| Several case studies have linked food intolerance | | | | improvement in migraines among celiac patients |
| and migraine; this article is one in a series which | | | | when placed on a gluten free diet, leading some |
| takes a closer look at some of the foods less | | | | to speculate that a large percentage of migraine |
| commonly suspected when a food sensitivity is | | | | patients do in fact have celiac disease(2). |
| thought to be at the root of a migraine problem. | | | | Other links between wheat intolerance and |
| Most people think first of red wine, chocolate and | | | | migraines have been studied, and in at least one |
| cheese as the most common foods that will | | | | case, nine out of ten patients experienced relief |
| cause a migraine. However as long ago as 1979 | | | | from headaches; whilst the tenth refused to |
| the prestigious Lancet published a study on | | | | eliminate gluten from their diet(3). |
| migraine and food intolerances citing wheat as the | | | | Many people choose to go vegan to improve their |
| most common reactive food(1). | | | | diet and remove foods they are intolerant to. |
| In fact wheat has recently been linked to a flurry | | | | While a significant number of them cease having |
| of other health problems ranging from fatigue to | | | | headaches shortly after beginning a vegan |
| bloating. | | | | lifestyle, others have a sharp increase in the |
| Wheat is a major allergen, and about 78% of | | | | number and severity of headaches. |
| people with migraines linked to food intolerance | | | | The Coeliac society has several forums and many |
| are sensitive to wheat as the main trigger(1). This | | | | reports of first hand experiences of vegans who |
| may be unrecognized for a long time, because | | | | discovered they had celiac disease causing various |
| wheat is so prevalent in foods, that cutting it out | | | | health problems, as many vegans depend on |
| completely is extremely difficult and involves | | | | wheat/soy products to replace the protein they |
| detailed scrutiny of labels for unsuspected | | | | would normally gain from meat and dairy. For |
| sources. Consult your health professional for | | | | some it turned out that the large amount of |
| detailed advice, failure to do so may otherwise | | | | wheat they were eating to replace proteins and |
| expose yourself to considerable suffering, by | | | | carbohydrates they were missing out on by |
| unwittingly still consuming wheat-containing food or | | | | avoiding dairy and meat had triggered gluten |
| drinks. | | | | intolerance. With the the large amounts of gluten |
| Some maintain that claiming allergy to wheat is an | | | | eliminated from the diet, the migraines ceased(4). |
| affectation, citing the desire to follow celebrities | | | | Based on this information, it appears more than |
| such as Rachel Weisz who has been public about | | | | likely that wheat and gluten are responsible for |
| her wheat intolerance. Many others, however, | | | | triggering a migraine, subsequently, a trial |
| simply point to the incredible obstacles that face | | | | abstinence period would be an effective way to |
| those who would cut wheat and gluten out of | | | | prove this. (5). |
| their diet, and ask what person would struggle to | | | | Sources: |
| surmount them if there was no real benefit. | | | | (1) Grant ECG, Food, Allergies and Migraine, |
| Many migraine sufferers are actually believed to | | | | Lancet, May 5 1979;966-969 |
| also be victims of celiac disease, a severe wheat | | | | (2) Am J Gastroenterol. 2003 Jul;98(7):1674; March |
| and gluten intolerance which can cause major | | | | edition of American Journal of Gastroenterology. |
| gastrointestinal problems and fatigue in addition to | | | | (3) American Academy of Neurology (2001, |
| migraines. One of the most frustrating aspects to | | | | February 14); Gluten In The Diet May Be The |
| migraines is the inability to stop them once they | | | | Cause Of Recurring Headaches; Science Daily. |
| gain control, so any form of prevention is always | | | | (4) The Celiac Society, The Gluten-free Vegan |
| welcome. | | | | (5) Celiac Disease, A Hidden Epidemic, Peter |
| In a study done at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, | | | | Green, MD. |
| Italy, researchers discovered a marked | | | | |