Low Inflammatory Foods Everyday (LIFE) diet cured man’s years of migraine
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Researchers have revealed that changing a patient’s diet to a plant-based one was the key to eliminating his chronic migraines and improving his quality of life.
Photo from Neurology Advisor.
The astonishing case of a 60-year-old man who had been experiencing frequent migraines for more than 12 years was recently published in the BMJ Case Reports.
The patient recalled having approximately 12 to 18 days of headaches per month. He supposedly tried everything - from prescribed medication to yoga and meditation and even cut out potential trigger foods - but nothing seemed to alleviate the pain.
“The quality of pain was throbbing in nature, and it lasted for 72 hours. His headaches were accompanied by photosensitivity, phonophobia, nausea and vomiting,” the researchers stated.
“On a pain scale of 0–10, the headaches were a 10–12/10.”
The occurrence of the patient’s migraines became chronic six months after his initial consultation.
He was then advised to follow the Low Inflammatory Foods Everyday (LIFE) diet, a plant-based diet consisting of nutrient-dense, dark green leafy vegetables.
“Within two months, his headache frequency declined from 18 to 24 headache days per month to only 1 day,” said the researchers, adding that the patient also discontinued his preventive migraine medications.
“After three months, the patient had no headaches.”
“These results far exceed the goal of migraine treatment with medication, which is to reduce migraine frequency by >50 per cent per month.”
The research paper also mentioned that the positive impacts of the diet were almost permanent; the man became migraine-free for seven and a half years.
Photo from Simple Green Smoothies.
Prior to starting the LIFE diet, the man’s daily food consumption consisted of whole-grain toasts with peanut butter, tuna, or banana, omelettes, and shredded wheat with soy milk.
His dinners usually consisted of a chicken cutlet or fish with sweet potato, an apple, and a glass of water.
Switching to the LIFE diet allowed the patient to reduce his animal protein consumption.
“Adherence to the diet was measured subjectively by the patient’s daily food diary and objectively by serum levels of beta carotene, which is found primarily in dark green leafy vegetables,” as stated in the research paper.
“The patient was advised to continue his routine medications during the intervention. He did not alter his lifestyle or medications in any other way.”
“By three months follow-up, the patient’s migraines were eliminated.”
To see the impact of the LIFE diet on his migraine condition, the patient even tested himself with different foods to see if his migraines would come back.
“When he consumed egg whites, salmon or iced tea, the typical triggers, he experienced headache attacks, rated 4–5/10 in intensity and much shorter in duration,” said the researchers.
“After the three to six month period of challenging himself, he was migraine-free for seven years, and he stopped all of his migraine medications after two months from the LIFE diet initiation.”
“Overall, the patient reported improved quality of life and functionality since the beginning of the diet.”
Please note: This advice is general in nature and for any medical advice you should always consult your doctor.
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