Because the FDA now requires all food manufacturers to provide consumers a detailed food label, it is easier to spot this potential trigger. Nitrates, nitrites, sulfates, and sulfites are all chemical additives that are used to preserve food. These substances are commonly used in processed meats, cured meats, and aged cheeses. Many people who suffer from migraines, experience headaches after eating foods that contain nitrates. The trigger that everyone seems to associate with headaches is caffeine.
Caffeine initially causes blood vessels to shrink.
Once the effects of the caffeine wear off, the blood vessels dilate, which can lead to a headache. Many people have experienced this type of headache after forgoing their daily caffeine fix on the weekend. As you can see, there are many factors that can lead to migraines. While dietary intake is not the sole cause of migraine headaches, it is one factor that migraine sufferers must look at when evaluating their treatment plan. For many people, the only way to decrease the number of migraines they have is to avoid those foods that might trigger the migraine in the first place.