05 June 2023 , 13:01
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Those who suffer from terrible migraines know just how debilitating they can be, but thankfully, figuring out your personal triggers could help to alleviate your pain.
Migraines, which are believed to affect as many as 10 million people in the UK every single year, can be brought on by a number of factors, including stress, hormonal changes, noise, smells, alcohol, dehydration, and not getting enough sleep.
There are also certain little-known ingredients you should be looking out for in your food and drink if you are prone to migraines - including one found in your favourite refreshing glass of Diet Coke.
Migraines can be brought on by a number of factors (Stock Photo) (Getty Images)To find out more about the connection between diet and migraines, Lloyd's Pharmacy surveyed 500 Brits, many of whom were left surprised by some of the unexpected triggers.
According to this research, artificial sweeteners, including aspartame, could be potential triggers for migraines - as was the case for nearly one in 10 respondents.
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These sorts of sweeteners are often used as a sugar substitute for a range of products, including beloved sugar-free beverages such as Diet Coke.
The team, therefore, has encouraged migraine sufferers to instead opt for a refreshing glass of water when in need of hydration.
A reported 89 per cent of people surveyed had no idea that artificial sweeteners could potentially trigger migraines, meaning many would have been sipping away quite happily, not realising they could be bringing on a pounding headache.
Experts have advised reaching for a cool glass of water instead (Getty Images)Dr Neel Patel, GP, advised: "While the triggers for migraines can vary widely from person to person, it may take some trial and error to determine which foods are responsible, especially if you aren't aware of the foods and drinks that could be problematic for you.
"We recommend keeping a food diary which can help you to identify patterns and triggers for your migraines. If you suspect that certain foods are leading to symptoms, try eliminating them from your diet for a while to see if they improve."
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