Ocular migraines are migraines that affect vision. An ocular migraine usually begins as a blind spot in one’s peripheral vision that increases gradually. Although triggers and causes of migraines vary, certain foods have been revealed to set off or worsen migraines more than others. Health care professionals at Loyola University of Medicine recommend keeping a food diary that tracks food intake and beginning of the migraines, as well as avoiding specific foods.
Is Food Causing Your Migraine?
For a food to be considered a trigger, it must regularly provide you a headache within 12 to 24 hours.
The best way to pinpoint your food sets off is to keep a diary. You can use a notebook or among the many migraine apps out there. Most people have more than one trigger. So, you’ll have the most success if you track long enough to keep in mind on 20 to 30 migraine attacks.
Once you’ve discovered what foods may be causing your migraines, remove them from your diet for a month, one at a time. Track how frequently you have headaches and how bad they are. If there’s no change, that food alone may not be the trigger. If there is a modification, prevent consuming it, especially when your risk of getting a migraine is high. In women, for example, this may be during certain times in their menstruation.
If keeping a diary isn’t really your thing however you’re ready to make modifications to your diet, experts encourage eating food that’s as wholesome, fresh, and unprocessed as possible. That’ll assist you eliminate a lot of the supposed chemical triggers. It’s the closest thing there is to a migraine-prevention diet.
Consistency Is Key
Another benefit to tracking what you eat is that it might reveal that you get a headache when you don’t eat or drink regularly.
“Skipping meals and dehydration are both considerable triggers,” Rosen states. “We know this from what’s called ‘Yom Kippur headache’ or ‘first day of Ramadan headache,’ since both occasions require fasting.”
Experts suggest that everyone eat five or 6 little meals throughout the day. However this is extra important if you have regular migraines. Studies reveal it can reduce headaches. As a bonus offer, it fires up your metabolism and avoids weight gain, another link to migraines.
Foods That Trigger Ocular Migraines
Cured or Aged Dairy Products
Ripened, or aged, cheese needs to be avoided. Cheddar, emmenthaler, Gruyere, Stilton, brie, blue and Camembert cheeses all fall within this category. They contain a chemical called tyramine, which is believed to be a trigger. Red wine, beer and soy sauce likewise include modest amounts of this chemical. Buttermilk, chocolate milk and sour cream are cured and need to be avoided as well.
Chocolate
Chocolate is a recognized trigger for lots of migraine sufferers. According to Dr. J. Gordon Millichap, this is likely due to the thick quantity of phenylethylamine in chocolate. This compound exists not only in chocolate candy, but also in cocoa and non-chocolate items such as yellow cheeses, red wine, citrus fruit and cheesecake.
Additives
Foods that contain big amounts of additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), nitrates and sweetening agents need to be prevented. Chinese food and canned soups have the tendency to contain substantial amounts of MSG, while prepared sausages and bacon contain nitrates. Artifical sweeteners such as aspartame are discovered in different sugar-free foods and beverages, such as diet soft drinks.
Overripe, Dried or Citrus Fruits
Specific fruits can lead to migraines, particularly those that are incredibly sweet. Dried fruits, citrus juices and extremely ripe fruits are among these. Examples consist of figs, raisins, papaya and overripe bananas. Canned fruit saved in sweetened syrup or with added preservatives can also act as offenders. In basic, fresh fruit is best.
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages are a substantial trigger for migraine patients and should be continued the avoidance list. Red wine, beer, gin, bourbon and sherry seem especially harmful. Iytmed.com team strictly recomment to quit alcohol.
