How to potentially reduce migraine headaches with low carb

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Is it possible to avoid migraines by avoiding carbs? Studies and experience suggest it might be.1  
 
Elena’s life has been completely transformed since learning about the ketogenic diet. She’s gone from severe daily migraines to almost none. She’s even started to professionally study the effects of ketosis on migraine. In this interview she shares her story and some useful insights for other migraine sufferers. You can watch part of it above (transcript).

 

More stories

When we shared Elena’s story on Facebook dozens of other people reported reduced migraine on low carb. Here are even more people who have shared their stories about reduced migraine issues on low carb:

  • 'Keto has given me my life back'
    'Keto has given me my life back' 
  • "I ditched the bread, pasta, rice and potatoes"
    "I ditched the bread, pasta, rice and potatoes" 
  • How Gina really healed herself from obesity and metabolic syndrome
    How Gina really healed herself from obesity and metabolic syndrome 
  • The low-carb diet: "I feel better than I ever did in my life"
    The low-carb diet: "I feel better than I ever did in my life" 
  • "Even if the scale isn't changing, my body is"
    "Even if the scale isn't changing, my body is" 

 
All migraine success stories

 

Get started

Do you want to try reducing migraine problems using low carb? Sign up for our free 2-week keto low-carb challenge!

Alternatively, use our free low-carb guide, or for maximum simplicity try out our low-carb meal planner service – it’s free to use for a month.
 
 

 

More potential benefits of low carb

Why should you consider eating fewer carbs? There are many potential benefits, at all ages (although there’s hardly ever a reason for healthy kids to do a strict low-carb diet).

Here are some of the main benefits, and how to adapt a low-carb diet for your specific needs, to maximize the positive effects on your health.

The four most common benefits

Low-Carb FluLose weight
Reverse type 2 diabetesReverse type 2 diabetes
Calm Your StomachCalm stomach
Beat Your Sugar CravingsLess sugar cravings

Other common benefits

Low carb and blood pressureNormalize blood pressure
Low carb and acneLess acne
Physical EnduranceIncreased physical endurance
Control EpilepsyControl epilepsy

 

Low carb and heartburnLess heartburn
Low carb and PCOSReverse PCOS
 
 

Possible, less certain benefits

Reduce symptoms of ADHDReduce symptoms of ADHD
 
 
 

 

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  1. Nutrients 2019: A randomized double-blind, cross-over trial of very low-calorie diet in overweight migraine patients: a possible role for ketones? [moderate evidence]

    Neurological Sciences 2021: Effectiveness of ketogenic diet in treatment of patients with refractory chronic migraine [non-randomized study; weak evidence]

    BioMed Central Neurology 2019: A ketogenic diet normalizes interictal cortical but not subcortical responsivity in migraineurs [non-controlled study; weak evidence]

    Journal of Headache and Pain 2016: Cortical functional correlates of responsiveness to short-lasting preventive intervention with ketogenic diet in migraine: a multimodal evoked potentials study [weak evidence]

    European Journal of Neurology 2015: Migraine improvement during short lasting ketogenesis: a proof-of-concept study [prospective observational study; weak evidence]
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