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        New Message Board Archives >> Jul-Sep 2003 >> Food definately varies intensity!
        
(Message started by: Buddyjay on Jul 5^th, 2003, 1:37am)

Title: Food definately varies intensity!
Post by Buddyjay on Jul 5^th, 2003, 1:37am

I have been suffering from Ch for over 30 years. Although I have tried many "remedies" over the years, this is the first time I have seriously keyed in on foods to monitor intensity.
I am now ending week four of this cycle. I was in remission for 2 1/2 years and decided this time to stay away from all foods high in preservatives, especially MSG. I was amazed to find that the intensity was much, much lower than ever before. When the cycle started they were mostly 8-10's. Other years, even with Imitrex, they would always be 6-10's (last cycle I had 156 Ch). This time I stayed away from high sugar and preservatives and most CH were 1- 3's!! I tried eating more fruit and water, no junk snacks and no soda (diet). I was amazed to see the differance. How do I know it wasn't just a coincidence? Because earlier tonight I accidently ate a large amount of Rice-a-Roni and am just now getting over a 10+ CH from hell, even with the Imitrex! I checked the label and noticed a lot of preservatives and MSG. Last week I was having small bouts (1-3's) and all of a sudden had a 10. I realized I had Ranch dressing with a salad and noticed that it had a lot of MSG in it.
This is too far from being coincidental and I am now convinced that food preservatives play a big part in intensity.
I would do anything in the world to help anyone who suffers from these demons. If you haven't tried keying in on foods, try it. I pray it helps you out.

Title: Re: Food definately varies intensity!
Post by ave on Jul 5^th, 2003, 3:44am

Yes, buddyjay, MSG has been reported as a trigger for a number of sufferers.

Don't forget, though, that there is not ONE trigger food/drink that is a trigger for all of us.

For me it is liquorice (MSG free!).

Title: Re: Food definately varies intensity!
Post by gene on Jul 5^th, 2003, 4:20am

Licorice? really? Oh my god I eat tons of licorice?

Can you tell me how you pinpointed it?

Buddy, I'll try no MSG next cycle.

Thanks Gene

Title: Re: Food definately varies intensity!
Post by Buddyjay on Jul 5^th, 2003, 7:17am

If you read my post carefully, I am not stating that preservatives or MSG is a trigger; I am saying that it definately varies the intensity; and that it could do this for many, many people. If I was in the medical field I would definately do a study on "foods" to determine if this could help.

Title: Re: Food definately varies intensity!
Post by RevDeFord on Jul 5^th, 2003, 7:55am

Licorice is a very well known trigger for all sorts of intense headaches for alot of people. So if you eat a lot of it, stop it. See what happens. I don't know why it is. To be honest, I don't even know what licorice is.....as far as ingredients goes. I know it has to have a lot of wierd crap in it to taste like it does.

Title: Re: Food definately varies intensity!
Post by ave on Jul 5^th, 2003, 9:46am

Licorice is one of our national treasures. Expats have licorice sent in special Christmas parcels... True!

How I found out? I had stopped eating licorice long before I got clusters - justy got too hot and sweaty and red in the face and couldn't leave the stuff alone. Better not to take it all.

But last year I got a free bag of licorice on a trip and started munching them. Must have had 4 or 5 inha,f an hour when slam!!!

As Ueli says, if you ingest anything and get an attack after 20-30 minutes you have good reasons to belive it was a trigger!

The active ingredient in licorice (and in some minty herbal tea mixes, so watch out for it!) is the liiquorice root or sweet root which is bp heigthening . As I found out AFTER the fact.

Title: Re: Food definately varies intensity!
Post by sueellen83 on Jul 5^th, 2003, 1:22pm

Buddyjay

I too have noticed the intensity is worse when I eat anything with MSG and also raw onions.

When I am in cycle I stay as far away from Msg and onions as I can get. Don't even put them in my frig. LOL

Heres wishing you PFD&N

Title: Re: Food definately varies intensity!
Post by jonny on Jul 5^th, 2003, 1:31pm

on 07/05/03 at 01:37:22, Buddyjay wrote:

earlier tonight I accidently ate a large amount of Rice-a-Roni and am just now getting over a 10+ CH from hell

Hell, just looking at my food would tell me what it was, how does one eat a shit load of rice-a-roni and not know it?

LMMFAO and then some ;D

...........................jonny

Title: Re: Food definately varies intensity!
Post by BobG on Jul 5^th, 2003, 2:55pm

jonny...........it had to be an accident.

Nobody in their right mind would put that stuff in their mouth on purpose.

;D

Title: Re: Food definately varies intensity!
Post by eyes_afire on Jul 5^th, 2003, 7:26pm

If your goal is to avoid MSG you're going to have to be diligent. MSG occurs naturally in some foods and is produced commercially by the bacterial fermentation of starchy vegetables.

Read food labels. All of the following either are MSG or are composed of MSG:

any protein that is hydrolyzed, autolyzed yeast, calcium caseinate, glutamate, glutamic acid, gelatin, hydrolyzed soy protein, monosodium glutamate, monopotassium glutamate, sodium caseinate, textured protein, yeast nutrient, yeast extract, and yeast food.

You would also have to avoid any kind of broth or boullion since they are not required to list MSG as components. Also soy protein or whey protein may be sources of MSG.

--- Steve, one of many...

Title: Re: Food definately varies intensity!
Post by sueellen83 on Jul 5^th, 2003, 7:38pm

That's why I live on fried egg sandwiches when I'm in cycle, Eyes. LOL