mentioned diet and migraine who may have comments on this potential connection, @hopeful33250 @mcgrathcreative2 @mikaylar @kate2002 @jdiakiw @taterjoy @kathyb52 @richardfrancine @rwinney.

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@hopeful33250 Diet can certainly be a trigger for migraines. Red wine, aged cheese and chocolate. For me, I can eat 1 piece of chocolate if it is over 70% cocoa.

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84forward | @84forward | Jun 4 5:10am

PS. Additional triggers: flashing lights ( Las Vegas, police cars, fire trucks), loud noises — esp if prolonged ,(no more concerts or pep rallies). Carry ear plugs in my purse. Good luck.

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84forward | @84forward | Jun 4 5:06am

Foods are frequently triggers. I underwent a 3 day Trigger Test. Initial fasting for 24 hrs. Then tried various foods which are common triggers. Life changing.
Thank the Lord, chocolate was not a trigger!!!!!
Sourdough bread, champagne, red wine. Nitrates (any kind— good by pizza.salami, luncheon meat bacon etc). Milk and milk products. Use plant based milk instead.
My grocery shopping has done a 189. Shop the outer walls. Avoid the center. Read the labels — watch for nitrates, high sodium or figh corn syrup sweeteners. Would also add carbonated and caffeine laden soft drinks. Especially Diet Coke.
Small or large sacrifices will free you. No more migraines!

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Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Mar 29, 2025
In reply to @californiazebra "Caffeine, chocolate and cheese are also triggers for my afib. I discovered the reason cheese is..." + (show)
Profile picture for Zebra @californiazebra

Caffeine, chocolate and cheese are also triggers for my afib. I discovered the reason cheese is a trigger is the tyramine in it. Chocolate has both caffeine and tyramine. You might want to look up foods with tyramine. It’s a long list and I’ve identified several foods on it that are triggers for my afib. The tyramine lists online were actually created for migraine sufferers. They vary a bit so check more than one and vet the source.

Soy sauce is also a big trigger for me on the tyramine list. That eliminates a lot of foods. A lot of Asian foods contain soy sauce but I recently learned the hard way that many Mexican meat marinades contain soy sauce. Surprise!

Tyramine is an amino acid and won’t be on food labels so you need to memorize the tyramine food list.

Aged foods, cured and processed meats, fermented foods/drinks, nuts and seeds, overripe fruit, aging leftovers, and more. Best of luck in finding your food triggers.

Jump to this post

Hello @californiazebra,

I appreciate the information on tyramine. I just found a list on WebMD with a listing of foods with high levels of tyramine. Here is a link to that list,
https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-tyramine
Has anyone else found these foods to trigger migraines?

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