Migraines are severe headaches that are often accompanied by increased sensitivity to light and sound. They might also cause nausea with splitting headaches for days, or even weeks on end. Several triggers can cause a migraine, including hormonal changes, stress, lifestyle choices, and even dietary habits, so it’s best to avoid certain foods for dealing with migraines. Read on to know what to eliminate from your diet to reduce the pain and discomfort associated with migraines.

Processed foods
Anything you buy off the shelves contains preservatives or additives to enhance the flavor and improve its shelf life, but frequent consumption of processed foods increases the risk of migraines by tenfold. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is one such chemical that is usually listed as an all-natural preservative but is notoriously known for triggering a migraine headache within a couple of hours of consumption. Processed meats are also laced with nitrites and nitrates as they are preservatives for meat, but nitrates cause the blood vessels to swell, causing untimely migraines. So, limit your intake of cured meats, including bacon, ham, and hot dogs.

Cheese
Cheese is a calcium- and protein-rich dairy product that is naturally made and preserved. While it may not contain any chemicals, most types of cheese are rich in a compound called tyramine, which develops within the protein as cheese ages. It is a major trigger for migraine headaches, so blue cheese, brie, feta, cheddar, mozzarella, Muenster, parmesan, and Swiss cheese are some of the foods to be avoided for managing migraines effectively. Instead, opt for cheese made from fresh pasteurized milk, like cottage, cream, and American cheese.

Citrus fruits
Fresh fruits must, undoubtedly, be an essential part of your daily diet, but some raw fruits are among the most common foods to avoid for managing migraine headaches owing to a concentration of natural acids in the fruit. Citrus fruits can especially cause uncomfortable gastric response due to their acid content, triggering migraine headaches. Having said that, people react differently to a trigger food, and the severity of the headache varies accordingly.

Coffee and alcohol
Apart from considering the foods to avoid for migraines, coffee is a particularly concerning beverage as caffeinated beverages don’t trigger headaches. Rather, you might experience severe migraines due to caffeine withdrawal. The body has a tolerance for caffeine consumption, so withdrawal headaches can start sooner than you anticipate and last for days or weeks, depending on how the body reacts. Caffeine is an active stimulant for metabolic activity, and a sudden drop in its intake can result in health complications. The same holds for alcohol; the hangover you experience is the withdrawal headache, and in some cases, it can also result in a migraine that may last throughout the day.