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Do These Foods Cause Migraines?
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![Food Diary Food Diary](https://img.lb.wbmdstatic.com/vim/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/articles/health_tools/do_these_foods_cause_migraines_slideshow/493ss_thinkstock_rf_photo_of_woman_eating_and_taking_notes.jpg?resize=652px:*&output-quality=75)
Food Diary
The best way to figure out what foods cause your migraines is to keep careful track of what you eat. Just because you eat a food right before a migraine doesn’t necessarily mean it was the cause. It’s important to see patterns.
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Chocolate
It’s often thought of as a trigger, but some studies suggest chocolate may not cause migraines and may even help prevent them. It might be that people crave chocolate just before getting a migraine, and that’s what gives it a bad rap.
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Coffee
Java can be both good and bad. An occasional cup -- once or twice a week -- may help prevent migraines. But if you have a daily caffeine habit, it may not be as helpful. In fact, skipping your morning coffee could become a trigger.
![MSG: Monosodium Glutamate MSG: Monosodium Glutamate](https://img.lb.wbmdstatic.com/vim/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/articles/health_tools/do_these_foods_cause_migraines_slideshow/493ss_thinkstock_rf_photo_of_chinese_chicken_dish_and_rice.jpg?resize=652px:*&output-quality=100)
MSG: Monosodium Glutamate
This staple of so much Asian cooking bestows a certain savory flavor foodies call “umami.” Some people blame it for their migraines. There are some studies that back this up, but others do not.
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Beer
Beer on tap has about 25 times the migraine-inducing tyramine as beer in bottles. So if you really want a cold one, ask for a bottle. Or change it up and order a bourbon. It doesn’t have any of the stuff. But know that any kind of alcohol can be a trigger for some people.
![Red Wine Red Wine](https://img.lb.wbmdstatic.com/vim/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/articles/health_tools/do_these_foods_cause_migraines_slideshow/493ss_getty_rf_photo_of_glasses_of_red_wine.jpg?resize=652px:*&output-quality=100)
Red Wine
This is widely thought to be a trigger, but an Italian study involving more than 300 people found no connection between migraines and red wine. So it may not be the vino. Unless you drink the whole bottle -- then a headache might be the least of your problems.
![Cheese Cheese](https://img.lb.wbmdstatic.com/vim/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/articles/health_tools/do_these_foods_cause_migraines_slideshow/493ss_getty_rf_photo_of_variety_of_cheeses.jpg?resize=652px:*&output-quality=100)
Cheese
Do you like that eye-tearing sharp cheddar or stinky aged brie? Both are likely to have high levels of tyramine, a substance linked to migraines. Milder cheeses, like mozzarella and ricotta, are fine, though.
![Salami Salami](https://img.lb.wbmdstatic.com/vim/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/articles/health_tools/do_these_foods_cause_migraines_slideshow/493ss_thinkstock_rf_photo_of_salami_sandwich.jpg?resize=652px:*&output-quality=100)
Salami
Cured meats are also high in migraine-linked tyramine, so if you crave a hunk of red meat, go for a burger or steak instead. Not everyone is sensitive to tyramine, so if you know it doesn’t affect you, go ahead and order that salami sandwich!