Blog

If you’ve ever had a migraine headache, you know you don’t ever want to have another. There are a few things that you can do to reduce the frequency of migraines you have, or prevent them altogether.

Food & Beverage Choices

Some of the foods we eat seem to trigger a migraine more that other foods do. If you want to keep migraines at bay, avoid any foods with nitrates.

Nitrates are an additive put into some foods to preserve them. But many people suffer migraines after consuming nitrate-bearing foods like bacon, ham, lunch meats, sausage and salami.

It also helps to be aware of the MSG in your food as well. MSG is also a preservative added to keep food looking fresh and is frequently used in Chinese food preparation. But many who have eliminated MSG from their diets have also eliminated their migraines.

Alcohol, especially red wine and beer, are a cause of migraines for some people. Some also report coffee or black tea as a trigger. Eliminating those beverages from their diet has proven to be a great reliever for some people.

Some other ingestibles that may set off a migraine are beans, caffeine, aspartame sweetener, dairy foods and chocolate. Some herbal supplements may make a headache worse, too.

The bottom line is this: if you consume a food and get a migraine, avoid eating that food.

Behaviors That May Cause a Migraine

Some people are very sensitive to scents. Fumes such as perfume, nail polish, cleaning products and gasoline may trigger a migraine, so avoid these whenever possible.

Regularity is also important. Eating regular meals is not only better for your body but might prevent a migraine.

Avoiding bright lights and noise may also keep you from getting a migraine. That’s the more common trigger — we often see the scene of the sufferer crawling under the covers with the blinds closed in commercials and comical imagery, but it’s based on truth.

Last but not least, find some ways to relieve stress in your life to minimize your chances of getting a migraine headache. Stress has been reported to be a leading cause of migraines. (And it’s just good advice in general — reduced stress leads to reduced health issues in many other cases besides migraines.)

Home Care Pharmacy, your local Simi Valley compounding pharmacy, provides advice on migraines and other medical issues. Contact us for assistance.