April 4, 2025

What Are the 5 Cs of Migraine?

While there is no one-size-fits-all set of migraine triggers that applies to everyone, more than 64% of people who experience regular migraine attacks avoid at least one food type that they identify as a trigger. These foods, including cheese, chocolate, coffee, cola beverages and citrus fruit, have been identified as commonly recurring triggers, and together, they are known as ‘the 5 Cs of migraine’.

Being aware of the five ‘C’ food triggers, tracking your response to each and proactively using CEFALY at the onset of symptoms can help manage and reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.

Unlocking the 5 Cs of migraine

When considering the 5 Cs of migraine, we need to understand the ingredients within each food that may be causing the onset of a migraine attack.

The following five foods and beverages have been identified as common migraine triggers:

1. Cheeses: Tyramine is the chemical in cheese that can trigger migraine in some people. The longer cheese ages, the more tyramine it contains. So blue cheese, for instance, contains significantly higher amounts of tyramine than pasteurized cheese varieties.

2. Chocolate: Caffeine and beta-phenylethylamine in chocolate can be triggers. One migraine study showed that consuming chocolate was a trigger for 33% of participants.

3. Coffee: Caffeine is a common trigger for migraine. Interestingly, migraine can be caused by drinking too much coffee and also caffeine withdrawal.

4. Cola beverages: Sugar and caffeine in most cola beverages can both lead to the onset of a migraine attack. The high level of sugar in cola beverages can lead to glucose spikes and crashes.

5. Citrus fruit: The high acidity of citrus, including oranges, grapefruit and lemons, can trigger migraine in some people.

Managing migraine food triggers

The 5 Cs of migraine are not the only foods that may lead to the onset of migraine. Irregular eating patterns or dehydration can also be contributing factors for many people. Some food triggers that can affect specific individuals include foods that are regarded as healthy, such as dairy or wheat.

To identify your food triggers, start a migraine diary and track everything you eat and drink. Also, take note of skipped meals. Look for patterns relating to the onset of migraine attacks to find which of the 5 Cs or any other foods may be contributing factors.

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