migraine and gluten?
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migraine and gluten?
is there any link to migrains and gluten, the reason I ask this is because my grandaughter cant eat gluten ,if she does she has EXPLOSIVE D, her mum, my daughter suffers with really bad migrains quite regularly, sometimes very bad and getting more frequent, any ideas? Beni
There's definitely a connection.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/84154 ... migraines/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/84154 ... migraines/
Function
In sensitive individuals, gluten can cause inflammation in the central nervous system, and that inflammation leads to migraines. In a 2001 study published in the medical journal "Neurology," Dr. Marios Hadjivassiliou, a physician in Sheffield, United Kingdom, tested 10 long-term chronic headache patients and found that all were gluten-sensitive. Some of them also had symptoms such as a lack of balance or coordination, and all had central nervous system inflammation, according to the study.
Types
Dr. Rodney Ford, a pediatrician in Christchurch, New Zealand, wrote in 2009 in the medical journal "Medical Hypotheses" that migraines and other neurological symptoms due to gluten consumption can occur both in celiac disease patients as well as in patients who do not have any gluten-induced intestinal damage. In addition to migraines, gluten can cause developmental delays, learning disorders, depression and other nervous system disorders, Dr. Ford says.
Benefits
It's difficult to tell if migraines are triggered by gluten because gluten-containing food is so ubiquitous; most people consume wheat, barley or rye multiple times every day. No medication is available to curb the effects of gluten on someone who is sensitive to it, but a gluten-free diet (a diet free of wheat, barley and rye products) generally will stop migraines almost completely.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/84154 ... z2Dc4w4rCw
Hi Beni,
In addition to what Deb wrote, virtually all of us on this board, who had major migraine problems at one time, (including me), have found that our migraines completely disappeared after we adopted the GF diet and our intestines healed.
I would bet a gluten-free cookie that your daughter's migraines will disappear forever, if she will adopt the GF diet, and follow it carefully. If you will read some of Dr. Hadjivassiliou's research articles, you will find that for many people, their gluten sensitivity presents as neurological symptoms only — gastrointestinal symptoms may show up later, or never, but the neurological symptoms are proof that they are sensitive to gluten, because it inflames their brain and their central nervous system. According to my experience, when gastrointestinal symptoms are also present, this can lead to inflammation of the enteric nervous system, as well, because I was left with permanent damage to both my central nervous symptom (and probably my brain), and my enteric nervous system. (The enteric nervous system is a separate nervous system that controls all digestive processes, and it functions independently of the brain and the central nervous system).
http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/72/5/560.full
Tex
In addition to what Deb wrote, virtually all of us on this board, who had major migraine problems at one time, (including me), have found that our migraines completely disappeared after we adopted the GF diet and our intestines healed.
I would bet a gluten-free cookie that your daughter's migraines will disappear forever, if she will adopt the GF diet, and follow it carefully. If you will read some of Dr. Hadjivassiliou's research articles, you will find that for many people, their gluten sensitivity presents as neurological symptoms only — gastrointestinal symptoms may show up later, or never, but the neurological symptoms are proof that they are sensitive to gluten, because it inflames their brain and their central nervous system. According to my experience, when gastrointestinal symptoms are also present, this can lead to inflammation of the enteric nervous system, as well, because I was left with permanent damage to both my central nervous symptom (and probably my brain), and my enteric nervous system. (The enteric nervous system is a separate nervous system that controls all digestive processes, and it functions independently of the brain and the central nervous system).
http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/72/5/560.full
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
many thanks, I will pass the info on, yesterday as well as the migraine she also had some tingling in her fingers, I know that means her nerves in her spine are playing up because of this 3 day migraine, she went to the doctor and has had more drugs to "treat" the pain so she really has nothing to loose by going GF but I know if I hadnt had manic D 10 times a day I would have been loath to give up, now I am glad I did as the other benifits are great including a clear head,(most of the time)!!!!! thanks again Beni
Add me to the list! I suffered from debilitating migraines during my 20's and 30's in which I regulary took 4-6 ibuprofin 
for migraines that would last 6-8 days that never really helped. Most likely, it helped me along to where I am now but even the RX meds for migraines wasn't satisfactory. I would agree 100% that there's a connection. I don't have migraines anymore. My nephew has headache/migraine issues and I'm always the one in the background jumping up and down shouting- "It's what he's eating!!!" but no one listens. It makes me sad because most often the hardest part is to start with the changes one can control. Too often, IMO, people look at me like I'm nuts because why would you want to stop your eating habits if you can just take a pill? I used to be of that mentality too until my health declined so horribly and the RX drugs offered became much scarier.
I hope your granddaughter finds some relief.
for migraines that would last 6-8 days that never really helped. Most likely, it helped me along to where I am now but even the RX meds for migraines wasn't satisfactory. I would agree 100% that there's a connection. I don't have migraines anymore. My nephew has headache/migraine issues and I'm always the one in the background jumping up and down shouting- "It's what he's eating!!!" but no one listens. It makes me sad because most often the hardest part is to start with the changes one can control. Too often, IMO, people look at me like I'm nuts because why would you want to stop your eating habits if you can just take a pill? I used to be of that mentality too until my health declined so horribly and the RX drugs offered became much scarier.I hope your granddaughter finds some relief.
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d'libarian
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2012 4:13 pm
- Location: Clarkston, Washington
If people can accept that chocolate, wine, MSG and other "edibles" can cause migraine, why is the idea of gluten so difficult? Maybe the implications of going gf in our society makes it too overwhelming to contemplate. Less than a month ago I went gf and found myself actually mourning the things I thought I couldn't eat anymore.
GF prepared food is expensive! Reading some of the other threads, I can see that we who are accustomed to scratch cooking do have an advantage. (I Will come up with an equivalent to my peanutbutteroatmealchocolatechip cookies!) But once my kitchen is stocked with gf cooking staples that I know work for me, I can see that it won't be so bad. I've already found and tried in a veggie casserole a recipe for condensed cream of mushroom soup that is not only equal in cost to -- or maybe even less expensive than Campbell's, but tastes sooooo much better. And I know what's in it (yes, mushrooms are a natural source of free glutamate, but some things are just worth it!)
The cost in dr. visits, fancy pills, and lost family/work/recreation time is also expensive. And how do we put a monitary value on feeling better, much less good? When I think of all the years of misery and all the time I lost to migraine that I probably could have had if I had used gf flour in my baking ...
le
GF prepared food is expensive! Reading some of the other threads, I can see that we who are accustomed to scratch cooking do have an advantage. (I Will come up with an equivalent to my peanutbutteroatmealchocolatechip cookies!) But once my kitchen is stocked with gf cooking staples that I know work for me, I can see that it won't be so bad. I've already found and tried in a veggie casserole a recipe for condensed cream of mushroom soup that is not only equal in cost to -- or maybe even less expensive than Campbell's, but tastes sooooo much better. And I know what's in it (yes, mushrooms are a natural source of free glutamate, but some things are just worth it!)
The cost in dr. visits, fancy pills, and lost family/work/recreation time is also expensive. And how do we put a monitary value on feeling better, much less good? When I think of all the years of misery and all the time I lost to migraine that I probably could have had if I had used gf flour in my baking ...
le
I sure felt this sense of mourning too as I know others here have. Cooking has always been something I've enjoyed and my initial reaction was that it was over. However, it's become a new challenge for me....cooking good, healthy and safe food. I really am trying to find and cook gluten free foods that my entire extended family enjoys. There are already food sensitivies in my grands and I think the more I can teach them the easier it will be for them down the road. Also, I've already tried to GF replicate some favorite birthday cakes and they've turned out pretty darn good. Here' a good soup I made last night using leftover turkey broth. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina- ... index.html I used Trader Joe's turkey kielbasa which I liked but DH thought the casing was a bit tough. DebLess than a month ago I went gf and found myself actually mourning the things I thought I couldn't eat anymore
I had migraines for years, starting when I was in college in the 70s. I thought it was red wine, hard cheese, beef, chocolate, all those common triggers. Or birth control pills, which I ultimately had to stop taking. For years, I could eat one of those foods at a meal, but never in combination. Then, for the duration of my career, I chalked the migraines up to the stress of being an urban/middle school teacher. But I haven't had a single migraine since I retired, was diagnosed with LC, and stopped gluten and dairy. I do, however, still get occasional ocular migraines, mostly caused by fluorescent lights or glare.
Suze