You’re not alone. Over a billion people worldwide suffer from migraines. If you’ve ever had one, you can speak to how debilitating they are. And if you suffer from chronic migraines, you know the importance of practicing mindful lifestyle choices (like reducing stress, getting enough sleep, and eating enough!) Historically, chocolate has gotten a bad rap and is thought to be a top food-based trigger for migraines. However, that might not be true – as the science remains unclear. Who wants to give up chocolate anyways?
If you’re craving chocolate (regardless of having a headache) your body might be letting you know it needs a magnesium boost. According to Nowaczewska, et. al. (2020) in a study titled, ‘To eat or not to eat: a review of the relationship between chocolate and migraines’ published in Nutrients, cocoa is a significant source of many vitamins and minerals important to get and stay healthy that should be included in our everyday meal plan (like magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, potassium, riboflavin, and iron.)
Which kind to choose: dark, milk or white? Worth mentioning, the highest concentration of flavonoids and minerals are found in dark chocolate, and it is preferred over milk and white. It’s also a source of fiber.
The verdict is still out regarding whether a beneficial association exists between enjoying chocolate for the reduction of migraine frequency. Some researchers suggest chocolate contains many vitamins and minerals (like magnesium and riboflavin) and the call for action is to bite off a block of your favorite chocolate of choice – for migraine prevention. You see, magnesium plays a vital role in neuromuscular conduction and nerve transmission. Additionally, it serves as a protective agent against excessive excitation, which causes neuronal cell death. And there is robust evidence regarding the beneficial effect of magnesium for chronic pain conditions like migraines.
How much chocolate is enough? One-quarter cup of chocolate chips provides about 125mg of magnesium. That’s almost half of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for women and nearly one-third for men. The next time you find yourself reaching for a double dark chocolate cookie, you won’t be surprised why? Ahh, the things we do to contribute to science.
Looking for more? Peruse Chapter 13: Healthy Food = Healthy Mind of ‘Rise Above: A Playbook On How-To Keep Energy Flowing.’
Photo by Andy Kennedy on Unsplash
Dr. Jaime L. Pula is the author of her best-selling book titled, ‘Rise Above: A Playbook On How-To Keep Energy Flowing.’ She can be reached at jpula@artofhealthsciences.life. And she enjoys connecting on LI at: www.linkedin.com/in/drjaimelpula001/.