Something that may not have bothered your head at other times of the year can suddenly become a major trigger delivering a severe migraine when compounded by other factors that are also in play.
For example, you may be able to get away with drinking a single small glass of wine at home once in awhile, but couple it with stress, strange foods, excitement, winter weather changes, and overactive hormones and you could be on your way to paying the high price of a migraine headache.
Food, drink and good cheer are generally part of any holiday celebration.
Tempting foods are served without labels and no way of knowing their ingredients. Your favorite aunt, who won't let you get away without at least trying her special dish my be loaded with her secret spice mixture containing MSG, may be your worst enemy. Her disappointment may be well worth it if it keeps you from having a horrible migraine headache the next morning.
Red wine is a well know major trigger, but are you prepared to refuse it when your host offers you a glass of wine to join in on the celebration? Being ready to refuse anything that may cause you a headache with a prepared answer may save you hours and even days fighting a horrible migraine.
You shouldn't expect others to know what might be a trigger and bother you; rather you should be ready with a good explanation as to why you must decline the offer. There is nothing wrong with saying, "Thank you very much for offering, but I have a genetic condition that certain foods or drinks can cause me to have severe migraine headaches and I just can't afford to take the chance."
And watch out for those dishes that may have been bought at a store and "re-plated" as they may be loaded with MSG, nitrates, L-tyrosine, and other "do not touch" ingredients lying in wait to set off a migraine in you. If your first bite says "yummy, this tastes different or really good," and has a slight salty taste, put it down because more than likely that good taste is MSG. Remember, MSG is a flavor enhancer.
Party Triggers. The following is our partial list of key foods and drinks to avoid at parties:
- Almonds and nuts Lots of these around at parties, but don't eat them.
- Wines, especially red wine - instead you may want to try a drink made of cranberry juice, club soda and a clear alcohol.
- Cheeses - especially the cheese balls and aged cheese - the better the cheese the more powerful the trigger.
- Sausages, little wieners, and other such things floating around in a crock pot full of the special BBQ sauce that may be loaded with MSG and nitrates.
- Snack mixes - these are party and office favorites that may contain MSG to heighten the flavor.
- Chocolate - I hate to mention this hard to resist confection, but for some people it can be a real problem - again keep in mind that triggers are not the same for everyone - always avoid what you know will hurt you no matter how good it looks.
- Beer and other alcohol beverages - Beer is a fermented beverage and may be a problem for some. It is not the alcohol but the process that creates the trigger. Clear alcohol products may be a better choice.
- Your Triggers. Don't cheat just because it is a party. Triggers compound rapidly and the last thing you want is to have to leave the party because of another migraine headache.
If you are unsure about a product or have any questions about triggers or migraines, call us at 1-866-867-5953 or send an email to Questions@Tuliv.com and we will do the research for you. We do this as a free service to help prevent migraines and add to the list of products that may cause migraines.
See more about avoiding triggers at Triggers List
Be safe and enjoy the holidays.
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