| Of the numerous symptoms that are sometimes | | | | consideration when choosing the best diet during |
| associated with menopause, migraines may be | | | | menopause. Migraines can be triggered by |
| the hardest to understand. For women interested | | | | different foods and beverages. Many of these are |
| in good nutrition and overall good health that also | | | | personal triggers, only affecting a small number of |
| suffer from migraines, finding the best diet during | | | | women. Some of the foods and substances that |
| menopause may be particularly difficult. Women | | | | commonly trigger migraines include caffeine, |
| face a number of challenges at this time in their | | | | chocolate, and the food preservative MSG, aged |
| lives; dealing with menopause migraines is just one | | | | cheeses, alcohol, and food additives known as |
| of them. | | | | nitrates found in hot dogs, pepperoni and other |
| Millions of women suffer from migraine headaches. | | | | preserved meats. Either excess caffeine |
| Menopause can be good news for some and bad | | | | consumption or withdrawal from caffeine can |
| news for others. It appears that changing | | | | trigger migraines. If you normally drink a cup of |
| hormonal levels trigger migraine attacks in those | | | | coffee every morning and then suddenly stop, |
| that are susceptible. Women suffering from | | | | you may have a migraine attack. |
| monthly or menstrual migraines find that they | | | | The best diet during menopause for heart health |
| have fewer headaches during menopause and | | | | is one that primarily consists of fruits and |
| post-menopause as hormone levels become | | | | vegetables, using meats as a side dish. A whole |
| lower, but more stable. On the other hand, | | | | grain, such as oatmeal, which is high in dietary |
| women who only had migraines during puberty, | | | | fiber and low in fat, is also a good choice. Most of |
| when hormonal levels were changing drastically, | | | | the sandwich bread that you see in the grocery |
| sometimes see them return during menopause | | | | store is wheat flour, not whole grain. Even, if it |
| and the years leading up to menopause, because, | | | | says whole grain on the label, check the |
| once again, hormone levels are changing. | | | | ingredients. You want the main ingredient to be a |
| Many women note a relationship between their | | | | grain, such as oats. Wheat flour also contributes |
| menstrual cycles and migraine headaches, | | | | to bloating and irregularity in women over 40. |
| experiencing more headaches on the days of the | | | | The best diet during menopause for the |
| cycle when estrogen levels are at their lowest. | | | | prevention of osteoporosis should include lean |
| Logically, this relationship caused researchers to | | | | sources of calcium. Fat free cottage cheese and |
| suspect that low levels of estrogen triggered the | | | | skim milk are good choices. Calcium |
| headaches. The current thinking, for several | | | | supplementation is good insurance for bone health, |
| reasons, is that the sudden change in hormonal | | | | but be sure to include adequate amounts of |
| levels is the trigger. Researchers testing this | | | | vitamin D and magnesium. Else the body cannot |
| theory showed that when dosages of | | | | properly absorb the calcium. A good dietary |
| supplemental estrogens were suddenly stopped, | | | | supplement for women during menopause can |
| women had migraine attacks. | | | | increase energy and overall sense of well-being. |
| Doctors have noted an increase in migraine | | | | Another dietary consideration for the prevention |
| attacks among women taking birth control pills | | | | of menopause migraines is tryptophan, an amino |
| containing high doses of estrogen. Likewise, | | | | acid found in many foods, including oats, bananas, |
| women using hormone replacement therapy have | | | | milk, yogurt and cottage cheese. Not to be |
| seen increased migraine attacks. No one knows | | | | confused with triptans, which are prescription |
| exactly what effect estrogen and other | | | | drugs sometimes prescribed to prevent |
| hormones have on the neural pathways in the | | | | menopause migraines and cluster headaches, but |
| brain or on the chemicals that transmit signals | | | | a dietary component with a similar action. 5-HTP is |
| among them, but it is clear that there is an effect. | | | | a form of tryptophan that is included in some |
| Avoiding menopause migraines will likely require an | | | | dietary supplements designed specifically for |
| individual approach to treatment, recording | | | | women. For more information about 5-HTP or for |
| personal triggers and making adjustments in | | | | general information about menopause, please visit |
| medications. | | | | the Menopause and PMS Guide. |
| There are several things to take into | | | | |