Within two months, the frequency of headaches dropped from 18-24 days to one day a month, and after three months the migraines completely stopped.

A recent study suggests that switching to a vegan diet may help some patients suffering from chronic migraines manage their painful headaches.

According to researchers, a man who suffered from non-stop migraines was cured of the ailment following three months of veganism.

The authors of the case report highlight that the patient was able to discontinue migraine medication following a shift to a plant-based diet. He has not had a migraine in the eight years since making the diet shift.

Dark green leafy foods such as spinach, kale, and watercress have been demonstrated to have potent antioxidants that can help alleviate severe headaches. Researchers are now urging chronic migraine sufferers to seek a “safe, effective, and permanent” plant-based diet.

Many migraineurs are aware of their trigger foods, which may include chocolate, caffeine, cheese, and nuts. In other situations, consuming these items immediately results in another terrible headache lasting between four and 72 hours.

Migraine pain severity

Migraines, which affect one billion people worldwide, manifest themselves as episodic events (fewer than 15 per month) or chronic attacks (more than 15 headaches days a month).

The authors of the study studied a man who had suffered from severe migraine headaches for over 12 years without an aura. Auras can cause migraine sufferers to see unusual sights, such as colored spots or flashing lights, during their headaches. This occurs in approximately one-third of migraine patients.

The patient in this study was prescribed medicine, advised to avoid trigger foods, and instructed to practice yoga and meditation in an attempt to alleviate the severity and frequency of the headaches. Six months prior to modifying his diet, the individual developed persistent headaches that occurred 18 to 24 days per month.

He reported the pain as beginning quickly and fiercely on the left side of his head near the forehead and temple. The discomfort was throbbing in character and lasted about 72 hours on average. Along with his headaches, he experienced sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting. On a scale of 0 to 10, he assigned a severity rating of 10 to 12 to the pain.

Low Inflammatory Foods Everyday – LIFE Diet

According to the study’s authors, the patient thereafter began a vegan diet and consumed at least five ounces of raw or cooked dark green leafy vegetables daily. He consumed a 32-ounce green smoothie and kept his intake of entire grains, starchy vegetables, oils, and animal protein to a minimum.

After two months on the LIFE diet (Low Inflammatory Foods Everyday), the patient stated that his migraine attacks had dropped to just one per month and that the duration and severity of the attacks had also decreased.

Even when he experimented with “challenge” foods such as egg whites, salmon, or iced tea — all of which provoked his headache attacks — the migraines became significantly less intense and shorter in duration. Three months later, his migraines ceased totally and have not returned.

Migraines can be exacerbated by pre-existing disorders.

Concerning the cause of the man’s migraines, the researchers remark that his HIV-positive status almost certainly contributed to the intensity of the headaches. According to the study’s authors, HIV can increase one’s likelihood of developing migraines and lead to more severe symptoms.

“This report suggests that a whole food plant-based diet may offer a safe, effective and permanent treatment for reversing chronic migraine,” write the study authors.

“While this report describes one very adherent patient who had a remarkable response, the LIFE diet has reduced migraine frequency within 3 months in several additional patients.”

Source: 10.1136/bcr-2021-243987

Image Credit: iStock

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