The Surprising Foods that Might Be Causing Your Migraines (Pizza, Why Are You Doing This to Us?)

by Lexi Petronis, Glamour

I get migraines. Do you? God, they really are the worst. I usually know my triggers well enough to keep them at bay: I avoid looking at anything that's backlit, I try to get as much sleep as I can and not over-caffeinate, and I stay away from rainy weather. OK, it's kind of impossible to just stay away from rainy weather, but at least a rain-filled day sends up the red flags that there might be a headache happening at some point.

So it's always interesting to see what research is saying might be the culprit in migraines and tension headaches. While there hasn't been a study (yet) that draws direct lines between those kinds of head-pounders and what you eat, experts are starting to understand that certain foods may contain component that might exacerbate headaches... and it could be one component in particular.

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The National Headache Foundation recommends that people stay away from foods that contain tyramine--usually foods that are aged, fermented, or stored for long periods of time, like:
* Pepperoni and salami
* Blue, brie, cheddar, or provolone cheeses
* Beans, sauerkraut, pickles, olives
* Soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, miso
* Alcohol such as sherry, burgundy, vermouth, beer, and Chianti

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There are other possible culprits, too, such as foods containing nitrites (like processed meats) or dishes with MSG. But experts also say that foods which might be especially bothersome to one migraine sufferer may not irritate the next at all--so there's more research in the works.

Do you have migraines or regular tension headaches? What are your triggers? Are there any foods you avoid, in the hopes of staving off headaches?

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