My mother in law has been getting some sunshine here in Southern California the last couple weeks--well, correction--she was planning on getting sunshine but it has been raining the majority of the time she’s been here :( Anyway, she is one of the 40 million Americans who suffer from migraines. Many of those 40 million actually do not respond to treatment so prevention is best medicine for many. Here is a list of 5 additives that are most commonly found in foods that trigger migraines that you should try to avoid.

#1 Tyramine

This amino acid could be the main source of your migraine headaches. Tyramine is something that naturally occurs in our bodies and helps regulate blood pressure and it is found found in some of our favorite foods. People sometimes have a hard time breaking down tyramine in their bodies, thus causing migraines.

Here are foods that contain significant levels of tyramine:
-Aged cheeses, such as cheddar, Swiss, and Parmesan

-Cured and processed meats, such as hot dogs, bacon and sausage

-Pickled and fermented foods, such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and tofu

-Alcohol, such as beer, wine and sherry

-Beans, such as soybeans, snow peas, and fava beans

-Fruits, such as prunes, raisins, and overripe avocados and bananas

-Yeast-rich foods, such as sourdough bread

#2 Tannins

These are the flavanoids that give beer, red wine and tea their bitter flavor, but they can also be a migraine trigger. This could be because tannins can prevent your body from absorbing protein. If you suspect this could be where your migraines are coming from, try drinking a lighter-colored wine and try not to let your tea bag steep for too long in your mug.

#3 Nitrates

These are most commonly found in processed meats like hot dogs, also in chocolate and sometimes nitrates are used as a treatment for different heart conditions. But as soon as bacteria from the mouth convert the nitrates into nitrites, it is known to cause severe headaches and migraines.

#4 MSG

MSG can cause a migraine because like tyramine, your blood pressure and pulse rate can become elevated, which can trigger a migraine. Foods to avoid that contain lots of MSG are heavily processed foods, such as frozen meals, powdered gravy, and salty snacks. You should also be aware of food when eating out, which are known to have a lot of MSG.

#5 Artificial Sweeteners

Sweeteners like aspartame have been known as migraine triggers. Experts are not exactly sure why, but they believe it has to do with seratonin levels. Seratonin plays a role in pain sensitivity by narrowing blood vessels throughout the body, which can cause migraines in some people.

I really hope that you are not one of those who suffer regular migraines, but if you are, or happen to know someone that is, I hope you are able to find these tips helpful. Try eliminating one of these at a time, giving them each a couple of weeks in between to see if eliminating one or some of these things help you avoid migraines. Please share in the comments below if you have found any tips for avoiding migraines yourself.