Q Are there foods I should avoid if I have migraines? I heard red wine and cheese are risky.
A The tyramine in red wine and cheese, the nitrites in smoked meats, MSG, artificial sweeteners (aspartame), and both excess caffeine and caffeine withdrawal are major dietary triggers. Because individual differences are large, keeping a headache diary to find your own triggers is the most accurate approach.
Detailed Answer
Dietary triggers vary from person to person, so keeping a headache diary for two to four weeks to find patterns is recommended. Common triggers include alcohol (especially red wine), aged cheese, smoked and processed meats (nitrites), MSG, aspartame, chocolate, and caffeinated drinks. An empty stomach can also trigger migraine through low blood sugar, so regular meals are important.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang we consider that greasy and stimulating foods form sticky Phlegm-Fluid (dameum) in the body, which obstructs circulation in the head and neck. Since red wine, cheese, and smoked meats readily build up Phlegm-Fluid, we recommend avoiding them and drinking at least 1.5 liters of lukewarm water a day to lower blood viscosity, which directly helps with migraine management.
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