Living in the south of Spain a day typically starts with a café con leche and tostada. But for many migraine sufferers that can feel like a big no no.

But to avoid a migraine do you really need to avoid coffee?

Only 2 proven triggers

Let’s separate myth from scientific fact. Professor of Neuroscience, Peter Goadsby from the NIHR-Wellcome Trust King’s Clinic Research Facility, London says that only these foods are proven to trigger a migraine:

1. Alcohol
2. Nitrates (often found in cured meats)

That’s it, just two.

So coffee doesn’t cause my migraine?

Probably not, but withdrawal might.

If you have a coffee every morning before you go to work, say 8.00, then at the weekend you don’t get up until 12.00, that delay might trigger a migraine.

Routine is everything

1. Staying hydrated
2. Maintaining a stable blood sugar level
3. Getting enough sleep

These are the things most likely to prevent your migraine.

When we get stressed or upset, these are often the first things to go and we add in alcohol as well for an extra knock to our system.

This also explains why people get migraines on holiday! “But I’m more relaxed!”, yes but you are also out of your routine, eating differently, somewhere warmer so you’re not as hydrated, staying up late . . . . these can all be triggers.

Maybe it’s your aura

An aura is what we call all those signals that let you know a migraine is coming, the double vision, the sensitivity to light, the nausea . . . and they can also include food cravings.

Some of the foods that you consider “triggers” might actually be cravings as part of your aura, so your migraine is already on the way.

What to do

• Keep a diary of symptoms and attacks to help find the pattern.
• Follow the 3 steps above and stick to your routine.

If you feel a migraine coming on, a single treatment of Magnetic Therapy can reduce the severity and even prevent the attack.