--- title: Headache: 10 Foods That May Trigger a Migraine description: Alcohol, cured meats and aged cheeses all could bring on a bad headache canonical: https://time.com/4016097/migraine-headache-foods/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-09-02T14:36:24.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:58:01.225Z article:section: Health og:title: 10 Foods That May Trigger a Migraine og:description: Alcohol, cured meats and aged cheeses all could bring on a bad headache og:url: https://time.com/4016097/migraine-headache-foods/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte6a63d7d20894b3c/69886190428a9ee146ccee18/woman-headache-migraine.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2124 og:image:height: 1195 og:image:alt: woman-headache-migraine og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 10 Foods That May Trigger a Migraine twitter:description: Alcohol, cured meats and aged cheeses all could bring on a bad headache twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte6a63d7d20894b3c/69886190428a9ee146ccee18/woman-headache-migraine.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 10 Foods That May Trigger a Migraine > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Health Matters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Health Matters is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The latest health news and expert advice on living well. Health Matters makes the fast-moving world of health more useful, surprising and human, from the latest science and medical breakthroughs to practical ideas for living better. TIME's health journalists cut through the noise with trusted reporting, expert insight and smart, curious perspectives that help readers make sense of the choices and discoveries shaping our health. 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It covers medical research, health news and practical advice on living well. #### Where can I get reliable health news by email? Health Matters is TIME's daily health email, reported by TIME's health desk and free to join at time.com/newsletters. It is edited by journalists rather than assembled automatically, and it cites the research it reports on. #### Is Health Matters free? Yes. Health Matters is a free daily newsletter from TIME, available at time.com/newsletters. #### Who reads TIME's Health Matters newsletter? Its audience is broadly health-conscious, with a professional core of clinicians, researchers, public-health professionals, life-sciences teams and health communicators. ## Video: Migraine Surgery [Watch (HLS stream): Migraine Surgery](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/2mDHQWmn.m3u8) (2:00)  _Published 2013-11-25. Migraine Surgery_ by [Maria Masters / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Maria Masters / Health.com Contributor Sep 2, 2015 2:36 PM UTC  Caucasian woman rubbing her forehead Caucasian woman rubbing her forehead Getty Images by [Maria Masters / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Maria Masters / Health.com Contributor Sep 2, 2015 2:36 PM UTC As if migraines weren’t awful enough, it can be downright overwhelming to sidestep all the things that could set off an attack. Problem is, food triggers not only vary from person to person, but much of our knowledge about them comes less from carefully controlled studies and more from observing patients, explains [Lee Peterlin](http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/profiles/results/directory/profile/1954452/barbara-peterlin), DO, the director of [headache](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20789184,00.html) research at Johns Hopkins University. Before you cut out every one of these items from your diet, here’s something to keep in mind: Fasting or skipping meals can be an even _bigger_ migraine trigger for women, says Dr. Peterlin. Remember that as you go through this list, then turn to your fridge. (Though you might want to reconsider that charcuterie…) **Alcohol** Wine, especially red, is believed to be one [migraine trigger](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20538298,00.html). According to a review by researchers in Brazil, migraine sufferers say that alcohol may play a role in their attacks about 30% of the time or more. The reason is still up for debate, but some experts believe that certain compounds in wine, like tannins and flavonoids, are the culprits. One 2014 study suggested that red wines that contains higher amounts of tannins—think big, bold wines like cabernet sauvignon—might be even more likely to trigger a [migraine](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20538298,00.html). Plus, drinking alcohol may lead to [dehydration](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20924876,00.html), which can also contribute to a [headache](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20596594,00.html), says Dr. Peterkin. **Caffeine** If you’re prone to [migraines](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20538298,00.html), you might want to reconsider your coffee or soda intake: Too much of it can cause an attack, possibly because caffeine acts on certain receptors in the brain that are linked with [migraines](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20456714,00.html), according to one 2009 review. Limit caffeinated beverages to 8 to 12 ounces a day, says Dr. Peterlin. But there’s a twist: Since caffeine has a pain relieving effect, consuming a small amount of it during an attack may actually help that “just-kill-me-now feeling” to subside faster—as long as you’re not overusing it in the first place, she says. **Aged cheeses** Gorgonzola. Camembert. Cheddar. Aged cheeses (i.e., all the good ones) are beloved for their rich flavors and textures—and because life isn’t fair, they’re also commonly cited [migraine triggers](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20538298,00.html). Experts aren’t sure what, specifically, is to blame, but research suggests that aged cheeses can contain compounds called tyramines, which may interact with the neurotransmitters in the body and lead to a [migraines](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20537878,00.html). **Cured or processed meats** Hot dogs, sausages, even that turkey sandwich you had for lunch—all of those foods might set off a migraine too, says Rebecca Traub, MD, a neurologist with [ColumbiaDoctors](http://www.columbiadoctors.org/prof/rttraub). These meats can contain a preservative called sodium nitrate, and researchers speculate that this additive may also cause changes in brain chemistry that contribute to the [headache](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20538298,00.html). **MSG** You might be familiar with monosodium glutamate (MSG)—it’s gotten a bad rap over the years, mainly for its possible [link to obesity](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3095503/). Lesser known is the suspicion that it may also contribute to [migraines](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20537878,00.html). Although the evidence isn’t conclusive, one 2008 study suggested that 2.5% of these [headaches](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20789184,00.html) may be triggered by the ingredient. If you’re trying to avoid the stuff, just remember that, yes, [MSG](http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/FoodAdditivesIngredients/ucm328728.htm) can be found in Chinese foods and packaged products, but it’s also found naturally in foods like tomatoes and cheeses and in ingredients like hydrolyzed vegetable protein, according to the Food and Drug Administration. **Citrus fruits** This food group is still up for debate—some studies have found a link between migraines and citruses, while others haven’t. Still, it’s possible that citrus fruits might trigger migraines in some sufferers, and they’re certainly on experts’ radars as being a possible—though much rarer—culprit, says Traub. To help pinpoint what’s [causing your migraines](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20456714,00.html), Traub recommends keeping a [headache](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20789184,00.html) diary, either on a calendar or in a journal. Log your migraines, the severity of the attack, the foods you’ve been consuming, and any medications that you’re taking, she says. **Aspartame** No stranger to controversy, this [artificial sweetener](http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/FoodAdditivesIngredients/ucm397725.htm#Aspartame) is also suspected of [triggering migraines](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20456714,00.html) in some people. “It’s one of the first items I ask my patients to cut out of their diets,” says Louise Klebanoff, MD, a neurologist with the [Headache Center](https://weillcornell.org/lklebanoff) at Weill Cornell Medical College. That recommendation is based more on observation that carefully-controlled studies, but if you want to avoid the [low-cal sweetener](http://www.trigemin.com/download/food-and-supplements-in-migraine-management.pdf), it can be found in in packaged foods and beverages, including diet sodas, breakfast cereals, puddings, gelatins, and more. **Legumes** Beans, peas, and lentils are also suspected [migraine triggers](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20456714,00.html), says Dr. Traub, though they’re also less common offenders than, say, alcohol and caffeine. Experts haven’t quite pinned down why legumes seem to bother some migraine sufferers, but other research points to the importance of plant foods in _warding off_ these headaches: One 2014 study in _The Journal of Headache and Pain_ found that people who went on a vegan diet experienced less pain during their [headaches](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20789184,00.html) than they had on their normal diet. Sure, plant foods contain anti-inflammatory compounds, but the researchers also note that their subjects lost weight during the study—and obesity in particular has been linked with migraines, according to some research. **Nuts** This food also falls into the “not well studied, but observed by doctors” category, says Dr. Klebanoff. “I tell people to watch their [diets](http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fernanda%5FRockett/publication/225078028%5FDietary%5Faspects%5Fof%5Fmigraine%5Ftrigger%5Ffactors/links/00b495210ec0470417000000.pdf), but don’t be obsessive,” she says. “If every time you eat a handful of nuts and you get a headache in the next four to 12 hours, then it’s probably [a trigger](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20456714,00.html).” **Chocolate** This one’s tricky. “Chocolate hasn’t been substantiated as a true [migraine trigger](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20456714,00.html),” says Dr. Peterlin. While people may believe that chocolate is the culprit behind their [headaches”](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20789184,00.html), some experts think that the reverse is actually true—that the craving for sweets is a symptom of an oncoming migraine, not the cause of it. According to the 2012 review by researchers in Brazil, people in the earliest stages of a [migraine attack](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20537878,00.html) can experience chocolate cravings, but that the food itself isn’t responsible for the headache. But because it can be hard to tell which is which, Dr. Klebanoff says that it’s still on her list of potential migraine triggers—and something that people should be aware of. [_This article originally appeared on Health.com_](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20947791,00.html?xid=time) _More from Health.com:_ * [18 Signs You’re Having a Migraine](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20537878,00.html?xid=time) * [12 Natural Ways to Prevent and Treat Headaches](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20789184,00.html?xid=time) * [11 Surprising Headache Triggers](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20456714,00.html?xid=time) ## Transcript I just want to have a life. I operate on half a life. Corinne [ INAUDIBLE ] says she has about 15 good days a month. Hold on. The other 15 she deals with crushing migraine pain. It feels like a boa constrictor around my head. Inside it feels like a snake going like this. I tried oxygen tanks. I tried acupuncture. Every migraine medication. Every seizure medication. Anti- depressant, everything. Well, almost everything. [ MUSIC ] And what are we doing for you today? Surgery. What kind of surgery? Migraine surgery. Migraine surgery. It is a controversial treatment for what many neurologists say is an intrinsically brain based problem. So I'm just going to make a couple of marks. Koren's plastic surgeon says that tight muscles and connective tissues are literally choking her nerves. Especially in the neck and that may mark the beginning point of her migraines. So he plans to make incisions. And remove bands of muscle in what he says are trigger points. Frown lines around the eyes, the temples, the base of the skull. Basically, relieve the pressure. And we have patients that are almost 3 years out, and they're still reporting no headaches. To be sure, migraine surgery has its detractors. [ MUSIC ] The American Headache Society calls migraine surgery a last resort option that is not appropriate for most sufferers. I think it is good to have people that are skeptics.' Cuz that's how science gets, advanced forward. Any neurologist or pain specialist who is skeptical about this should actually start collaborating with surgeons. We caught up with Corinne, 12 weeks now after surgery. Her headaches she says, are down to 3 a month. 3 a month for me is very good. 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