Migraine often begins with misalignment either restricting blood flow to your head or irritating a spinal nerve. This nerve irritation upsets your autonomic nervous system, which controls unconscious functions like the narrowing and expansion of blood vessels. Food that narrow blood vessels or known as vasoconstrictors or expand them (vasodilators) can also trigger migraine.
- POOR POSTURE over time or spinal injuries can lead to misalignment, which is worsened by stress.
- A MISALIGNED VERTEBRAE can put pressure on a blood vessel in your neck or irritate a spinal nerve, which may send ‘warning’ signals to your autonomic nerves.
- IF A BLOOD VESSEL is pressured, this may reduce blood flow to your head. If a spinal nerve is irritated, your autonomic nerves may tell blood vessels to narrow, also reducing blood flow.
- BLOOD VESSELS in your head expand to offset the reduced blood supply. This sudden expansion irritates surrounding nerves – thus, the throbbing pain of a migraine headache.
Well-known food triggers migraine
- Cultured dairy products, especially aged cheese.
- Alcoholic beverages especially red wine, beer and whiskey.
- Food containing caffeine such as coffee, chocolate, tea and colas.
- Food containing additives like nitrates and nitrites.
- Potato-chip products.
- Cold food like ice-cream.
- Aspartame or other sweeteners.
