November 1, 2016.
At first glance, spinach, chocolate and cold meats are completely unrelated. And yet, these three foods are regularly cited by migraine sufferers as being the cause of their headaches, science has undoubtedly discovered the reason.
The intestinal flora of migraine sufferers at the origin of their headaches
Migraine sufferers know that certain foods should be forgotten as they almost instantly trigger headaches that are difficult to bear. Science, which had so far not found an explanation for this strange consequence of ingesting certain foods, may have just found a theory which will convince people prone to migraines to move away from wine, chocolate or cold meats.
Researchers at the University of San Diego in the United States have just published a study in which they show the results of analyzes carried out on stool and saliva samples from more than 2,000 people. By observing these data, the scientists noted that the intestinal flora of people with migraine was richer in certain bacteria which feed in particular on nitrates..
Chocolate, spinach and green salad should be avoided
However, these nitrates, which are particularly present in wine and cold meats, which they allow to preserve better, are transformed, on contact with these bacteria, into nitric oxide. Also called nitric oxide, nitric oxide then diffuses into the blood and this is when it can trigger migraines..
Migraine sufferers now know what foods they should avoid consuming to be spared from headaches. Nitrates, which are not completely eliminated from food, especially because they are necessary for the proper functioning of the heart, are also present in cheese, green salad or spinach.
To find out more: Migraine, that headache …
