Migraine is a kind of headache. Not all headaches are migraine. It is characterized by head pain accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia, etc. Migraines results from the specific changes in the brain, these changes are actually in neurotransmitter level, which either increase or decrease. However, its real cause is unknown. There are some triggers which enhances migraines, these triggers include- certain foods
- fatigue
- weather
- hormonal changes
- caffeine
- food additives.
Not every individual who has migraine will suffer from headache when exposed to triggers. These triggers are kind of allergens and allergies they cause vary from person to person.90% of migraines are due to food allergies. Some individuals are sensitive to food additives and aspartame being one of them. People are more sensitive to aspartame than any other sweetener and it is a most common allergen.It is an artificial sweetener, and 200 times sweeter than sucrose which is table sugar but its quantity needed to produce sweetness is so small that its calories contribution is negligible.
It is present in diet food like"diet soda"where natural sweeteners are not used. It has some side effects as it causes inhibition of dopamine and serotonin. Both of these are neurotransmitters.It is found that drugs that raise dopamine level are effective for migraines, if aspartame causes decrease in dopamine level so it clearly have role in migraine. Serotonin controls a lot of things in our body that ranges from appetite to mood to sleep. Low serotonin means more depression and aspartame alleviate level of serotonin. Migraine is also a hereditary disease. Stevia which is also an artificial sweetener is said to be a good alternative of aspartame.
Lifestyle changes like healthy eating and exercise reduce migraine attacks.If you suspect that certain triggers causing you headaches than avoid them.
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