Healthy Diet, Migranes and Encouragement needed

kthycrlsn

I'm trying really hard to do with right thing with my diet and exercise. I need help tho. I need some honest feedback and encouragement. I have a hard time with alot of foods because of migranes but I want to have a healthy diet. For example, alot of fruits and diary products are off limits because they trigger migranes. Yet I want to get my daily dairy in... I need some prodding... and coaching. Simple encouragement is really inspiring to me. Help?

Tina2Cats

I would talk to your Dr and/or google articles about migraines and foods that may trigger them. Best Wishes to you!

FixItDuck

There are alternatives to dairy, check out your local supermarket to see what they have. My daughter was on a dairy and soy free diet as an infant, so we substituted with rice milk and I learnt which of my regular recipes could be made dairy free. If it's calcium that you are concerned about, look for alternative foods which are high in calcium and other vitamins found in milk. Is it all dairy or just some items that are an issue? Maybe work out which ones you can have, or what your tolerance is - eg. having milk with your breakfast cereal might be fine, so long as you don't add yogurt and swap a cheese and salad sandwich for something else at lunch.

With fruit, it may be that it's fruit which is high in salicylates, I find large quantities of these can trigger migraines although I try to avoid them because they burn my mouth.

Maybe it's worth seeing a dietician for some advice and assistance.

kthycrlsn

I would talk to your Dr and/or google articles about migraines and foods that may trigger them. Best Wishes to you!

Thanks Tina2Cats. It's a health issue that I've been living with/treating for many years I'm familiar with the articles and foods that trigger them. I thinking I may have worded my post wrong. I'm looking for others to exchange healthy diet ideas with and encouragement.

kthycrlsn

There are alternatives to dairy, check out your local supermarket to see what they have. My daughter was on a dairy and soy free diet as an infant, so we substituted with rice milk and I learnt which of my regular recipes could be made dairy free. If it's calcium that you are concerned about, look for alternative foods which are high in calcium and other vitamins found in milk. Is it all dairy or just some items that are an issue? Maybe work out which ones you can have, or what your tolerance is - eg. having milk with your breakfast cereal might be fine, so long as you don't add yogurt and swap a cheese and salad sandwich for something else at lunch.

With fruit, it may be that it's fruit which is high in salicylates, I find large quantities of these can trigger migraines although I try to avoid them because they burn my mouth.

Maybe it's worth seeing a dietician for some advice and assistance.

Exactly! Lots of fruits have tannin's that trigger mine. My biggest triggers are citric acid, tannin's and MSG. Aspartame is high on the list. I was using dairy products as one example. Seems just about anything processed will do it. I can have milk, but most cheeses are off limits. Yogurt doesn't do me any favors either. Once in a while I can have some but not much.

Seems like anything "Diet" contains preservatives or artificial sweeteners. Because everybody is different and everybody's triggers are different, it's really a personal journey of discovery when it comes to identifying what you can and can't eat.

I was hoping for encouragement with my journey on MFP as well as alternative food suggestions to keep my diet healthy and well balanced. I'm not an experienced dieter and I'm doing pretty good- but could use some pointers on what my diet might be lacking.

Anyway, thank you for your suggestions. I appreciate it

FixItDuck

Like you, I can't eat anything "diet", but it's not a big deal for me now that I've learned that artificial sweetners are a problem. If I want to have soft drinks, I have the regular thing and only very occasionally - we mostly drink water in our house and softdrinks are for parties or special treats anyway. I simply don't buy diet products - hubby doesn't like them and my children don't need them.

How about increasing your veges - I love to have a bowl of raw carrot sticks, cucumber slices and capsicum as a snack to take to work. I am able to eat most tropical fruits and citris without any problem, it's things like apples or pears or stone fruit (although I've had the occasional apricot this summer and been OK with them) that are the problem.

I'm still learning about the food that makes my body function well and allows me to loose weight. I am looking for more of a lifestyle change, finding balance with family, work, exercise and of course a healthier diet - I don't view this as a diet because it's not about deprivation it's more about looking at my habits and seeing where I can improve (moderation is a biggie!).

You might find this website useful http://www.healthyfood.co.nz/

One thing I find, that helps me, is to try to have some protein with meals and snacks - so if I have fruit/veg for morning tea, I will try to have a piece of cheese (I know this isn't a good option for you), or some pistachio nuts (almonds are good too). I don't get hungry so quickly if I do that.

kthycrlsn

I could have swarn! I KNOW I replied to this earlier ... grrrrrrrrrrrr...

kthycrlsn

Like you, I can't eat anything "diet", but it's not a big deal for me now that I've learned that artificial sweetners are a problem. If I want to have soft drinks, I have the regular thing and only very occasionally - we mostly drink water in our house and softdrinks are for parties or special treats anyway. I simply don't buy diet products - hubby doesn't like them and my children don't need them.

How about increasing your veges - I love to have a bowl of raw carrot sticks, cucumber slices and capsicum as a snack to take to work. I am able to eat most tropical fruits and citris without any problem, it's things like apples or pears or stone fruit (although I've had the occasional apricot this summer and been OK with them) that are the problem.

I'm still learning about the food that makes my body function well and allows me to loose weight. I am looking for more of a lifestyle change, finding balance with family, work, exercise and of course a healthier diet - I don't view this as a diet because it's not about deprivation it's more about looking at my habits and seeing where I can improve (moderation is a biggie!).

You might find this website useful http://www.healthyfood.co.nz/

One thing I find, that helps me, is to try to have some protein with meals and snacks - so if I have fruit/veg for morning tea, I will try to have a piece of cheese (I know this isn't a good option for you), or some pistachio nuts (almonds are good too). I don't get hungry so quickly if I do that.

The aspartame in diet stuff kills me... and the citric acid in the regular can hurt pretty bad. I can have a regular soda once in a while, but it's rare when I do and usually only half a can.

I've been working hard at increasing my veggies with fresh salads. I've been doing the "Salad in a Jar" thing- I make about 5 nice salads in jars on Sunday and they last me through the week.

Tropical fruits I love- Last time I had a fresh pineapple it gave me a migrane tho. Had I not eaten so much, I think I would have been ok. I was enjoying it

So I'm trying to go high protein- If I don't get my protein, then I'm hungry all day. What is capsicum?

I'm with you - still learning about the foods that make my body function well and I'm making a lifestyle change. Balance is tough... I know. We need all the encouragement we can get.

Tea is another one-- really high in tannins. Gives me headaches every time. I can do coffee- usually only 1 cup a day is all I really want but the crap I put in it isn't healthy

Thanks for the link to the website... I'll check it out. Have a great day

emmamcc12

Maybe this is off topic for food, but I went through all of my food and the only thing that triggered was chocolate. The biggest is unfortunately the WEATHER. Everytime the weather changes in the winter from very cold to warmer, I am in bed with an ice pack. (Also, after trying what seems like tons of migraine meds; Relpax is a lifesaver). :happy: Hope this helps.

kthycrlsn

Maybe this is off topic for food, but I went through all of my food and the only thing that triggered was chocolate. The biggest is unfortunately the WEATHER. Everytime the weather changes in the winter from very cold to warmer, I am in bed with an ice pack. (Also, after trying what seems like tons of migraine meds; Relpax is a lifesaver). :happy: Hope this helps.

Yes! the barometric pressure effects me as well as environmental stuff- like perfumes & other chemicals. If I miss a meal, or go off my schedule.. it can trigger a migrane... there are so, so , so many triggers.

I usually take imatrix- sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn't. Never heard of Relpax. I'll have to check it out. Thanks Emmamcc12!

emmamcc12

Maybe this is off topic for food, but I went through all of my food and the only thing that triggered was chocolate. The biggest is unfortunately the WEATHER. Everytime the weather changes in the winter from very cold to warmer, I am in bed with an ice pack. (Also, after trying what seems like tons of migraine meds; Relpax is a lifesaver). :happy: Hope this helps.

Yes! the barometric pressure effects me as well as environmental stuff- like perfumes & other chemicals. If I miss a meal, or go off my schedule.. it can trigger a migrane... there are so, so , so many triggers.

I usually take imatrix- sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn't. Never heard of Relpax. I'll have to check it out. Thanks Emmamcc12!

emmamcc12

I took Imitrex for a long time via nasal spray but the taste at the back of my throat made me nauseous. I like Relpax because you don't have to catch it at the beginning of a migraine, you can take it during and it has taken it away in about 20 min to 1/2 hour. A major relief to say the least. Expensive though....12 tabs - 40Mg = $198.00 Canadian (Phew! I have a drug plan).