Following a migraine diet is essential for recognizing migraine triggers and preventing migraine headaches. As more people are adopting gluten-free dieting a means of relieving chronic pain symptoms, you might be wondering what all the hoopla is about, and if you should consider dropping gluten from your migraine diet. Here are some basic facts to consider before chucking your daily bread out the window.
What is gluten?
Gluten is a protein that occurs naturally in grains like barley, wheat, and rye. Most baked goods contain gluten, but it’s also sometimes a hidden ingredient or cross-contamination in many packaged snacks, condiments, and mixes.
Symptoms of gluten intolerance
Below are some common symptoms of gluten intolerance. Some of them are very similar to migraine symptoms. Do you suffer from any of these?
Chronic headache- Moodiness
- Irritability
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Flatulence
- Bloating
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Weight loss
- Sore joints
- Painful tingling and numbness
- Eczema
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Do you have celiac?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes headaches, chronic pain, and fatigue, in addition to severe damage to the digestive system. Today, a simple blood test can diagnose celiac disease by detecting the presence of a gluten-reactive antibody.
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity
Not being diagnosed with celiac disease does not rule out the possibility of gluten sensitivity. Because the symptoms of gluten intolerance are so similar to those of migraines (headache, depression, stomach problems), they can easily slip past the radar when they occur at the same time as chronic migraines.
It could be the yeast.
Before making gluten a banned substance in your migraine diet, it’s important to recognize that yeast might be a culprit in causing your headaches. Many yeasted foodstuffs like breads, yeasted cakes, and beer sometimes trigger migraines, while non-yeasted gluten-containing foods may cause no reaction whatsoever.
Keep a migraine diary.
Still think that gluten is causing your migraines? The best way to be certain is to keep a migraine diary. Log in important info like what foods you ate, when you ate them, and what your mood was at the time. Keep track of your headaches, including the time they occur, how long they last, and which medications you used to treat them.
How to Make a Migraine Headache Diary
After a few months, your migraine diary can become a valuable tool for recognizing migraine triggers, including food triggers, and weeding them out of your life.
Control your migraine triggers
In addition to using a migraine diet to manage headaches, consider these other tips:
- Exercise
- Drink water
- Eat at regular intervals
- Sleep 8 hours at nighttime, only
- Treat sinus congestion
- Experiment with natural ingredients, including vitamins and herbs.
Please tell us…
Have you been able to control migraines by following a special migraine diet? If so, do you include gluten-free dieting?
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
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Read more about nutrition and migraines
Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist
Beat Migraines with these 5 Magnesium-Rich Foods
Eat like a Migraineur- 7 Migraine Diet Tips
Chocolate for Curing Migraines- 10 Astonishing Cocoa Facts
Sources:
Should you try a gluten-free diet?
Gluten Intolerance Symptoms – How Do You Know If Gluten Is Making You Sick?
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