Major Headache? Seven Common Migraine Triggers

Your Diet

What you eat — or don't eat — can have a profound effect on how you feel. Additionally, there are a host of chemicals in food, both natural and added, that can trigger migraines. Sensitivity to these ingredients can vary widely from person to person.

Saper recalled one patient who reported terrible headaches each morning and was totally baffled by the cause. Eventually, the patient figured out that the glass of milk he drank each night before bed was the reason behind the migraines.

Other, more common dietary triggers include monosodium glutamates (MSGs), chemicals used to add flavor to food; nitrates, used to preserve and add color to meats like bacon and hot dogs; and tyramines found in aged cheeses and red wine. Even chocolate and oranges, foods otherwise known for their antioxidant properties, contain chemicals that can trigger a migraine.

Red wine is a particularly well-documented trigger, as they are known to bring about migraines in many people.