Giving Up Processed Foods

[Aggie_Ama]

My last bloodwork was this fall my gynecologist ordered it because for the first time in my life I had a blood pressure spike, normal as can be. I have been trying for years to find the trigger for my migraines. They aren't constant but they usually take two days of my life away. They aren't at a certain time of the month, they don't seem to be completely stressed triggered. They do respond to OTC but the next day I feel like I went on a wild bender and have the hangover from hell. It just seems weird I never had migraines or any issues until I developed a strong diet soda addiction and started eating frozen dinners nearly every day.

My migraines are maybe 2-3 a year but overall I feel run down all the time. For instance today I slept 12 hours last night and then still took a three hour nap. This is not an abnormality for me, I will feel like I need to sleep this much several times a month. I am only 30, other than allergies and the occasional migraine my doctor thinks I am healthy.

When I am saying processed I mean things with creepy chemicals. Diet sodas, frozen foods with weird named ingredients. Basically something that sounds more like a chemistry experiment than food when you read the ingredients.

Locally we have two places that do 21 day challenges (My Fit Foods, Mel's Meals)they have dieticians and nutritionists that plan meals and they make the food. Usually they involve giving up things like caffeine, alcohol. The people I know that have done them to get them started and they felt like it changed their life. But the cost is a bit steep when I could give up sodas and cook for myself for a lot less! I know how to do portion control, I learned that through Weight Watchers.

[soprano]

You might look up the "migraine diet." It avoids foods high in tyramine which, surprise, surprise! is found in many aged and/or processed foods.

If you haven't already seen a neurologist, I highly recommend it. My neurologist put me on a preventative medication that I take every day. I used to have 10-15 migraine days per month. Now I have 1-2. Even though I take a pill every day, overall I am taking much less medication this way, and I am able to work and enjoy an active lifestyle.

Definitely keep a headache journal.

[ny biker]

Well, it's easy enough to get started. Tomorrow, drink half the amount of diet soda than you normally would. Drink water instead, or maybe iced tea (real iced tea, made with tea bags and maybe some lemon). Keep cutting back until you're not drinking any more soda.

Once you're off the soda, you can start on the food. In the meantime you can look into some meal plans that work with your cooking interests and abilities.

[malkin]

... It just seems weird I never had migraines or any issues until I developed a strong diet soda addiction and started eating frozen dinners nearly every day...

...When I am saying processed I mean things with creepy chemicals. Diet sodas, frozen foods with weird named ingredients. Basically something that sounds more like a chemistry experiment than food when you read the ingredients.

...I could give up sodas and cook for myself for a lot less!

Sounds to me like you already know where to start.

[indysteel]

I would certainly start with the soda. I just think soda is, in a word, nasty. I don't mind a root beer, ginger ale, or cream soda every once in a while, but I have never really had a taste for pop, diet or otherwise.

But I do keep tripping up over how fatigued you are. I assume your bloodwork included thyroid and anemia tests....

[shootingstar]

I guess the processsed food that I have:

soy sauce
chocolates (it is Christmas....)
crackers (only several times per year)

I rarely have chips, soda/pop. Only when I was desperate....working in an industrial site at a construction project ...means one is hemmed in by construction equipment. The lunch food truck with chips looked pretty good under those circumstances when I forgot to bring a snack.

I just grew up with cooked food and rarely processed food because we couldn't afford it. Processed food long term, is more expensive. So it's easy for me to carry on.

Besides, if you've ever seen an aisle of Asian processed/junk food, it really tells you to run over to buy the Asian fresh veggies instead. Asian processed foods is real lesson in amazement.

[indysteel]

I'm glad you're getting a full workup, Amanda. It's not that I'm not in favor of cleaning up your diet, but like your husband and doctor, I'd like you to rule out obvious medical conditions, too. I hope it's nothing serious. At the risk of asking too private a question, is there any chance you're pregnant?

Keep us posted!

[Aggie_Ama]

Blood panel was completely normal, my doctor thinks I am dehydrated and the migraine may have been triggered by that or just made everything worse. He couldn't find anything more conclusive than that but wants me to come back if it doesn't subside with plenty of rest and fluids. I felt like I hydrated great in my race Sunday and after the race but maybe I did not do as good as I thought. I did start to up my fluids even more.

Today I feel better although still very tired. I do have a sinus headache but for the first time in nearly two weeks there is a clear sky and I am going to ignore his suggestion to rest and do a short bike ride. Nothing hard just a nice rolling road ride, it is nearly 70 degrees with less than 5mph winds!

My goal is still to go to a less processed diet. I don't expect it to stop my migraines but it might. Right now they are usually every few months but they seem to be more frequent (I have had 5 this year) than they were. So I definitely will consider seeing a neurologist if they persist.

[ny biker]

Fwiw, fatigue and motion sickness can both be migraine-related. And it's possible to have migraine-related symptoms without getting a headache.

[WindingRoad]

I agree with Danielle about prepping all your fresh veggies ahead of time. That REALLY saves me a lot of time in the long run and makes me COOK something as opposed to grabbing cheese and crackers or something like that. I have migraines and have had them all my life. As I age I find they are becoming less and less. Quitting hormonal birth control made a HUGE impact on frequency of headaches too. I too avoid processed foods aside of Luna Bars. I feel sooooo much better when I don't eat a lot of preservatives, colorings, food stabilizers etc. The artificial sweetener habit I can't kick completely but I have reduced my intake a LOT. I don't sweeten my coffee as much as I once did. I also use raw sugar in my coffee when I can instead of Splenda. I'm gradually weening my tastebuds of sweet, it is working but it takes a while. I add about half the sweet I did and now it tastes as sweet as the double amount I used to put in.

I'm sure you have already hear the red wine and pop corn trigger for migraines? These are pretty common migraine triggers. These are a double kicker combo that will land me in bed for a day STILL. If I drink red wine I take a couple of Excedrin beforehand now. I hope you figure out what keeps setting you off, good luck to you.

[GrooverBrisbane]

I'm very conscious of processed foods because I have an autoimmune desease and, apart from cutting any Gluten, I also have to try and eat as little processed foods as possible. I don't know if this will help you, too, but I recently downloaded an iPhone app called "E numbers". It's become my main shopping guide. You just have to read the label, punch in any E numbers and the app tells you if it's safe to eat or not! Brilliant!

[Aggie_Ama]

That App sounds interesting, I may have to check it out.

Incidentally, first week with no artificial sweeteners and no headaches except the day I forgot my allergy meds. I was taking Excedrin several times a week. It has been a stressful week with my grandma hospitalized and a big project at work. I hope I may have found one of the key migraine/chronic headache triggers.

[Blueberry]

Amanda-

Crossing my fingers that you have figured out the trigger, and that you have more migraine free days. I expect they may be one of my triggers as well. Best wishes to your grandmother and good luck with the project!

[GrooverBrisbane]

That App sounds interesting, I may have to check it out.

Incidentally, first week with no artificial sweeteners and no headaches except the day I forgot my allergy meds. I was taking Excedrin several times a week. It has been a stressful week with my grandma hospitalized and a big project at work. I hope I may have found one of the key migraine/chronic headache triggers.

I hope your grandma is getting better quickly. And that your headaches stay away.

[OakLeaf]

I hope your grandma is getting better quickly. And that your headaches stay away.

+1 !!



This is going to sound flip, but I'm serious. As I'm smelling a lovely chicken friccasee simmering on the stove, I'm wondering, without bread or pasta or rice, how do you sop up the sauce? Just drink it like soup?