Does anyone have tips on how to start tracking food triggers?
I've been thinking about trying to track my food triggers but it feels daunting! Does anyone have advice on where to begin if I have no idea what my food triggers might be? I've identified a few beverage triggers and just avoid them outright but I'm beginning to think that my diet is playing a role as well. Any help would be appreciated!
Hi Susanmees. Try to assess the food you co sume that could have a direct impact on your liver/gall. The gall has a strong role in emolliating animal fats. Also spiced food mighr be a trigger as well. If you always feel nausea after a big chunk of garlic, you should try to reduce the amount of fatty/spiced foods from your diet.
Hi, Susan! Good luck with your search. Keeping a record of anything negative is a hard chore. You just have to have the attitude of "I'll get you, you little migraine demons!" I'm an older guy, so I like to keep records like that on paper. If I attempt that electronically, either I'll accidentally delete it or send it to an archive, meaning "God only knows where it went & he's not telling!" But, my paper search was successful! While my primary trigger is weather changes, my food triggers turned out to be coconut oil & palm oil. That info turned me into a voracious label reader at the grocery store. So, if I can do it, you can do it even better! And if you would, please keep us posted. We care!
Some 20+ years ago, my neurologist had me keep a food diary. I had to write down everything I put in my mouth...water, a breath mint, gum, M&M's, everything.
In six-weeks, I learned that some things I liked (and loved) to eat were triggers for a migraine. Milk chocolate, hoop cheese, flavored potato chips, salad dressings, soft drinks, etc..
I had to start reading labels on everything and to eliminate everything with MSG. I also had to check the sodium and gluten content and anything with dye as well.
No more milk chocolate (I've always liked dark chocolate more), hoop cheese, doritos or any kind of flavored potato chips and even store bought dip, as well as any dry mixes and spices.
My ex-husband used to drink a lot of Gatorade and Mountain Dew. I remember he got a diet Mountain Dew once & didn't realize it until he got home so he put it in the fridge for me. If I eat or drink something that's gonna give me a headache, I know it within about 20 minutes or so. He poured that Mountain Dew down the drain after we got home from the emergency room one night.
I'm in my 50's so when Lay's came out with their natural brand of chips...I was like a little kid in a candy store!! Then the candy companies started making stuff with dark chocolate so, I was able to eat Reese's, M&M's and a Milky Way again.
With so many new companies and new things on the shelves these days, I stil read labels on things I buy. Sometimes it won't have MSG or anything else I know I need to avoid but it might trigger a migraine. I also know that everybody's different and some things that trigger mine don't necessarily trigger somebody else's.thanks so much for sharing your experience with finding food triggers for your migraine. It sounds like an intense process the neurologist had you to through tracking food for six week, but also worth it!
Thank goodness companies are coming out with new items with updated ingredients - like the Lay's natural brands of chips and traditional candy bars made with dark chocolate! How great to be able to enjoy some of these things without the fear of trigger an attack. Wishing you continued success and relief. -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member)
