Hi Amy,

Magnesium deficiency is prevalent these days, since crops aren't rotated, bonemeal isn't added, and plants don't have the amount they should, hence animal protein doesn't either.

Ever since I started supplementing daily with magnesium, I rarely get migraines. Always feeling stressed out, shortly after drinking wine/beer, eating nitrate rich foods like deli meats, and even from salad bar broccoli (high fungus food) and other processed foods (processed wheat, corn and soy is in almost everything packaged!), even from most whey protein drinks. So, even though the foods were the trigger, having enough magnesium is often the key.

I also soak in a bath with added 2-3 cups Epsom Salts or Magnesium flakes a couple times a week for added magnesium and it relaxes me and reduces aches and pains.

Take magnesium in 200 mg caps (up to 600 mg a day) at different times of day so your body can absorb it properly. Taking too much at once will cause diarrhea. That's the body's way of dumping extra. As a matter of fact, it is great for constipation! And don't worry about overdosing on magnesium, because the body will just dump the extra out. Magnesium Calm powder in a glass of warm water is great for calming the nerves, helping one sleep, but never take a heaping spoonful at one time! LOL!

Rarely does anyone have enough B-2 or B-complex vitamins either. I think it is worth giving it a try if you are suffering, because there are rarely ever a negative side effect and you might just feel better all over, as a result! Good Luck!

"Migraines are severely painful headaches and often include nausea, dizziness and visual disturbances, such as sensitivity to light. There is no cure for migraines, and they are recurrent. You can use supplements such as magnesium to reduce pain when they occur or reduce the frequency of migraine episodes. University of Maryland Medical Center says people with migraines often have lower levels of magnesium than people that do not have migraines. UMMC recommends 200 to 600 mg of magnesium per day. Consult your doctor before considering use.
"Migraines & Magnesium Research

UMMC reports a study in which people who took magnesium had a 41 percent reduction in the frequency of migraines, compared to 15 percent in those who took placebo. Side effects include diarrhea and lower blood pressure. Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B-2, can help treat migraines when used in combination with magnesium. However, its effectiveness has not been studied clinically and further studies are needed. Check with your doctor before self-treating your migraines.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/260667-migraine-headaches-magnesium/"

Thanks, Helen -- I know to take magnesium, and do. I take 400 mg a day.

I also eat beef, cheese and eggs daily and salmon a couple times a week and I often eat liver. It is unlikely I'm deficient in B vitamins.

The great news is, the coconut oil -- which I drank twice in heated, foamed, half-and half (the organic kind, not the chemically kind) in chamomile -- plus a small piece of steak Gregg left for me seem to have knocked out the migraine. I'm still not feeling 100 percent, but the pain, for the most part, is gone. And went away after I drank the tea, though, thinking scientifically, I can't say for sure that the headache didn't just fade by itself.

And a note on magnesium: It's a relaxant and should be taken at bedtime.

Magniseium is sooo pretty when it burns

Aspirin? For a migraine? Do the people who suggest that also use a Band-Aid to try to stop a gashed artery from bleeding out? Please.

There's research indicating that 400mg of riboflavin (vitamin B) per day helps with migraines: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15257686
It's really helped me -- I take it every day (order a type that has the full dose in one pill, from Amazon.com) and as long as I remember to do so, no migraines. No side effects except that riboflavin is bright yellow and, er, the non-sweat water that leaves your body turns an intense yellow as a result.

Glad you seem to be improving. Migraines suck.

Wheat/Gluten is in so many things.

My father was eating at restaurant the other day and he asked for a Gluten free bun. The waiter says "then you want the unsalted fries with that?" Turns out there salt or rather seasoning (mostly salt) contains small amounts of gluten. I was kind of think it was Red Robin and based on this I think that is correct. http://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/topic/50148-red-robin/

A friend found she couldn't have sushi at on place because some gluten is added to help bind the rice.

Former Banker, wheat gluten survives the frying process, so if french fries are deep fried in the same oil used to fry items that contain wheat, the french fries are cross-contaminated. This is mentioned on page 1 of the well organized 12 page pamphlet by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (pardon my lack of link creation skills):

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:5WWJOJURCOEJ:www.bidmc.org/CentersandDepartments/Departments/DigestiveDiseaseCenter/CeliacCenter/BasicsoftheGlutenFreeDiet.aspx+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESh7pxEfaYAsf3rneRTQVzQMk_eP6vH1QIKtDhIZGootk1CIupG7nmkYaZCZKmfov8W0AhETS7ZnO7wWbHKkiM5vabdn4Jn7g_01UT9RT3_GDekHVj-uZC3eoQr5_1mK_QtPrVdm&sig=AHIEtbTDUGIDPQHbWIL9WXKFP6QISIvXfQ

...also mentioned (page 7): french fries are often delivered to restaurants frozen and *dusted in wheat flour* to prevent sticking.

Amy - thanks for the tip about coconut oil. Easy enough to try when things start getting unbearably loud and bright.

I will check that out, thank you.

I bake with coconut oil in place of butter (gluten free/ high protein baking) when I'm home, but it's hard to work coconut oil into the diet when I'm without a kitchen. This past month I found myself unexpectedly carrying around a jar of coconut butter. Now I'm going to do it on purpose.

M

MSG is my biggest Migraine trigger. It is also known as Autolyzed Yeast Extract. I have to read the label of almost everything I buy to make sure it's not "evil", salty things, anyways.

Thanks Michelle,

I don't have problems with gluten but my father does -- recently diagnosed so a lot of it is still new. I'll be sure to pass on the information.

'Welcome Banker. There's a lot of incorrect and confusingly incomplete info out there - with doctors and online.

For science, my favorite source is the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center.

For baking, this site is great for beginners, and also paleo/ primal friendly (as desserts go - especially great for this time of year):

http://www.elanaspantry.com/christmas-cookie-round-up/

Elana's Jewish, but sporting with the Christmas cookie recipes.

Gluten Free Girl has a wonderful blog with recipes. She's also written a couple of books. Check her out.

http://glutenfreegirl.com/recipes/

Hello I am so happy I found your blog, I really found you by
error, while I was researching on Yahoo for something else,
Regardless I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a
marvelous post and a all round entertaining
blog (I also love the theme/design), I don't have time to
read it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also
added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more,
Please do keep up the superb work.