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“Migraines & Autoimmune Disease”

Ugh, the dreaded migraine. Unfortunately, too many of us experience these debilitating headaches on a regular basis. I have been encountering one too many this summer. They really do take such a toll and are exhausting. I am completely wiped out for days.  The fatigue hits me harder than the actual headache/migraine part. It does seem that many people with an autoimmune condition tend to have a higher frequency of migraines.

Crazy and unfortunate but migraines are genetically related. If a child has a parent with regular migraines, that child is more prone to having migraines. I know my father would get absolutely awful migraines that would take him down for days. My father also had an autoimmune disease – anti-phospholipid syndrome (an autoimmune condition that attacks the proteins in the blood) – say that 3 times fast! He also had type 1 diabetes (another autoimmune condition). This plays into the fact that one autoimmune condition can lead into multiple autoimmune conditions. And this is why I am so steadfast about health – maximizing our health and taking care of ourselves allows us to live our best life. We all deserve that chance – to live our best life!

In the pursuit of living our best life, we have to delve deeper into what the triggers are causing these migraines. Checkout the most common triggers below:

  1. STRESS – yes – of course, the begrudged stress factor. It really does a number on the body. I do try to manage my stress (mostly all self-inflicted of course) by exercising, getting good sleep, using CBD daily along with some supplements such as magnesium. I have been encouraged by friends to start practicing meditation and am aiming to start this soon.
  2. Alcohol Consumption – ever wake up with that hangover headache? Well alcohol can actually lead into an all out migraine. I have to pick and choose when I will have my occasional glass of wine or drink because I know this risk applies to me.
  3. Changes in Weather – Ever hear someone that suffers with regular migraines talk about the weather impacting their migraine flare-ups? Well a study was done in 2015 and half the people who regularly deal with migraines have found the change in weather to be a trigger. Storms, temperature extremes and change in the barometric pressure. Barometric pressure alters levels of serotonin and other chemicals in the brain. More specifically high temps and humidity play into this. That has definitely been the case for me this summer.
  4. Trigger Foods – The first items on the list are food additives and processed foods. We should be aiming to stay away from this in our diet as much as possible. I am suspecting dairy to be a trigger for me since I have eliminated it for a long time and decided to attempt reintroduction.
  5. Other foods to be aware of:
    1. Caffeine
    2. Aspartame (artificial sweetener)
    3. Chocolate
    4. Nuts
    5. Wheat
    6. Dairy
    7. Eggs
    8. Nitrites
    9. MSG

What about the foods you should be eating?

  • I recommend foods in the most whole, natural form possible. This means no preservatives and no artificial flavorings.
    • Check out your local farm stand or produce department at your favorite grocery store.
  • As of recent, I have become more intrigued with all the benefits of a vegan diet. I likely will never go 100% vegan but have been making more of an effort to eat less meat. They have found that a vegan diet has helped those suffering with migraines.
  • Other recommended diet approaches include the Autoimmune Protocol and /or Autoimmune Protocol.
  • My Autoimmune Friendly Approach works well for me. This includes whole foods without wheat or dairy. Limiting red meat to twice monthly and no processed sugars (only in its whole, natural form). More to follow on my “AIFA” program.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/migraine/what-to-eat-when-you-have-a-migraine#migraine-triggers

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Click Link Below for Free Coaching Video Series

  1. Managing Stress During Coronavirus Pandemic
  2. How to Minimize Sugar And Improve Energy
  3. How to Boost Your Immune System & Combat Coronavirus
  4. Tips For Better Quality Sleep
  5. Beating Your Inner Resistance – Habit Change
  6. Reality of MS & Autoimmune Disease
  7. The State of Our Mental Health During the Covid Crisis
  8. Prevalence of Food Sensitivity & Determining If You Have One
  9. Tips & Tricks to Quarantine Weight Loss
  10. Going Into A Corona Summer
  11. Water as Medicine
  12. Overcoming Typical Diet Challenges
  13. How to Experience A Healthy Summer
  14. Intermittent Fasting for Fighting Inflammation
  15. Why Organic?
  16. Migraines & Autoimmune Disease

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Cheers To Your Health,

Coach Christi

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