Vestibular migraine and migraine-associated vertigo are complex conditions that can significantly impact an individual's quality of life. As a nutritional therapist, I recognise the importance of diet and nutrition in managing these conditions and supporting overall well-being. This is a condition I manage myself, and I have experienced first hand the role that diet & nutrition can have in managing this condition, personally
In this blog post, I'll explore the role of diet and nutrition in vestibular migraine and migraine-associated vertigo and offer practical tips for incorporating dietary changes to support symptom management.
Understanding Vestibular Migraine and Migraine-Associated Vertigo:
Vestibular migraine and migraine-associated vertigo are subtypes of migraine that are characterised by dizziness, vertigo, and other vestibular symptoms. These conditions can be challenging to diagnose and manage, as they often overlap with other vestibular disorders and migraine subtypes.
The Role of Diet and Nutrition:
While the exact mechanisms underlying vestibular migraine and migraine-associated vertigo are not fully understood, there is growing evidence to suggest that diet and nutrition may play a role in symptom management. Certain dietary factors, such as caffeine, alcohol, and certain food additives, have been identified as potential triggers for vestibular symptoms in some individuals.
Nutritional Strategies for Managing Vestibular Migraine Migraine-Associated Vertigo
Identify and Avoid Trigger Foods: Keep a food diary to track your dietary intake and any associated symptoms. This can help you identify potential trigger foods and make informed decisions about which foods to avoid.
Emphasise Whole, Nutrient-Rich Foods: Focus on a diet that is rich in whole, nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. These foods provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support overall health and may help reduce inflammation, which can contribute to vestibular symptoms.
Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can exacerbate vestibular symptoms, so it's important to stay hydrated throughout the day. Aim to drink plenty of water and avoid excessive consumption of caffeinated or sugary beverages.
Consider Nutritional Supplements: Some individuals may benefit from nutritional supplements that support vestibular health, such as magnesium, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids. IAs a nutritional therapist we work together to ideantify areas of nutrition that may benefit from support and where necessary build a protocol to support you in helping you reach your nutritional needs through diet and supplementation where this cannot be met.
Manage Stress: Stress can exacerbate vestibular symptoms, so it's important to incorporate stress-reduction techniques into your daily routine. This may include mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or gentle physical activity.
Managing Lifestyle: There is many lifestyle can be incredibly beneficial when managing migraine and vestibular conditions. Learning to adopt a treatment plan depending on your symptoms and needs so you can adapt to your symptoms and migraine threshold. Areas we will address may include sleep, social and work schedules, light and noise management, eating schedule to name just a few.
While diet and nutrition are not a cure for vestibular migraine and migraine-associated vertigo, they can play a very supportive role in managing symptoms and promoting overall well-being. By making informed dietary choices, supplementing where required, addressing lifestyle and environmental factors and raising your migraine threshold we can take proactive steps to support their vestibular health and improve their quality of life. As always, it's important to work with a healthcare professional to develop a personalised approach to diet and nutrition that meets your individual needs and health goals, and as I migraine nutritionist, I am here to help.
Each migraine sufferer will be unique in presentation, and therefore unique in their treatment plan. I know this only to well with my own life changing experience of migraine associated vertigo. I am only too aware of how migraines can be totally disabling and the struggles you may be facing. For me, diet and lifestyle was an area that was never really discussed in a medical treatment plan. I have myself discovered how powerful a personalised migraine diet plan, optimal nutrition and lifestyle management can be to any migraine sufferer.
As a migraine nutritionist. I work with my clients on an individual basis gives me the opportunity to understand not only them as a person but also their medical history and understand their wider picture, such as genetics, lifestyle, hormonal, dietary. Considering the whole body and taking a holistic approach, can be such an important and often overlooked factor when working on migraine management. Understanding where the root causes can be coming from is very important to managing migraines.
We will work together, providing you with a plan, in which we will continue to build upon, week by week, to support you to understand your migraine triggers and drivers. My aim is to education and empower you to manage and raise your migraine threshold. Your plan will include diet and nutrition advice, including recipe, product and shopping advice, through to areas requiring support such as hormonal, endocrine health, sleep, environmental and stress management advice. Recommendation on supplementation and other tools are provided. Where needed, functional medicine testing such as hormonal, stool, blood and genetic testing can be beneficial to understand your wider migraine picture.
You may wish to read further information regarding migraines in my blog posts, as well as read my story, where I talk further into the role of nutrition, gut health, hormonal health and nutrigenomics for example.
I am a Nutritional Therapist offering one-to-one, in-person, or online consultations.
My Specialist areas include:
🥦 Menopause & Perimenopause
🍎 Female Hormonal Health
🥑 Migraines & Headaches
🫐 Digestive & Gut Health
🍋 Food Sensitivities & Special Diets
🍉 Energy & Vitality (including fibromyalgia & chronic conditions)
Naturopathic Nutrition's holistic approach to health & wellness recognises the interconnection between diet, nutrition, lifestyle & overall wellbeing to support the body's natural healing processes & provide necessary nutrients to help you optimise your health, & feel your best!
