Migraine headaches are often caused or triggered by delayed food allergies. A few years ago a study showed that 85% of migraine sufferers experienced migraine relief after eliminating specific foods.

Migraines can be traced to an overactive nervous system some research suggests, while others believe migraines involve an overactive immune response to food. Some people believe that in addition to foods, stress or muscle tension can trigger migraines. Others believe that sensory triggers like light, smells or motion bring on the migraine headaches.

Research has shown (pg119) that one of the main triggers of chronic migraines are food sensitivities. These delayed reactions to foods trigger an inflammation response that can lead to the migraine headache. These reactions are the result of IgG antibodies binding to the food protein and immune complex formation that activates complement. This complicated mechanism can cause many problems incuding migraines, and other chronic headaches described below.   

Chronic Headaches most commonly fall into three types, sinus, tension & cluster headaches.

Sinus headaches are caused by inflammation of sinus tissue, either due to an infection or delayed allergic reactions, such as those caused by foods. The pain is usually a dull ache, it can become intense. A sinus headache is usually being triggered by something you ate in conjunction with an active sinus infection. Migraines can be misdiagnosed as sinus headaches and vice versa.

Tension headaches are caused by muscle contractions around the neck, scalp and jaw. The pain from a tension headache often is described as a dull pressure, or as if a tight headband were strapped around the head. Unlike migraines, a tension headache generally causes pain only on one side of the head. A tension headache affects both sides of the head.

A Cluster headache is unusual: it is one of the few types that affect men more at women. A cluster headache causes severe pain around the eyes, temple, forehead and cheeks. Attacks last between 30 to 90 minutes, and can occur one to six times a day. A cluster headache can occur for weeks or even months at a time, and suddenly stop, only to reoccur months later. The consumption of particular foods appear to worsen the symptoms of cluster headaches. For more information please visit Sage Home under Links.

Calvin:

Migraines

I went to my Doctor for headaches and migraines. He sent me to an orthopedic where they gave me all sorts of tests including CAT scans and MRI.  After the testing the orthopedic surgeon said you will be a great candidate to have a bone chip of your hip and fuse your neck. After my wife and I had our first child a friend of mine fortunately gave me the name of this new Doctor. I told him that I can’t even hold my baby girl because my neck hurt so bad, do you think you can help?

He asked me what kind of pain, I told him it was like cluster headaches they are short but intense then they are gone. I will have them for a month or more with different intensities. He asked me if I have ever been tested for food allergies or food sensitivities? I am sure that someone had told you about food related headaches, I said I have but without much understanding. My Doctor then said well, let us find out if food is the problem. And boy did we find out that was the problem, you can’t believe the difference between before and after. My quality of life has improved so much, thanks for everything.