LIFE diet: Dark leafy greens could offer promising migraine relief – Medical News Today
Share on PinterestFollowing a plant-based diet rich in dark, leafy vegetables could reduce the effects of migraine, a new study finds. Jimena Roquero/Stocksy
- In the United States, 1 in 6 adults reports experiencing migraine and severe headaches.
- Current treatment includes removing dietary triggers, reducing stress, and taking medication.
- A recent case report describes how one person achieved long-term migraine relief and needed less medication by following a diet that included more dark, leafy greens.
- The authors of the report conclude that the whole food, plant-based diet may have these effects by increasing beta carotenoid levels or helping people whose migraine does not respond to medication identify potential triggers.
Migraine ranks second among the causes of global disability. In young women, specifically, it is the leading cause.
In the U.S. alone, over 40 million people have this often-disabling neurological disorder. Still, treatment options are limited, and conventional approaches may not always lead to dramatic improvement.
This was true for a 60-year-old man who lived with migraine episodes for 12 years. His migraine became chronic 6 months before he saw the authors of a recent case study published in the BMJ.
The man had already received standard treatment, eliminated known triggers from his diet, and engaged in stress reduction techniques, such as meditation and yoga. These failed to improve his symptoms.
Then, as part of a study on the links between diet and migraine, he switched to a plant-based diet called the Low Inflammatory Foods Everyday (LIFE) diet.
After a few weeks, the man experienced remarkable relief from his severe, frequent migraine episodes.
His case represents the longest that migraine has gone into remission solely as a result of dietary intervention, the authors of the report believe.
They conclude that while more research is necessary, a plant-based, whole food diet could represent a migraine treatment.
Current therapy involves medication and avoiding triggers. Many diets may help, including a low glycemic diet, ketogenic diet, and low fat diet.
Dr. David Dunaief, the senior author of the study, Dr. Brittany Perzia, the lead author, and Dr. Joshua Dunaief, a contributing …….