Do certain foods cause migraines?
Certain foods or components of food have been suspected, but not proven, to trigger migraines in some people. Tyramine is the suspect component of many foods that are considered migraine triggers, and is thought to cause headaches by constricting blood vessels in the brain. Tyramine is prevalent in aged or preserved foods, such as fermented soy products (soy sauce, miso, teriyaki sauce), aged cheese, alcohol, sauerkraut, olives, pickles, and smoked meats (pepperoni, salami, liverwurst). Other commonly cited offenders are caffeine, preservatives (monosodium glutamate [MSG], nitrates), and chocolate.
