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. 2023 Jul 19;13(4):528–545. doi: 10.3390/audiolres13040047

Table 4.

Recommended Migraine Diet [115,117].

Category Avoid, Reduce, or Limit Acceptable Foods
Caffeine *
  • Coffee, tea

  • Caffeinated soda

  • Decaffeinated tea

  • Herbal tea

  • Caffeine-free soda

  • Fruit juice (non-citrus)

Snacks *
  • Chocolate

  • Nuts

  • Dry fruit (raisins, etc.)

  • Seeds

  • Sherbet, ice cream

  • Cakes

Alcohol *
  • Fermented alcohol (e.g., wine, beer, etc.)

  • Non-alcoholic beverages

  • Highly distilled alcohol (e.g., vodka)

Dairy *
  • Most cheeses: brie, boursault, blue, cheddar, brick, camembert, mozzarella, romano, emmental, gouda, parmesan, provolone, swiss, roquefort, stilton

  • Sour cream

  • Other cheeses (American, cream cheese, Velveeta, cottage, farmer, ricotta)

  • Milk, rice milk

  • Oatmeal

  • Egg substitutes, egg yolk

Cereals and Grains *
  • Fresh bread, bagels, donuts, yeast products

  • Yeast extracts, sourdough, brewer’s yeast

  • Commercial breads (white, wheat, multi, rye, Italian)

  • English muffins

  • Crackers, potatoes, noodles, toast, rice, spaghetti

Meats *
  • Aged, canned, cured, pickled, salted, and dried meats

  • Processed meats (pepperoni, hot dogs, bologna, salami, pre-packaged deli meats, jerky, sausages)

  • Any processed protein that contains tyramine

  • Fresh/unprocessed meats, fish, poultry, veal, lamb, tuna

MSG * (Monosodium Glutamate)
  • Soy sauce, bouillon cubes, canned soups, tenderizers, meat, seasoned salts

  • Foods containing “hydrolyzed protein products” or “autolyzed yeast”, “autolyzed protein”, “hydrolyzed yeast”

  • Pickled, preserved, or marinated foods

  • Asian food sauces

  • Off-the-shelf salad dressings

  • Salt and other spices

  • Butter, margarin

  • White vinegar

Sweetener *
  • Aspartame (Equal, Nutrasweet)

  • Sucrose (sugar), high-fructose corn syrup, sucralose, saccharin

Vegetables *
  • Pole or broad beans, Italian beans, lima beans, snow peas, lentils, navy beans, fava beans, pea pods, pinto beans, garbanzo beans

  • Sauerkraut, pickles, kimchi (tyramine)

  • Onions, olives

  • Asparagus, broccoli, garlic, beets, carrots, pumpkins, squash, lettuce, spinach, string beans, tomatoes

  • All not listed

Fruit *
  • Avocados, papaya, figs, passion fruit

  • Bananas and citrus fruit (orange, grapefruit, lime, lemon)

  • Overly ripened fruits (high in tyramine)

  • Apples, berries, hard peaches, hard pears

* Level of Evidence 1.