Ketogenic Diets for Migraines

Do you or someone you know suffer from migraines?

If so, then you know these debilitating attacks are far more than mere headaches. In addition to severe, throbbing pain, migraines often also involve visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell, and tingling or numbness in the extremities or face.

As many as 25% of migraine sufferers experience a visual phenomenon called an aura. Attacks typically last between 4 and 72 hours and in 15-20% of cases, the head pain is preceded by the other neurological symptoms.

Because migraines are increasingly recognized as neurological in origin, it’s possible ketogenic diets may have a therapeutic effect for people afflicted with these attacks. Ketogenic diets exert their effects via several mechanisms that induce multiple biochemical changes in the body and brain that improve neurological function. Some of the mechanisms that are beneficial for various neurological disorders may also make them effective for migraines.

Clinical trial data studying the efficacy of keto for migraines is limited, but anecdotes and personal accounts abound on the low carb and keto interwebs. Some people who start LCHF or ketogenic diets for fat loss or other reasons are pleasantly surprised to find an unexpected “side effect” of keto is reduction in severity and frequency of migraines, or in some cases, total remission. Nice!

As I mentioned in a post not long ago, I’ve joined the writing team at Martina Slajerova’s KetoDiet site. I wrote a post there on keto for migraines, so if you’d like to get the details on why and how keto might be beneficial for migraine sufferers, head on over and check it out: Can the Ketogenic Diet Help with Migraines? It’s fully referenced in case you’d like to look at any of the relevant studies and dig into the mechanisms at work.

Please feel free to send the link to friends and family who suffer from migraines and have not experienced relief with conventional medications, or who have not been able to identify dietary or environmental triggers for their migraines. They might consider giving keto a try. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, but it’s definitely worth trialing for a few months. They have nothing to lose except their morning bagel or muffin—and possibly their migraines.

The link again: Can the Ketogenic Diet Help with Migraines?

Disclaimer: Amy Berger, MS, CNS, NTP, is not a physician and Tuit Nutrition, LLC, is not a medical practice. The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition and is not to be used as a substitute for the care and guidance of a physician. Links in this post and all others may direct you to amazon.com, where I will receive a small amount of the purchase price of any items you buy through my affiliate links.

Keto Retreat in CANADA - Sept 2018!

Calling all Canadian readers!

Are you tired of all the low carb and keto events happening south of the border?  Have you been wishing someone would start a keto-oriented social event in your country?  Would you like to listen to some low carb lectures and connect with like-minded people?

If so, come see me at the Keto Retreat in beautiful Perth, Ontario.  Loyal blog reader Wendy Moore (no relation to Jimmy) has put together a fabulous event September 14-16, 2018.

I’ll be speaking about ketogenic diets for Alzheimer’s disease, as well as on keeping keto simple.  And guess who else will be there?  Megan Ramos!! That’s right—Program Director and Co-Founder of the Intensive Dietary Management Program (with Dr. Jason Fung).  She’ll be talking about…yes, fasting!  Also presenting will be Dr. Doug Bishop, a keto-friendly MD in Canada, and his daughter Tiia Bishop, who’ll be talking about gut health, keto and exercise, and common barriers/challenges to adhering to a ketogenic diet.

The registration fee is extremely reasonable for this kind of event.  It does not include meals and lodging, but there are several wonderful places to stay in the area, and of course, you can always do Air B&B for convenience.  There’ll be complimentary keto snacks and a cash wine bar during a casual “meet & greet” the evening of Friday, Sept 14, as well as after the speaker presentations on Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday evening, Sept 15, a 3-course keto dinner will be available at the Perth Manor Boutique Hotel.  (See here for details on food and lodging.)

I think this is going to be a great mix of keto science and casual fun – a great way to learn a lot in a relaxed atmosphere, where everyone is welcome.  Not obsessed with biohacking every second of your life away?  Come to the retreat!  Feel jumpy at the mere thought of weighing and measuring your food, and tracking every last molecule and “macro?”  Come to the retreat!  Just want to share a meal with other humans who won’t look at you funny when you ask for your burger without a bun?  Come!  Not at your goal weight?  Heavier than you’d like to be?  Still working on some health issues?  COME AS YOU ARE!  You are absolutely, totally, 100% welcome with us!  (News flash: I ain’t at my goal weight either!  It’s all good!  Don’t you dare let any of that stop you!) 

Even if you’re just kinda sorta “into” low carb, but don’t devote your entire existence to it, you’re also welcome!  Just come, learn, meet people, take a breather, and have some fun.    

Check out the retreat website for all the details on the speakers, pricing, reserving a spot, getting to Perth, and more.  Wendy’s contact information is on the site.  If you have any questions, please contact her directly, as she will be able to help you far better than I will!

Really looking forward to this, folks.  I’m a huge fan of both hockey and maple syrup … I’m practically Canadian already!  Now that my severe depression has finally (mostly) lifted and I want to rejoin the world of the living, I’m attending several low carb and keto events this year.  It’s going to be so nice to come out from behind the screen and meet some of you in person.  Come join us in Perth in September!

 

https://keto-retreat.ca/

Disclaimer: Amy Berger, MS, CNS, NTP, is not a physician and Tuit Nutrition, LLC, is not a medical practice. The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition and is not to be used as a substitute for the care and guidance of a physician. Links in this post and all others may direct you to amazon.com, where I will receive a small amount of the purchase price of any items you buy through my affiliate links.