If you suffer from frequent migraines, the culprit for your discomfort may be chilling in your refrigerator as we speak. There are dozens of causes of migraines and no two headaches are the exact same, although medical research has found that there are a few foods migraine sufferers may try avoiding with hopes of alleviating their symptoms. Check out today’s blog for a few of the top food-related causes for migraine headaches from your friends at Passanante’s Home Food Services. We strive to provide the highest quality foods to our customers and would love the opportunity to plan your next delivery around your personal and health related goals. Give us a call at 1-800-772-7786 to schedule an appointment today.

Tyramine

Foods that contain tyramine, a substance which forms as food ages, are some of the most common causes for migraine headaches. Aged cheeses including bleu cheese, brie, cheddar, feta, gorgonzola, mozzarella, muenster, parmesan, stilton and swiss have high levels of tyramine. In addition to processed cheeses, tyramine is also found in meats that have been aged, cured, canned or processed including hard sausages, canned soups, onions, olives, pickles, raisins, avocados, nuts, and certain beans.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

MSG is a popular flavor enhancer that has been linked to a variety of health risks including headaches, migraines, muscle spasms, nausea, rashes, anaphylaxis, seizures, depression and even heart irregularities. Commonly found in soup broths, Asian cuisine, packaged sausage like Jimmy Dean maple flavor sausage, Doritos, Cheetos and other cheese flavored chips, certain brands of lunch meats and other processed foods, MSG is worth avoiding.

Aspartame

Aspartame is an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener used as a sugar substitute in some foods and drinks that has been linked to migraines. Sold under the brands Equal and NutraSweet, aspartame is a very common additive as it is 200 times sweeter than sugar. Look out for aspartame in diet sodas, yogurt, gum, drink sweeteners, cooking sauces, flavored water, drink powders, cereal and products which advertised being sugar-free.