Can What You Eat Give You Migraines? Plus GIVEAWAY! 3/31

A lot of my friends suffer from migraines. Some experience them very often while others only seem to get them once in awhile. Any migraine sufferer knows first hand that these intense headaches can be completely debilitating, and can stand in the way of the ability to perform normal tasks. Some people cannot even function when a migraine hits, and have to lay perfectly still in a quiet, dark room.

Often, my own migraines are triggered by lack of sleep, or even more commonly, the foods I eat and the things I drink. I have noticed that some of the things that can trigger a migraine for me are champagne, wine, and surprisingly, Chinese take-out. Before I began working with Excedrin Migraine, I was not aware of the fact that diet can be a crucial factor in the frequency of migraines.

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Common Food and Drink Migraine Triggers :

Registered dietitian Keri Gans offers valuable information about potential migraine trigger foods
that every sufferer should know:

There are many foods and drinks that can trigger migraines, like citrus fruits, nuts, and
foods that contain MSG. It’s important for folks to determine which foods are potential
migraine triggers for them. By tracking their triggers, people can avoid them in the
future, to help prevent or minimizing migraine attacks.

Tyramine: Tyramine is a substance found naturally in some foods, like aged cheese
and red wine. It’s formed from the breakdown of protein as foods age. A good rule of
thumb is that the longer a high-protein food ages, the higher the tyramine content.
Some common foods that contain tyramine include: aged cheeses, red wine, alcoholic
beverages and some processed meats.

Alcohol: Alcohol increases blood flow to your brain, which can cause migraines and
headaches. Red wine, beer, whiskey and champagne are the most common culprits.

Other potential migraine triggers include: artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame),
chocolate, citrus fruits, coffee or tea, tannins, (like red-skinned apples or pears)
caffeinated soda, foods that contain MSG, and nuts or nut butters.

There ARE Foods That Can HELP!

Food For the brain: There is emerging science that suggests foods rich in magnesium,
such as kale and broccoli, support healthy brain function. Try swapping kale for romaine
in your salad at lunch to increase your magnesium intake.

Try The My Migraine Triggers App :

When I experience migraines, I want to get to the bottom of their potential causes. So I always log everything in the My Migraine Triggers app. (If you don't remember how awesome and easy to use this app is, check out my post HERE.) This free app allows me to not only track the frequency and duration of my migraines, but also helps me figure out what may have brought them on. It's a wonderful tool for personal use, as well as to help discuss migraines with your doctor.

So if you haven't checked out this awesome app yet, be sure to download it! It's totally free and can help you to take control of your migraines. And of course, be sure to talk openly and honestly with your doctor about finding a treatment plan that's right for you.

When my migraines hit, I am usually able to keep them under control with Excedrin Migraine, the #1 neurologist recommended over-the-counter brand for migraine relief. It offers convenient and effective relief for migraines and was the first non-prescription medicine approved by the FDA to treat all the symptoms of a migraine.

How to Connect :

If you would like to learn more about Excedrin Migraine please visit www.Excedrin.com. You can also follow Excedrin on Facebook and Twitter to stay on top of their latest tips, products, and promotions!

The My Migraine Triggers app is FREE. You can find My Migraine Triggers app on iTunes or in the app store on your apple device.

Enter to WIN !

I am thrilled to announce that one lucky reader will receive a great prize pack from Excedrin Migraine that will get you on the right path to a healthy diet. Here's what's included:

The Veggie-Peel – This innovative fruit and vegetable peeler features a patented, built-in chamber that retains peels during use. Scraps are held in the durable, thermo-plastic chamber, eliminating messy peelings and clogged sinks. The double sided stainless steel blade allows for both right and left handed use.

Harold Import Company Avo Saver – Avo Saver is easy to use and will reduce a cut avocado’s exposure to air, greatly slowing the destructive oxidization process.

Dressing Emulsifier – The Emulstir is an innovative way to mix up and store delicious salad dressings. It’s very easy to use; simply remove the top of the Emulstir, fill with oil, vinegar and herb replace lid and squeeze the handle to blend.

Emson Two Tier Microwave Steamer Food Cooker – This microwave steamer retains more vitamins & nutrients than other means of cooking vegetables, perfect for healthy cooking. It allows you to cook/steam two dishes at once, fits in most microwave ovens and is dishwasher safe.

How cool is that?!

Simply enter using the easy Rafflecopter form below!

This giveaway is open to US residents 18+ until 11:59PM March 31, 2013. No PO Boxes. Winners will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. All entries will be verified, so play fair! I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. Thanks for entering, and Good Luck!

***Disclosure: I am an Excedrin Migraine Brand Ambassador, and am being compensated for involvement in the program. As always, all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway