Migraine triggers

There are many possible factors that can trigger migraines in susceptible individuals, including allergies, constipation, stress, changes in hormone levels, liver malfunction, too much or too little sleep, emotional changes, sun glare, flashing light, lack of exercise and changes in barometric pressure. Dental problems may also be a factor. Low blood pressure and blood sugar levels are other factors.

One of the solutions is supposedly to adopt an appropriate diet and for many years I have eschewed some of the more obvious triggers including alcohol, chocolate, cheese and aubergines (I love moussaka!). Which is sad because they are among my most loved foods.

Of late the list of foods to avoid seems to have grown enormously and my latest bout of reading shows the following should be shunned - aged meats, alcohol, chocolate, avocados, bananas, cabbage, tinned fish, dairy products, courgettes, aubergines, hard cheeses, potatoes, raspberries, red plums, tomatoes, dried or cooked fruit, yeast and yeast extract, syrup, honey, sugar, and all refined foods . (What is a refined food? One that doesn’t make you burp?)

OK – so there goes the cheese and marmite on toast since the cheese, the marmite and the bread are all bad for me. My favourite tomato sandwiches are also a no go area. The roast dinner has also gone for a burton since the potato, meat and cabbage are banned. The banana split is forbidden since the fruit and the cream and the ice cream are all on the list, along with the chocolate sauce. No cheese and biscuits after my non-existent roast, either. And the coffee would hardly be worth drinking without sugar or milk. As John McEnroe would have said – “You cannot be serious.”