Migraine Can Be Set Off By Something In The Food You Eat - Discover A Less Common Dietary Trigger

It can sound an over-simplification but before you can uncover a remedy for migraine you need to become a detective and find out what is at the root of it. Do you know what your migraine trigger is? Read on to learn about an unusual one.

There are several possible causes of migraine, and sometimes they are dietary. But when asked which foods are most generally suspected of triggering migraines, most people will promptly suggest "red wine, chocolate and cheese".

They may be surprised to learn that as long ago as 1979 in a study on migraine and food intolerances published in the prestigious Lancet, eggs were among the most common foods cited as problematic.

Actually, eggs are one of the most prevalent allergens. They are also one of the most reliable to test for - unlike some foods.

Unfortunately, egg is in numerous food items, from baked goods to cake icing, and it is a myth that cooking renders it harmless! Children with migraines are often intolerant of eggs and at least two other trigger foods, and can gain relief simply by cutting out these foods from their diet. However, because eggs are an important source of protein, they should not be excluded from the diet unless you are sure they're causing you difficulties. A food intolerance test or trial exclusion for three weeks should give you enough evidence to have a meaningful discussion with your qualified health professional as to whether exclusion will be helpful.

One more unexpected place where egg is common is in vaccines. Steps have been taken to combat exposure to egg by deriving the vaccines from embryos, but new developments seem to show that even minimal exposure to chicken produce of any kind could be harmful.

For people who are very sensitive even inhalation could be a problem. Workers in a confectionery factory inhaling the powdered egg white used in the decorative icing suffered asthmatic attacks, so exposure to an egg allergen is conceivable even if you are not eating eggs!

Egg white can even be found in vaginal suppositories or in nappy rash cream, and if an allergic reaction as severe as asthma or anaphylactic shock is possible, why not a migraine?

The sad thing about young children and food allergies is their inability to get across the point that there is a problem. Also, misdiagnosis is common, because of the inability of parents or doctors to precisely track symptoms.

A child who has eaten ice cream and repeatedly suffered a migraine afterwards could be allergic to the milk or the eggs in the product, and a firm determination is necessary to clarify which it is.

Eggs are such a strong allergen that many doctors advocate not serving eggs to children under two, as once an allergen is triggered, the body can build up a memory around it and it may cause you more problems down the line.

There are several foods that if avoided or given very sparingly can prevent a red flag going up in a child's immune system. Eggs are a bit of a conundrum, what with the yolk and the white - recently, studies have shown that while the yolk of the egg is high in cholesterol, the white contains the means to combat it.

Normally, after 12 months with no adverse effects, you can start to reintroduce foods one at a time. If migraines come back, you will know you discovered a major trigger, and do your best to avoid it in the future.

Eggs are good for you - except when they're not!