Why does chocolate cause migraines?

Yes, migraine headaches can be a total drag and it is very painful. Being in a health profession I have seen a lot of people suffering from such painful headache and sometimes it affects their moods too. It's even more depressing because there are a list of delicious foods to avoid when you have migraine as they can trigger the migraine episodes. Migraines occure due to the vasodilatation of the cranial blood vessels...this event is more like a vasospasms that causes severe headache. Since chocolates and cocoa has caffeine in them, they are bad for people with migraines...why? because caffeine containing foods may actually cause interrupted blood flow to the brain thus causing more headaches. you can still try eating chocolates but in moderation alone...i'm sorry to heal that you love chocolate but it triggers your migraine headaches. Try mild chocolate flavored food so as not to totally induce migraine in your part. Ask your primary care physician of the best alternative for chocolates or if he/she has any suggestions on any chocolatey food which are allowed for your health condition. Good luck. Happy mylotting.

Hi Puppynut, Well i recently found that chocolates are one of the reason for my migraine. Though i love chocolates very much, but am avoiding now to some extent. I believe its because the caffine in it triggers our migraine.

Yes, I get migraines too and they are triggered by chocolate. Nobody seems to know exactly why. I went to a nutritionist once and he reckoned that migraines were caused by me being sensitive to foods like chocolate and cheese, where I usually get a migraine. But I can't say that this ALWAYS happens though - _Derek

I've never had a migraine from eating chocolate. As far as I know, I really haven't had a migraine. Stress headaches, yes, but never really a migraine. There is caffeine in chocolate. Maybe that is enough to cause a migraine?

I have never heard of getting a migraine from eating Chocolate, I don't ever get Migraines though.

Yap because to much cocoa can make the brain full so chocolate is not good if it is much.

Migraines can be triggered by a lot of things and chocolate contains two possible triggers - caffeine and phenylethylamine. Both of these substances cause the veins and arteries to constrict and lack of proper blood flow can cause a migraine. Here is a link to an article about other possible causes of migraines - http://altmedicine.about.com/od/popularhealthdiets/a/migrainediet.htm This list is not all inclusive - I was getting migraines from soft drinks and discovered the problem was the preservative in them - benzoates. I eliminated any food or beverage with benzoate on the ingrediant list and I haven't had a migraine in almost 3 years.

I would say that judging by the description of the type of chocolate that you are eating, for example the Burger King stuff, that it is due to the chemicals in there that you are suffering the migraines. If you want to eat chocolate then the only chocolate that anyone should be eating in my opinion is organic dark chocolate that has not had any dairy or any other nasty chemicals added and is closer to the source of what real chocolate is! I can eat this type of chocolate all day without feeling any ill affects, but if I were to have that fake chocolate that you mention, then I think I would be feeling pretty sick too!

Hello puppynut! How long you suffer from migraine? That's not good. :( I read that, there are two ingredients in chocolate that can trigger migraine headaches: caffeine and phenylethylamine. These substances can constrict blood vessels, and constriction causes head pain. Some people get headache if they eat chocolate but not when they drink caffeinated beverages. That is because some people maybe sensitive only to phenylethylamine, while others are sensitive only to caffeine. Some people maybe sensitive to both. By the way friend, if you don't like to eat your chocolate anymore, you can share it to me... hahaha. Good day!