Finally, alcohol leads to dehydration and contains agents introduced in the fermentation process, such as yeast, fruit, malt, molasses, and preservatives, which can also trigger migraine. If you drink, it is best to stick to white wine, gin and vodka, mixing these with a nonalcoholic beverage such as soda, followed by a glass of water. Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, pop, cocoa and chocolate, may in some cases help relieve headaches, but it may also set them off. Caffeine has the effect of raising and then lowering blood sugar levels. While the response in individuals is quite variable, this can lead to blood vessels constricting and then dilating, in some cases leading to a migraine attack.
Most people don t get headaches during the caffeine rush, because the vessels are kept constricted.
It is when the caffeine wears off, that vessels can dilate quickly and result in a headache. That is why many people who are regular coffee drinkers wake up with a headache, which they then respond to by drinking a cup of coffee. This is also why, when regular coffee drinkers drink decaffeinated coffee on the weekend, they tend to get a migraine. For those who aren t regular coffee drinkers and are therefore less susceptible to withdrawal, drinking the occasional cup of coffee in the early stages of a migraine attack can constrict the blood vessels and abort the attack. Artificial food additives used to enhance flavour or colour can be migraine triggers.