Hi Claire,
I have to agree with you. I think a clean diet is the best prevention we have. Not just for migraine but for nearly every disease out there! I have seen a difference in my own symptoms when I eat clean vs. something with nitrates and loads of preservatives. I really try to stay away form those foods. Restaurants have slowly become my enemy and I don't frequent them anymore like I used to. I can't say this is a bad thing, besides they're expensive anyway.
And one more reason to eat clean with migraine. Excessive estrogen and fluctuations in hormones can bring on migraine. The meat and dairy we eat has too many hormones that can contribute to migraine so I have gone all organic with these foods to help minimize the excess hormones in my system. I like the food diary idea and am going to do it myself.

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Hello Nitty2.

I agree with the fluctuations in hormones adding to our migraines (I am in the middle of menopause and migraine headaches have certainly increased since these wonderful years!!!)

I also agree with the organic way of eating: I live on a farm and we grow most of our own food and only eat organic meats as well. Two of our children are autistic and we have noticed some marked improvements in their behavior and attitude since adopting a clean way of eating. The worst for them were food additives and colorings, pre-packaged food mixes and overly treated foods (like cured meats with high nitrate levels) were also bad for them. I've also started using natural honey instead of refined sugar and this has heped them (and me) a lot too. (And a kind neighbor of mine has honey bees so we trade some of his honey for some of my homemade bread)

So overall, a lot to get used to, but well worth the efforts to switch to healthy eating (sadly, I still crave chocolate though !)

Hang in there everyone. Keeping a food journal has really helped me decide to make the switch to healthier eating, I hope it helps some of you too.

Claire in Canada

The only caffeine I ever have is in my coffee, and I sometimes have an occasional diet soda. I have noticed that the caffeine bothers me, or maybe I am sensitive to it, as I don't have it too often at all. I cut back on my java.
Seems like it makes my dizzies worse, and it makes my heart beat soo fast. It'll make anxiety worse too, beware.

Don't have alot of caffeine if you're taking Ginko.

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Did you know there's a lot more caffeine in diet soda than in the normal one? It's worth considering if you're limiting your caffeine intake.

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We strongly advise anyone wishing to take up vrt or change/stop medication should consult their doctor first.

Omg, I didn't know that! Really?

I don't drink soda that much, but I will consider this, tyvm!

I only had one cup of coffee today....but I had a Diet Mountain Dew yesterday, and a cup and a 1/2 of coffee.

I drink Koolaid, sweetened with Splenda.

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We don't get Koolaid here so I don't know about that but I do know that Coca cola has a lot more caffeine in the diet version.
It's worth checking labels.

Here's an informative link about Mountain Dew and caffeine - it compares it to other beverages:

Caffeine in Diet Mountain Dew

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We strongly advise anyone wishing to take up vrt or change/stop medication should consult their doctor first.

Yes, I definately have increased symtoms with coffee, tea or acidic drinks. This also comes hand in hand with salt, cheese and other migraine triggering foods, I was told by docs though to continue a normal diet and do things you would normally do if you were not dizzy, but to be honest that has made me feel worse. So I'm going to take my own advice and just stop having things that make me feel more dizzy.

Just to add my two cents....beware of monosodium glutamate I have been extra sensitive
since having this labs. I do believe it is banned in the UK.

My symptoms are a rapid beating heart and more pronounced dizziness.

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"We cannot direct the wind,
but we can adjust the sails"

We strongly advise anyone wishing to start/stop or change vrt or start/change/stop medication should consult their doctor first.

Sandy ... we have another thing in common ... I can not have MSG either !
It's quite common in take-out Chinese foods in these parts and I have to watch for it because I too get the rapid heartbeat, extra sweats (flushes) and extra dizzies too. Maybe another meno symptom?

Hang in there, Sandy ... at least we are not alone in this nonsense!

Claire

Sandy, MSG isn't banned here or in the UK - I wish it was! I always ask for it to be left out of my food - but in Chinese restaurants and takeaways it's already in a lot of the sauces so that limits my options.

Claire, do you find wine gives you a flush? I only have a little glass the odd time but in the last few years it'll have a weird affect on me sometimes, even after a couple of sips.

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We strongly advise anyone wishing to take up vrt or change/stop medication should consult their doctor first.