Switch to Plant-Based Diet Rid Man of Chronic Migraines

By Robert Preidt and Ernie Mundell
HealthDay Reporters

THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2021 (HealthDay News) – People who dwell with power migraines undergo intense throbbing and pulsing, sensitivity to mild and sound, nausea and vomiting.

Could a plant-based weight loss program, credited with a wide range of optimistic well being impacts, additionally assist ease these power signs?

It would possibly.

Researchers in New York have revealed a case examine of 1 man with extreme power migraines who had tried every thing to curb them, after which switched to a plant-based weight loss program — loaded with lots of darkish inexperienced leafy greens.

He shortly discovered important reduction from the complications, medical doctors reported on-line Nov. 18 within the journal BMJ Case Reports.

“This report means that an entire meals plant-based weight loss program could supply a secure, efficient and everlasting remedy for reversing power migraine,” wrote a group led by Dr. David Dunaief, who makes a speciality of dietary drugs and has a non-public follow in East Setauket, N.Y.

One knowledgeable in migraine who wasn’t linked to the examine was cautiously optimistic concerning the findings.

“It is difficult to make a lot from one case report, [but] it does illustrate the significance of all of those non-pharmacological, evidence-based remedies,” mentioned Dr. Noah Rosen. He directs Northwell Health’s Headache Center in Great Neck, N.Y.

As the researchers famous, greater than 1 billion folks worldwide have migraines, outlined as one-side, pulsating complications, generally with a wide range of different signs, that final between 4 and 72 hours.

Some migraines are episodic, which means they occur fewer than 15 days per thirty days. Others are power, with 15 or extra migraine days per thirty days plus migraine options on eight days per thirty days.

To be thought-about profitable, migraine remedy should reduce the frequency and size of the assaults in half or enhance signs.

The 60-year-old man whose experiences are detailed within the report had endured extreme migraine complications with out aura for greater than 12 years. Six months earlier than his clinic referral, his migraines had grow to be power, occurring wherever from 18 to 24 days every month.

He had tried numerous potential fixes, together with the prescribed drugs zolmitriptan and topiramate. He additionally reduce out potential ‘set off’ meals, together with chocolate, cheese, nuts, caffeine, and dried fruit. Beyond this, the person additionally tried yoga and meditation to curb the assaults.

None of these interventions had labored.

The man described the ache as throbbing, beginning all of the sudden and intensely within the brow and temple on the left facet of his head. His migraines normally lasted 72 hours and likewise included sensitivity to mild and sound, nausea and vomiting. His ache severity was 10 to 12 out of a scale of 10.

He did not have excessive ranges of systemic irritation however had a traditional degree of beta carotene in his blood, probably as a result of he ate candy potatoes each day. Sweet potatoes are comparatively low in meals vitamins generally known as carotenoids, which carry anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, the authors defined.

Leafy greens equivalent to spinach, kale and watercress do comprise excessive ranges of carotenoids, nonetheless.

So, Rosen’s group suggested the person to undertake the Low Inflammatory Foods Everyday (LIFE) weight loss program. It’s a nutrient-dense, entire meals, plant-based weight loss program. The routine advocates consuming at the least 5 ounces by weight of uncooked or cooked darkish inexperienced leafy greens day-after-day, ingesting one 32-ounce each day inexperienced LIFE smoothie, and limiting consumption of entire grains, starchy greens, oils, and animal protein, significantly dairy and crimson meat.

After two months on the weight loss program, the person mentioned his migraines had been dramatically lowered — to only one migraine day per thirty days, and even that headache was much less extreme.

At the identical time, his blood exams confirmed a considerable rise in beta-carotene ranges.

Soon, the person stopped taking all his migraine meds. His migraines stopped utterly after three months and have not returned in 7 1/2 years.

The man was allergic, and beforehand revealed analysis means that higher management of allergy symptoms may result in fewer migraine complications. In this case, the person’s allergy signs additionally improved — to the purpose that he not wanted to make use of seasonal medicine.

He was additionally HIV-positive, and HIV has been linked to a heightened danger of migraines. It is feasible that the person’s HIV standing and antiretroviral medicine had contributed to his signs, the authors mentioned, although it wasn’t doable to check this additional with out stopping the antiretroviral remedy.

“While this report describes one very adherent affected person who had a outstanding response, the LIFE weight loss program has lowered migraine frequency inside 3 months in a number of extra sufferers,” Dunaief added.

For his half, Rosen mentioned that “the position of correct weight loss program and migraine has had just a few research demonstrating profit.”

Being correctly hydrated, consuming a wholesome “low-glycemic” weight loss program and getting plenty of omega 3 fatty acids (equivalent to are present in oily fish) have all been proven to have a optimistic impact on curbing migraines, he mentioned.

Beyond meals, getting good sleep, common train and psychological interventions equivalent to “cognitive behavioral remedy, mindfulness and progressive muscle leisure” may assist, Rosen mentioned.

More info

Find out extra about migraines on the American Migraine Foundation.

SOURCE: BMJ Case experiences, information launch, Nov. 18, 2021