I'm excited to announce that I'll be working with Excedrin Migraine again during 2013 as a Blog Ambassador. I hope through this relationship with Excedrin Migraine that I will be able help myself, and all of you, with the seemingly endless quest to find new ideas for managing and eliminating our migraines. I know Excedrin Migraine and their team are excited about their OTC product (now fully back in stores), their new My Triggers app, and the information they have prepared for us in the coming year.
Did you know that March is "National Nutrition Month?" In honor of that fact, our topic for this post is nutrition, and more specifically "food triggers."
First, I'll talk a little about my own triggers, and then registered dietitian Keri Gans will offer valuable
information about potential migraine trigger foods that every sufferer should
know. We also have a fantastic free giveaway to announce... two of my readers will win a great nutrition/healthy eating related package.
I've written about food triggers in the past and have managed to root out a few of my own triggers, including raw onions in any capacity, and wine or milk chocolate if I drink or eat too much of either. MSG, a common trigger for many, is also a no-no for me. It's been awhile since I've carefully tested my food for triggers, so I'm using the Excedrin Migraine My Triggers App to help me keep track of my eating and watch more closely to see if there are foods I'm unaware of that might be causing me issues. I've really been struggling this winter (usually a good time for my migraines with the cold and barometric pressure), and am hoping I can uncover some unknown triggers.
Registered dietitian Keri Gans generously offered up some valuable information about potential migraine trigger foods that every sufferer should know::
- There are many foods and drinks that can trigger migraines, like citrus fruits, nuts, and foods that contain MSG. It’s important for folks to determine which foods are potential migraine triggers for them. By tracking their triggers, people can avoid them in the future, to help prevent or minimizing migraine attacks.
- Tyramine: Tyramine is a substance found naturally in some foods, like aged cheese and red wine. It’s formed from the breakdown of protein as foods age. A good rule of thumb is that the longer a high-protein food ages, the higher the tyramine content. Some common foods that contain tyramine include: aged cheeses, red wine, alcoholic beverages and some processed meats.
- Alcohol: Alcohol increases blood flow to your brain, which can cause migraines and headaches. Red wine, beer, whiskey and champagne are the most common culprits.
- Other potential migraine triggers include: artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame), chocolate, citrus fruits, coffee or tea, tannins, (like red-skinned apples or pears) caffeinated soda, foods that contain MSG, and nuts or nut butters.
- ALSO: there are some good foods for the brain we should try to add into our diet when possible: There is emerging science that suggests foods rich in magnesium, such as kale and broccoli, support healthy brain function. Try swapping kale for romaine in your salad at lunch to increase your magnesium intake.
I hope having a few of those tips from Keri will inspire you to take a quick look at your daily diet and make sure you've assessed whether any of the food you're eating could be a culprit in your migraine struggles. Using the new My Triggers app is a great way to keep track... I love the app and use it every day. You can read my review of the app here.
ENTER TO WIN OUR GIVEAWAY
provided by Excedrin Migraine:Two lucky readers will win this nutrition/healthy eating package.
Veggie Peeler – This innovative fruit and vegetable peeler features a patented, built-in chamber that retains peels during use. Scraps are held in the durable, thermo-plastic chamber, eliminating messy peelings and clogged sinks. The double sided stainless steel blade allows for both right and left handed use.
Harold Import Company Avo Saver – Avo Saver is easy to use and will reduce a cut avocado’s exposure to air, greatly slowing the destructive oxidization process.
Dressing Emulsifier – The Emulstir is an innovative way to mix up and store delicious salad dressings. It’s very easy to use; simply remove the top of the Emulstir, fill with oil, vinegar and herb replace lid and squeeze the handle to blend.
Emson Two Tier Microwave Steamer Food Cooker – This microwave steamer retains more vitamins & nutrients than other means of cooking vegetables, perfect for healthy cooking. It allows you to cook/steam two dishes at once, fits in most microwave ovens and is dishwasher safe.
Disclaimer: I am a paid Excedrin® Migraine blog ambassador. Along with compensation, three giveaways were provided by Novartis Consumer Health, Inc., the makers of Excedrin® Migraine; my journey for a migraine-free experience is my own.



