Can Food Additives Cause Migraine Headaches?
Posted: Sunday, August 07, 2011
by Krista Aman-Widgren
Gospelflier
For those who suffer with Migraine headaches, any form of relief is a blessing. Many of you know which medications ease Migraine pain. When I first saw a Migraine specialist, she had me keep a food diary to help discern what triggered Migraines. I was already taking medications for Migraines with limited relief, so I was grateful for her expertise in this area of Neuromedicine. The following month she looked my list over and what she told me was a revelation. Many foods contain chemicals and additives that have been linked to Migraine headaches. Some occur naturally and some are added in processing. She gave me a list of foods that I should avoid, limit or alternatives to try instead. I have to admit, I was skeptical, but the severity and reoccurrence of Migraines were crippling, so I decided to give it a whirl.
MSG: Monosodium Glutamate is a salt used as a “flavor enhancer” that is considered safe by the FDA. It is composed of the amino acid Glutamate, which is a neurotransmitter and a salt. MSG has many names such as Autolyzed Yeast, Calcium Caseinate, Gelatin, Glutamic Acid, Hydrolyzed Protein, Monopotassium Glutamate, Sodium Caseinate, Textured Protein, Yeast Extract, Yeast Food, Yeast Extract. Whew!!!! But lab research has shown that consuming MSG causes severe and troubling Neurological symptoms such as vision loss, and brain damage. It has also been linked to obesity and sterility. (www.vaccinetruth.org/msg.htm) And many people who consume it report having terrible headaches afterwards.
Aspartame: An artificial sweetener also called Equal or NutraSweet. It contains the amino acids phenyalanine and aspartic acid and the poison methanol (wood alcohol). Aspartame is created by cloning E.coli and making it in large quantities, the by-product of protein synthesis. (www.freepatentsonline.com/EP0036258.html) Aspartame is found in many sports drinks, gums, sugarless foods and drinks, diet sodas. When ingested, Aspartame gets into the brain and has been shown to cause neurological problems such as memory loss, hearing loss, epilepsy, headaches, migraines, and vertigo, just to name a few. (http://aspartame.mercola.com)
So what can a person do? I have found many great foods that are free of Nitrites, MSG and Aspartame and still eat many of the same foods I used to. Yes, I have had to eliminate some of the foods I used to eat, but I feel it is worth the trade off for better health and fewer migraines. Look for Nitrite-free bacon and lunch meats at Yoke’s Fresh market. For MSG- free foods, we try to stay away from pre-packaged as much as possible. For Aspartame-free foods, nothing diet or sugarless. If you like gum or mints. There is Spry, Trident “Cinnamon” is the only Trident gum that has no Aspartame. Look for gum that is made with Xylitol.
A dietary change per doctor’s orders along with a slight change in medication and I noticed a reduction in the number and severity of Migraines plus I lost some weight. At first we spent a lot of time reading labels and comparision shopping, but it really, truly is worth it. I hope you will try these dietary changes, even if you don’t have migraines, for a healthier You!
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Hi Krista.
Sounds like you've gone through much of what I have. I had migraine headaches every day for a little over four years before I got it all figured out. At that time, doctors were of little use (even the neurologist I saw) and I had to do the research on my own.
I kept a diary and did food challenges and finally worked up a huge list of things I had to take out of my diet. I can't take in any artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, artificial colors or preservatives. MSG is a definite no-no as are nitrites and nitrates. Aside from those there are a lot of natural foods that have something in them that triggers a migraine for me.
I sincerely hope that you've found some relief from them. I do know how disruptive they can be to carrying on a normal sort of life.
Great article!
Hugs,
Dianne
Hi Krista,
I just wanted to say I found your article very similar to some of the discoveries I made after using a 'migraine journal' to try and discover what was triggering my migraines. It is amazing how little one can know about what we are eating and how it affects us!
In my case both MSG and Aspartame turned out to have a terrible effect on me and now I avoid both at all costs. Thanks for the tip on what gum to buy, that was one of the things I missed most when I began cutting these sweeteners from my diet.
The other thing that I found had a terrible effect in triggering my migraines was red wine, on the rare occasions I used to drink it, even in small quantities it would often trigger a migraine attack. Now at dinner parties I am sure to always decline the offer of a glass and I feel so much better for it.
I hope you remain well and as free from migraines as possible.
Best wishes,
Helen
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