Description
This article is from the Natural Migraine
Cures FAQ, by an588@freenet.carleton.ca (Catherine Woodgold)
with numerous contributions by others.
7.2) Blood Sugar
Studies show that when a migraine person eats refined sugar,
their blood sugar level goes up very high, then quickly
comes down again. [Low, 12]. Any kind of refined sugar causes this
effect: sucrose, glucose, etc. The blood sugar level goes up and
down so fast that a standard glucose tolerance test with blood
samples taken less often than every 15 minutes can completely
miss the effect. Many migraine people have been told they're
very normal after a glucose tolerance test, but in fact they have
a condition similar to hypoglycemia.
Natural sugars, such as fruit, completely unprocessed sugar cane
juice, etc. do not cause this effect. Eating natural sugar
causes the blood sugar level to go up, but not as high, and it
doesn't come down so fast. There's something in natural sugar
that helps the body absorb it. Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF), a
molecule containing chromium, may be responsible. Chromium is
usually present with natural sugars, and is missing in refined
sugar. It works with insulin to help the body process sugar.
There may be other factors present in natural sugars, such as
vitamins, enzymes, etc., that are also important.
When refined sugar is eaten, the pancreas releases a lot of
insulin. For some reason, people who get migraines release more
than the normal amount of insulin. Insulin stimulates the
release of adrenalin. This starts phase I of a migraine.
Going without eating for 3 to 4 or more hours causes low blood
sugar levels which can also trigger a migraine.
In his book [12] Rodolfo Low recommends the following for all
migraine people. He claims that every person who has followed
these recommendations, including himself, has completely
eliminated migraines:
-- Do not eat any refined sugar. Not even small amounts. Fruit
should be fresh, not dried or cooked. Eat a wholesome balanced
diet of natural foods including fruit.
-- Eat every three hours. Have six small meals a day instead of
three. Have snacks of healthy foods at midmorning, midafter-
noon, and bedtime.
-- Avoid drinking alcohol.
-- Avoid drugs that stimulate the pancreas. Many drugs taken for
other purposes also stimulate the pancreas, e.g. aspirin. See
the book [12] for a list of drugs to avoid.
[Above recommendations paraphrased by C.W.]
Strenuous exercise may cause low blood sugar which may lead
to migraines. (On the other hand, exercise generally improves
health in the long term and therefore may reduce headaches.)
Many people are deficient in chromium. Eating refined sugars
leads to chromium deficiency. A supplement of GTF chromium or
chromium picolinate is helpful to hypoglycemic people and can
allow them to maintain good blood sugar levels when going several
hours without eating. Low has shown that migraines are closely
related to hypoglycemia, so perhaps chromium supplements would
help migraine people too. I used to get a headache if I went 4
or 5 hours without eating; with a chromium supplement (200
mcg/day, not a megadose) this is no longer the case.
Someone says she gets headaches when she takes chromium, though.
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