Migraine Cravings: Is Food a Trigger or Symptom

Migraine cravings are so confusing for me. Is food a trigger? Are cravings a symptom? Do you crave after a migraine in the prodrome phase? Me too! Food is so complicated when it comes to migraine. I can’t live with it and definitely can’t live without it.

Do you Crave Chocolate or Salty Foods before a Migraine? 

I do!!!!  I have an addiction to sugar.   Sugar seems to be a trigger, but the more I have documented my cravings, the more I have come to realize the cravings are a symptom of my migraine.

I crave chocolate before a migraine.  Cravings for sugar and eating distracts my mind from the impending doom….migraine hell.    I used to eat dessert then woke up with a migraine thinking the chocolate was my trigger.  The more research I’ve done, the more I have come to find out that cravings before a migraine are not the trigger but the symptom for what is coming.

Living with Migraine

Yet again, I’m not alone, I’m not crazy, I’m just a living migraine.  I’m either feeling the effects of a migraine coming, a migraine in full force, or come down after a migraine.  And the cycle continues.

During an attack, I mostly dry heave and am so nauseous I have to force myself to eat.  After an attack, my body is weak and cautious with what I put into it.  But before a migraine, it’s a total chocolate and sometimes salty food extravaganza.  I understand that I should be fueling myself with anti-inflammatory foods and things that will prevent an attack.  Understanding what my body needs and what my body craves is a mental battle.

I already have given up alcohol and many foods so when I crave chocolate I eat it.  Battling my thoughts about food while knowing that my body will be facing physical pain soon is something I don’t want to do.  I am gentle with myself.  If I want to eat a bag of candy, I do.  I have never been much of a guilty eater.  I love food too much to be sad about what I ate.  I make choices with my foods and give into my cravings.  Deep breathes, some dark chocolate, and some peace before my migraine takes me  away.

Do you get pre migraine cravings?

Migraine cravings are intense. Food is such a tricky thing to navigate with migraine disease.  I feel sick often when I eat a meal due to hidden triggers.  I’m often nauseous during the day yet get sick if I don’t eat every few hours. I crave foods as a symptom of an on coming attack.  It’s a constant struggle of how to eat food to nourish my body while my body craves foods it won’t react well to or needs.

Yes, sugar! Carbs! YES! YES! YES!

Understanding the migraine phases may help with better understanding if you cravings are a symptom or trigger. Migraine prodrome consists of food cravings that can occur hours to days before a migraine attack.