Do you suffer from debilitating migraines? If so, the keto diet may be able to help. The ketogenic diet has been linked to reducing inflammation and balancing hormones in the body, both of which can contribute to migraine pain relief. In this article, we’ll discuss how managing your migraines through a keto diet can make a positive impact on your life. Plus I’ll take you through how keto helped my migraines.
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Migraine headaches are one of the most common types of headaches people experience. They’re often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound – making them difficult to manage day-to-day.
But what if there was an easy solution that could reduce or even eliminate these agonizing attacks? That’s where the keto diet comes in!
The keto diet is a high fat, low carbohydrate dietary approach that puts your body into a metabolic state known as “ketosis”.
This state triggers changes within our bodies that have been found to reduce inflammation and balance hormones – two factors associated with migraine headache relief.
So let’s dive into how managing your migraines through the keto diet can improve your quality of life.
Definition Of Migraine [+What Causes Them]
Migraines are a type of recurrent headache that can cause intense and debilitating pain. If you suffer with them, as I do, you’ll appreciate the difference between a migraine and a headach.
The symptoms vary from person to person but usually include a throbbing sensation, sensitivity to light and noise, nausea, and vomiting.
Migraine patients often experience additional issues such as fatigue, depression, anxiety and cognitive impairment.
Although the exact causes of migraines remain unknown, some triggers have been identified such as stress, alcohol consumption, sleep depravation, certain foods, or missed meals.
The keto diet is an increasingly popular health trend that involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake while increasing fat intake.
This change in eating habits has been linked to several positive health benefits including weight loss, improved mental clarity and increased energy levels.
It may also be beneficial for those suffering from migraine headaches due to its ability to reduce inflammation and stabilize blood sugar levels – two factors which can contribute to migraine attacks.
Basic Principles Of The Keto Diet
The keto diet is a type of low carb diet that has been gaining popularity in recent years. It involves drastically reducing the amount of carbohydrates consumed and replacing them with fats, resulting in the body producing more energy from fat instead of glucose.
This diet follows a few simple principles to help manage migraine pain:
- Reduce daily carbohydrate intake – The ketogenic diet requires you to decrease your daily carb intake significantly, usually below 20 grams per day. This helps reduce inflammation associated with migraines by preventing elevated blood sugar levels which can trigger headaches.
- Increase dietary fat consumption – Eating plenty of healthy fats such as avocado, coconut oil, nuts, and seeds helps promote weight loss while also providing fuel for your cells to use as energy instead of glucose. This allows your body to produce ketone bodies which provide an alternative source of energy when carbs are limited.
- Focus on nutrient-dense foods – As part of following a ketogenic diet for migraines, it’s important to focus on eating nutritious whole foods like lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables, and some fruits (in moderation). Doing so will ensure you get adequate vitamins and minerals without spiking your blood sugar levels or adding unnecessary calories into your diet plan.
By taking these steps to reduce carbohydrate intake and increase dietary fat consumption through the keto diet, you may be able to effectively manage migraine pain over time and improve quality of life.
How Ketones Feed The Bodies Cells
The keto diet has been seen to be a successful way to manage migraines. This is because when following the ketogenic diet, your body produces more ketones than usual, which can increase blood ketone levels and provide relief from headaches.
When in a state of high-ketosis, the mitochondria in our cells are able to convert these ketones into energy much faster than other sources such as glucose or fatty acids.
Therefore, by increasing ones intake of dietary fats while on the keto diet, one can ensure their bodies are getting sufficient amounts of ketones needed for proper mitochondrial functioning.
This improved mitochondrial functioning results in better regulation of hormones and neurotransmitters which can result in migraine prevention.
Additionally, increased production of glutathione (an important antioxidant) due to the presence of higher amounts of dietary fat helps improve overall health and reduce inflammation throughout the body; both factors that contribute positively towards migraine management.
Thus, it’s clear how beneficial it can be for people suffering from migraines to follow a low carbohydrate/high fat diet like the keto diet – not only does it potentially help prevent future occurrences but also provides immediate relief from current symptoms.
Anecdotal Evidence To Support The Keto Diet Reducing Migraines
Many people have tried the keto diet to reduce their migraine frequency and severity. People who struggle with migraines often report that following a ketogenic diet can help prevent or lessen the intensity of migraine attacks.
This is likely due to the weight loss associated with the dietary requirements of the keto diet, as well as an increase in beneficial nutrients like vitamins and minerals.
Additionally, some individuals report experiencing fewer episodes of brain fog when adhering to a low-carbohydrate meal plan.
Overall, anecdotal evidence suggests that those suffering from migraines may benefit from making dietary changes such as adopting a keto lifestyle. I will take you through my migraine and keto experience below.
While more scientific studies are needed to make definitive claims about how effective this type of diet is for reducing migraine symptoms, it could be worth trying if other methods haven’t worked.
My Experience [Migraines & Keto]
I had been living with migraines for years, and it was taking a toll on my life. I would be out of commission for 24 hours at a time, sometimes longer. It got to the point where I was getting a migraine every 4-6 weeks.
I was so desperate for relief that I decided to try the keto diet, hoping that it would help me manage my migraines as well as improve my overall health.
Anybody who has lived with migraines will appreciate how desperate you can get to find a solution.
None of the prescribed medications worked
But after about three months on the keto diet, I noticed something remarkable: I hadn’t had a migraine in over two months! My energy levels were higher than ever before and my brain fog had cleared up significantly.
Yes, I still get occasional migraines, but they are much less frequent than before, and their severity has decreased dramatically. Thanks to following a ketogenic diet, I’ve been able to take better control of my health and live a more migraine-free life.
What Keto Foods To Avoid Triggering A Migraine
While the keto diet has been anecdotally linked to reducing migraines, there are certain foods that may trigger a migraine. To effectively manage and prevent migraines through the keto diet, it is important to know which common triggers to avoid.
Some of these include processed foods high in saturated fats, artificial sweeteners, alcohol, caffeine, and nitrates.
It is also important to be mindful of food allergies or sensitivities when on the keto diet as some individuals have experienced an increase in headaches due to their intolerance towards dairy products or gluten-containing grains like wheat and barley.
Additionally, consuming large amounts of protein can lead to dehydration; this can cause headaches if not managed properly with adequate water intake throughout the day.
Therefore it is key for those following a keto plan to ensure they’re getting enough fluids each day.
By avoiding common triggers associated with migraines while following a ketogenic lifestyle, individuals can better prevent symptoms from occurring in the first place as well as reduce their intensity should they arise.
Wrapping Up: Migraines And Keto
In conclusion, the keto diet has been found to be an effective way of managing migraines. This is due to its ability to reduce inflammation and provide a steady supply of energy through ketones.
Studies have shown that people who suffer from migraine headaches experience fewer episodes when they adhere to a strict low-carbohydrate diet. Additionally, anecdotal evidence suggests that avoiding certain foods can help prevent or lessen the severity of migraine attacks.
The key to success with the keto diet for managing migraines lies in focusing on nutrient-dense whole foods as much as possible while also limiting your intake of processed and sugary items. Doing this will ensure you get all the important vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health while avoiding any potential triggers.
I’d recommend consulting with a doctor or nutritionist if you’re considering trying out this style of eating – it’s important to make sure you do it safely and effectively so you can reap all its benefits!