| Identifying triggers that can lead to migraines and onto | | | | Beef, pork |
| a full fibromyalgia flare attack is an essential part of | | | | Fish, shellfish |
| fibromyalgia symptom management. There are a wide | | | | Cheese, especially yellow ripened |
| range of triggers -- some avoidable, some not -- and | | | | Banana |
| these can vary greatly from person to person. | | | | Processed meat, such as salami |
| Contributing factors can be low blood sugar either | | | | Pineapple |
| from skipping meals or lack of food, a lack of sleep, | | | | Citrus fruit |
| exposure to bright lights, anxiety and stress. Even | | | | Yeast containing foods |
| hormones contribute and play a role. | | | | Strawberry |
| Once they are identified, it's possible to reduce the | | | | Tofu, miso, tempeh, tamari |
| frequency of migraines and other attacks by avoiding | | | | Chicken liver |
| those triggers. One of the biggest triggers that can be | | | | Spinach |
| identified -- next to stress -- is food. | | | | Sauerkraut |
| There are a huge number of foods that trigger | | | | Foods containing glutamates are another huge |
| migraine attacks and fibromyalgia flares in many | | | | offender behind migraines and fibromyalgia flares. |
| people. If you suffer from frequent migraines and | | | | There are several different glutamates and they have |
| fibromyalgia flares that are caused by your diet, the | | | | become common in many foods. The worst offender |
| solution is fairly simple but requires some will power. | | | | is monosodium glutamate, or MSG. MSG is found in |
| First, educate yourself. Find out what foods are likely | | | | many different foods, such as snack foods like corn |
| to trigger your migraines and lead to flare ups. While | | | | and potato chips, pretzels, frozen foods, and especially |
| some foods are easy to identify, others require you to | | | | found in Chinese food. There are other glutamates |
| read the ingredients label and become a food sleuth or | | | | which includes the artificial sweetener Aspartame, |
| food detective of sorts to help you with spotting | | | | yeast extract, and hydrolyzed soy or corn protein. |
| exactly what your particular triggers are. | | | | Keep a food journal and note when your migraines or |
| Foods that most commonly lead to migraines and | | | | fibromyalgia flares occur. |
| fibromyalgia flares come mainly from those that are | | | | This will allow you to take a more detached look at |
| the most processed, are genetically modified, nutrient | | | | your symptoms and expand your awareness about |
| depleted, and pesticide laden. Knowing this will help you | | | | when they occur the most or if there is a distinct |
| to quickly identify and eliminate these foods from your | | | | pattern to what triggers them. Next, you will want to |
| diet and improve matters substantially for you by | | | | eliminate any possible triggers from your diet |
| helping to alleviate, if not eliminate completely, many of | | | | completely, at least for a couple of weeks. Start with |
| your symptoms, or at least the triggers that can lead | | | | the worst offenders first, which may be different for |
| to them. | | | | each person, but often it's those 'foods' containing the |
| Here is a list of some of the most common food | | | | highest amounts or combinations of chemicals in them |
| offenders that trigger migraines and can lead to | | | | at once. Often, you will have to read labels to figure |
| fibromyalgia flares. Foods containing certain chemicals | | | | this out. You may even consider not buying or eating |
| known as "amines", such as tyramine, | | | | anything that contains a label while you are figuring this |
| phenylethylamine, and histamine, are often the culprits. | | | | all out. Or, it may require switching from a food which |
| Here is where they will be found: | | | | is pesticide and chemically laden, to another more |
| Tyramine is found in higher concentrations in foods that | | | | naturally or organically grown one. |
| have been fermented, such as: | | | | The best way is to keep a record or chart of which |
| Soy sauce, miso, tempeh | | | | foods are causing the most symptoms or flares for |
| Aged or blue cheeses | | | | you and begin experimenting. For example, try peanuts |
| Red wine or beer | | | | -- these contain aflotoxins which are known triggers |
| Smoked, cured, or pickled meat or fish | | | | for migraines. If they make your head hurt, then you |
| Yogurt | | | | know they trigger symptoms and put stress on your |
| Phenylethylamine is found in these foods: | | | | body that can lead to flare ups and possible migraines. |
| Red wine | | | | They are best avoided in that case. It will require some |
| Chocolate | | | | will power at first but the results are worth it. Gradually, |
| Citrus fruit | | | | you will be less the effect of negative symptoms and |
| Yellow cheeses | | | | be more the cause over how you feel based on what |
| Cheesecake | | | | you eat. Adverse reactions will soon diminish and your |
| Cocoa | | | | quality of life will improve. Food can be your greatest |
| Canned fruits | | | | ally when it comes to your health and it can also be |
| Histamine containing foods include: | | | | your worst enemy. Remember, you can make a |
| Chocolate | | | | difference to the way you feel and the first step is |
| Wine, beer | | | | awareness. |
| Tomato, tomato sauce, tomato paste | | | | |