Certain foods are believed to be responsible for up to 30 percent of all headaches.



Tyramine content may vary among brand names available on the market because if preparation, processing or storage. It is best to eat only freshly prepared foods and to avoid eating those that may have aged, fermented, pickled or marinated. Tenderizers, monosodium glutamate, nitrates of nitrate compounds are likely to be provoking agents. It is important to read the labels carefully when shopping and asking questions when eating out.

The following foods contain vasoactive amines that may precipitate migraine or other vascular headaches in susceptible people.

FOODS TO AVOID:

 BEVERAGES:

• Alcoholic beverages, wine, beer


• Milk – chocolate, buttermilk

DIARY PRODUCTS:

• Aged and processed cheese, including cheddar, swiss, mozzarella, parmesan, Romano, brick, Brie, camembert, gruyere, gouda, stilton, provolone, Roquefort, blue and foods containing cheese (pizza, macaroni and cheese)


• Yogurt and sour cream

MEAT AND MEAT SUBSTITUTES:

• Aged, canned, cured or processed meats and those containing nitrites or commercial meats extracts. Pickled or dried herring, chicken livers, sausage, salami, bologna, pepperoni, frankfurters, pates, peanuts and peanut butter, marinated meats. Any meat prepared with tenderizers, soy sauce or yeast extracts.

BREAD AND BREAD SUSTITUES:

• Homemade yeast breads, fresh cake, doughnuts, yeast and yeast extracts, sourdough breads.


• Breads or crackers containing cheese, chocolate or nuts.

all of these foods and chemicals:

"Accent" (MSG)

Alcoholic beverages (All types); Especially beer and red wine

Avocado

Bananas

Buttermilk

Cheese (Except cream cheese, ricotta, cottage cheese)

Chocolate

Cola drinks (not 7-Up, Sprite, etc.)

Figs, canned

Meat tenderizer (sometimes added to steak in resteraunts)

Pickled herring

Pineapple

Plums, prunes, and prune juice

Pods of broad beans (fava, big limas, and pinto)

Prepared meats - canned meats, bacon, sausage, bologna, lunch meats, ham, etc. - any that have nitrite preservatives

Raisins, red grapes and grape juice

Sour Cream

Soy Sauce

Yeast extract

Yogurt

Chicken Livers

FOOD GROUPS FOODS ALLOWED:

BEVERAGES:

• Decaffeinated coffee and colas. Caffeine sources to be limited to two (2) cups per day, which includes coffee, tea and colas


• Milk – Homogenized, skim (2%)

DAIRY PRODUCTS:

• Cottage cheese, cream cheese, American and Velveeta Cheese or any synthetic cheese


• Yogurt in ½ cup portions or less

MEAT AND MEAT SUBSTITUTES:

• Freshly prepared meats, eggs.

BREAD AND BREAD SUBSTITUTES:

• All except those on avoid list. Commercial breads.