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Can low carb trigger migraines?
ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken
Posts: 1,530 Member
Anyone with experience in this regard? I tend to keep my carbs between 50 g and 80 g a day. I have been at this for a few moths now. Can low carb affect hormones or migraines in any way? Thanks!
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I used to get migraines maybe once every few weeks. Now I get them several times a week.1
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You're possibly going in and out of ketosis without ever getting fully keto adapted? Have you tried up electrolytes? If more electrolytes don't work, try lower your carbs a bit.
I can get headachy when I eat too much carbs. Good luck!1 -
I don't think mine got worse but recently (after going Keto) I got a Daith piercing to combat them (last ditch effort). I've had migraines since age 7 and my oldest daughter has had them since the same age. She's 16 now. I've not had one since getting the piercing a month ago. Anna seems to get one on occasion but not as bad as before.
How new to LCHF are you? Maybe adapting? Migraines seem to be triggered by so many possible things that I wouldn't doubt they've increased but wonder if they'll back off as time progresses...also, are you keeping your electrolytes up? That would give me a headache for sure, if I wasn't getting Mag properly.1 -
Foamroller wrote: »You're possibly going in and out of ketosis without ever getting fully keto adapted? Have you tried up electrolytes? If more electrolytes don't work, try lower your carbs a bit.
I can get headachy when I eat too much carbs. Good luck!
This could be possible. I have some very low carb days and others not so low. I will say, when I do get a migraine I do not eat thanks to the horrible nausea that comes with the headache. So I just now had a couple of eggs. First thing I have been able to eat all day.0 -
RowdysLady wrote: »I don't think mine got worse but recently (after going Keto) I got a Daith piercing to combat them (last ditch effort). I've had migraines since age 7 and my oldest daughter has had them since the same age. She's 16 now. I've not had one since getting the piercing a month ago. Anna seems to get one on occasion but not as bad as before.
How new to LCHF are you? Maybe adapting? Migraines seem to be triggered by so many possible things that I wouldn't doubt they've increased but wonder if they'll back off as time progresses...also, are you keeping your electrolytes up? That would give me a headache for sure, if I wasn't getting Mag properly.
I have been at this for about 3 months now. So It's not new, however I do not maintain a very low carb diet. I tend to go between very low and maybe moderately low. Maybe the see-saw is doing me wrong?0 -
Dairy is a migraine trigger for my mom. She had to cut it out completely. Have you upped your dairy since going Keto?1
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missippibelle wrote: »Dairy is a migraine trigger for my mom. She had to cut it out completely. Have you upped your dairy since going Keto?
No I haven't. It's still about the same as it has always been. But that may not mean much. I think I'll make a list of things to cut out and see what happens.0 -
She didn't even realize that it was a trigger until she had to eliminate it from her diet for other reasons. When she slipped up or cheated..massive migraine. Sometimes its hard to tell what may be triggering it. An elimination diet can be helpful.1
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So when she eats dairy, how long after does her migraine hit?0
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I have friends with migraines that are triggered by artificial sweeteners...have you added more of those in since going LC?1
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I have friends with migraines that are triggered by artificial sweeteners...have you added more of those in since going LC?
Nope! Not that I am aware of. I despise artificial sweeteners! I should do some checking though I find that they are always slipping that stuff in when we aren't looking. Note to self!0 -
My migraine triggers include beef, pork, and chicken...so, depending on what your triggers are, you may be inadvertently consuming more of your trigger foods without realizing it.1
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Taking a magnesium supplement has helped my migraines tremendously.3
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RowdysLady wrote: »I don't think mine got worse but recently (after going Keto) I got a Daith piercing to combat them (last ditch effort). I've had migraines since age 7 and my oldest daughter has had them since the same age. She's 16 now. I've not had one since getting the piercing a month ago. Anna seems to get one on occasion but not as bad as before.
How new to LCHF are you? Maybe adapting? Migraines seem to be triggered by so many possible things that I wouldn't doubt they've increased but wonder if they'll back off as time progresses...also, are you keeping your electrolytes up? That would give me a headache for sure, if I wasn't getting Mag properly.
I just learned about the piercing and how it helps with migraines from a friend who just got it done. She's been free of them since the piercing too but it's new.
Did anyone mention the electrolytes post in the launchpad?
You don't have to have ALL of the symptoms for this to be your issue. But any or all of these are insanely common if you don't make a very specific effort to replace the sodium lost from all the water you lose.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10358179/keto-flu-dizzy-weak-tired-headaches-cramping-muscles-electrolyte-imbalance-may-be-your-problem#latest0 -
I'm going to start drinking electrolyte water. Since I've been working to increase my water intake, I think it would help me accomplish that plus get my electrolytes in which will hopefully reduce my headaches.1
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sThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken wrote: »So when she eats dairy, how long after does her migraine hit?
Sometimes it's after a few hours, and sometimes it will be the next day. She has drastically reduced her use of imitrex since eliminating dairy.
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I used to have migraines at least a third of the time but I discovered that it was caused by autoimmune problems - celiac disease. Once I treated the underlying problem, the migraines mostly went away. Now I get one every month or two.
Reactive hypoglycemia led to a few headaches too. Blood glucose swinging up and down. LCHF helped that.
BUT I get wicked headaches when my electrolytes get low. Even now, 18 months in, I get them if I haven't salted up for a few days. I am trying to cut back from my 3000-5000mg per day because I don't love salt, but my body seems to want to stay over 2000mg per day.1 -
Thanks so much for all the helpful input. I am going to try and get to the bottom of it. Of course if it turns out to be something like hormones there may not be much that can be done. I really hope it isn't dairy though, I love cheese! LOL!0
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I developed migraines last year, but they seem triggered by something in some AS (I avoid Walden Farms stuff like the plague - it seems to be something in their "natural flavors" camouflage list), and then a tolerance reaction with histamines. Avoiding/minimizing these has left me free of any major migraines since then, though my sinus headaches, when I get them, are now worse than they used to be.
And yeah, the sodium loss headaches are killer, but nothing compared to the instant hellish levels of pain from WF products, the generic WM brand stevia drops (sucralose, same ingredient list, doesn't trigger it, other stevias don't trigger it), and such...like black out/hope to die levels of pain. Ocular and escalating migraines trigger with histamines. Now having to avoid fermented foods and too old leftovers, etc.1 -
That is my Mom exactly. She discovered she was a celiac. She eliminated gluten, and her headaches got a little better. Then she realized that dairy was an issue too. After stopping dairy, they almost went away completely. She only gets them occasionally now.I used to have migraines at least a third of the time but I discovered that it was caused by autoimmune problems - celiac disease. Once I treated the underlying problem, the migraines mostly went away. Now I get one every month or two.
Reactive hypoglycemia led to a few headaches too. Blood glucose swinging up and down. LCHF helped that.
BUT I get wicked headaches when my electrolytes get low. Even now, 18 months in, I get them if I haven't salted up for a few days. I am trying to cut back from my 3000-5000mg per day because I don't love salt, but my body seems to want to stay over 2000mg per day.
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I used to have migraines at least a third of the time but I discovered that it was caused by autoimmune problems - celiac disease. Once I treated the underlying problem, the migraines mostly went away. Now I get one every month or two.
Reactive hypoglycemia led to a few headaches too. Blood glucose swinging up and down. LCHF helped that.
BUT I get wicked headaches when my electrolytes get low. Even now, 18 months in, I get them if I haven't salted up for a few days. I am trying to cut back from my 3000-5000mg per day because I don't love salt, but my body seems to want to stay over 2000mg per day.
This specifically was mentioned a lot in the thread. I think it could be part of it. I will try this first. I think the migraine creates a vicious cycle as far as electrolytes go because when I get the migraine I also get terrible nausea and end not eating for the whole day, but drinking a lot of water. Maybe I'll just add a dash of salt to my water from time to time in addition to getting more sodium in food.0 -
I just scrolled through my food diary a bit. My sodium intake really isn't very high. This could very well be the issue.1
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I used to get raging tension migraines several times a month and would last for days on and off. Since doing low carb and then transitioning to Keto I only have small headaches when I'm not getting enough sodium. Other than that I haven't had one in almost a month. My grandmother gets migraines and this is the only woe that allows her to eat and avoid migraines.2
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ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken wrote: »I used to have migraines at least a third of the time but I discovered that it was caused by autoimmune problems - celiac disease. Once I treated the underlying problem, the migraines mostly went away. Now I get one every month or two.
Reactive hypoglycemia led to a few headaches too. Blood glucose swinging up and down. LCHF helped that.
BUT I get wicked headaches when my electrolytes get low. Even now, 18 months in, I get them if I haven't salted up for a few days. I am trying to cut back from my 3000-5000mg per day because I don't love salt, but my body seems to want to stay over 2000mg per day.
This specifically was mentioned a lot in the thread. I think it could be part of it. I will try this first. I think the migraine creates a vicious cycle as far as electrolytes go because when I get the migraine I also get terrible nausea and end not eating for the whole day, but drinking a lot of water. Maybe I'll just add a dash of salt to my water from time to time in addition to getting more sodium in food.
I do that with coffee - always add salt. When I get a bit low, I drink a teaspoon of salt in my water. It's a fast cure for me.1 -
missippibelle wrote: »That is my Mom exactly. She discovered she was a celiac. She eliminated gluten, and her headaches got a little better. Then she realized that dairy was an issue too. After stopping dairy, they almost went away completely. She only gets them occasionally now.I used to have migraines at least a third of the time but I discovered that it was caused by autoimmune problems - celiac disease. Once I treated the underlying problem, the migraines mostly went away. Now I get one every month or two.
Reactive hypoglycemia led to a few headaches too. Blood glucose swinging up and down. LCHF helped that.
BUT I get wicked headaches when my electrolytes get low. Even now, 18 months in, I get them if I haven't salted up for a few days. I am trying to cut back from my 3000-5000mg per day because I don't love salt, but my body seems to want to stay over 2000mg per day.
It's really hard to figure out a food that causes headaches. Loud noise or stress, sure. But a blueberry muffin or pasta salad? Nope. It took me decades to finally figure it out.
It's crazy how foods can affect us. Arthritis was my worst symptom. Joint pain from toast? So weird. LOL1 -
Ditto to all the electrolyte suggestions. I've suffered with migraines my whole life, but dehydration is definitely a guaranteed headache for me, one that pairs itself well with a hearty dose of nausea. A bowl of miso soup with some gluten free soy sauce is my go-to solution, followed by plenty of water to rehydrate.2
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Well I have been staying up on my salt and other minerals. I just got hit again about an hour ago. I had the aura and now a migraine. Thankfully it's not a severe migraine. It's just a nuisance compared to the one I had earlier in the week. I have had 3 of these in 7 days. I can't say I'm feeling thrilled about the frequency.0
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Have you tried drinking chicken broth? I've had migraines for as long as I can remember but do notice the frequency increases whenever I restart a low carb diet. Usually I can drink a cup or 2 of chicken broth and the migraine goes away pretty quickly.1
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Have you tried drinking chicken broth? I've had migraines for as long as I can remember but do notice the frequency increases whenever I restart a low carb diet. Usually I can drink a cup or 2 of chicken broth and the migraine goes away pretty quickly.
You know. That is a great idea. I actually used to make a habit of roasting a whole chicken once a week and then using the carcass to make stock which I drank a cup or two of daily. I don't know why I stopped doing that. Thank your for the suggestion! I am going shopping today and I think I'll pick up a couple of chickens.0
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