Artificial Sweeteners

Hi - I have just joined this site so not too sure on the history of these discussions, but I recently realised a connection between my sometimes 3 migraines a week, I was on a diet at the time and working long hours so almost all I ate were low fat yoghurts, weight watchers meals, diet coke etc. Even when I started to eat normal again, I continued with the diet cokes and still didn't realise why I was getting more migraines.

Eventually I read an article on the net and immediately cut out all the artificial sweeteners in my diet......I didn't get another migraine for around 10 months and thought I was cured.......until last night and the day before! I had the worst migraine in 20 years, crying with the pain, vomiting etc (like when I was in my early teens/twenties). My migraines had started to ease over the years, sometimes only getting the aura and no headache, other times just a mild headache. I'm 43 years old and wondered what could have triggered such a terrible one. I got the aura three times the day before yesterday, then at 7.30pm last night the big one! OUCH - only trigger I can think back on is a large red wine two nights before

Watch out for aspartame or any other artificial sweeteners in your drinks, ready made deserts and other foods as for many of us they are one of the worst migraine triggers.

Also watch for any citrus fruit, wine, chocolate, cheese and yoghurts since many food sensitivities develop gradually over the years.

I found that I have developed more and more food triggres, but since I have began to be really careful and tried to eliminate them from my diet, I was able to reduce considerably the frequency of my migraines which is a good news. I am sure that in your case it was the red wine - one of the worst migraine triggers you can get.

I'm fine with any sugar substitutes except aspartame (Nutrasweet). That's one of my biggest and worst triggers. Even something as simple as a breath mint will put me into a terrible migraine. Diet wise for me, I suspect MSG, but I'm not sure; and too much citrus. I can eat an occasional orange or have some juice. If I do it too often, though, it will also trigger them. The red wine is a well known trigger for some peoplel so that may indeed have been an issue for you. So many things affect so many sufferers in different ways.

Welcome to our little corner of the net. I hope at least you're able to find comfort and camaraderie here.

Thanks for the advice. It's really helpful to know what triggers other people, and the fact that they change as we get older. Guess I need to be on my guard more often and try to eat healthier instead of using diet substitutes! Thanks again

I too found a connection between artificial sweeteners and migraines. I would not only get migraines but really weird head things going on along with anxiety. The only sugar substitute that I can use not and love is Truvia.

Same here, Aspartame and MSG are my no fail triggers. I had to laugh when I read that even a breath mint would trigger a migraine. I was up in the mountains driving by myself and stopped to pick up a drink and a pack of mints, they only had a new brand and it looked okay. I took one and hit the road, about 10 miles later I got aura. Then just a few minutes later, after I pulled over It really came on. I looked at the ingredients and no nutrasweet listed...

So that couldn't be it, but it just didn't seem right, so I checked it again, no, not there. Just as I was about to set it down I noticed that under the barcode separate from the listed ingredients was " contains Aspartame ".

I was not happy or near a phone nor able to drive. I had pain meds but no abortives with me, I know, I double check now. I took one and laid the seat back and pulled a jacket over my head. Maybe a couple hours later I got the tapping on my window when the CHP checked on the car because it was there so long and not near anything.

I was lucky that day, the officer also had migraines and understood what I was going through. He even took my home phone and called to let everyone know what happened.
Somewhat after dark I was able to drive down the mountain but the glare of the headlights was terribly painful. I thought I just might not make it, but it eased a bit and I got home okay, I was about three hours drive from home...

I know better now, I look at the labels and really check them on anything new. I got a call the next day and it was the CHP calling to make sure that I was okay, The officer got a letter from me for being so good to call and then follow up the next day.

I really don't like to buy breath mints anymore, but when I do I only buy brands that I have had before.
I really need to type less, this is just dragging on...

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

=Bill

Bill you were really lucky to get such a nice cop.

I stay away from anything with artificial sweetner. Just plain old sugar is fine. I'll take my chances with the calories.

Wow, that's a really nice police officer. I'm glad you took the time to write and thank him. I'm sure he appreciated that. It's a pretty thankless job mostly.

I wanted to buy some chewing gum recently. I bought juicy fruit because I loved it as a kid and I assumed it was safe since it didn't say sugar free on it. Yep, got the migraine. I read the label. It contained both sugar AND aspartame. I started reading labels and was only able to find one brand that didn't have aspartame at all. I forget now if it's Bubblicious or Bubble Yum. Why in the world these other companies put both sugar and aspartame in their products makes no sense.

On a side note, anybody else find it annoying that the melt under the tongue migraine meds use aspartame???? So many of us are triggered by that. It's ridiculous.

yes, brenda, i've always thought that adding aspartame to migraine drugs is REALLY insane. i figured it out when given a sample of the melt kind of maxalt, many years ago. and my head got worse instead of better.

does everyone know that there are at least 80 other names for MSG? this is hugely deceptive to the public. aspartame is one of those things that acts like free-glutamate in the body. these things are neuro-toxins. there is no debate about that. it's proven beyond doubt.

yet, companies are allowed to sneak this stuff in their products, anywhere they damn well please. it just ain't right. dianne

Today I began eating my yogurt, the one that is always promoted on The Biggest Loser and low and behold i read the ingredients and it has aspartame in it!! I immediately had to throw it out. Pretty annoying that a supposed healthy food really isn't so healthy at all.

tinalouise wrote:Today I began eating my yogurt, the one that is always promoted on The Biggest Loser and low and behold i read the ingredients and it has aspartame in it!! I immediately had to throw it out. Pretty annoying that a supposed healthy food really isn't so healthy at all.

Hi,
i used to love yogurts,but they are massive migraine trigger not just because of the sweeteners in them ,but because basically they are sour milk

I guess I have to read the ingredients for everything I eat now considering you never know what is hidden in the food we eat. You would think that something like aspartame would require some sort of notification on the front of the yogurt considering it isn't particularly healthy and can cause side effects for a lot of people.

I don't have a problem with yogurt as long as I don't get any of the light varieties. I realize you're getting more calories, but to my thinking, the benefits it offers....calcium, good bacteria, etc.... outweigh the extra calories.

I eat only the plain, non-fat or low-fat yogurt with no other added ingredients (read the label carefully). Then I add my own ingredients: bananas, walnuts, brown rice, cinnamon, ginger, etc. This way I avoid any sweeteners and I still get the benefits for my digestive system that is so out-of-whack with chronic migraine. I really notice if I miss a day or two of having my yogurt (and ginger): nausea, indigestion, etc.

Thanks for the info..I was really shocked to read that there was aspartame in the yogurt i bought, I never really thought about it since I usually just check the calorie count, but needless to say I was annoyed. I will try the plain and put my own fruit in in from now on.

The only yoghurt that I can tolerate is Mountain High brand Original Style All Natural Yoghurt Plain. Their website is: link.

I usually add curry powder and extra ginger, but no sweeteners, and use it as a chip dip, or in place of mayonnaise.

I can only use Splenda (which is a disaccharide with the hydroxyl group removed and a chloride ion added).
I've read a few studies and it has 98% pass through on first pass by the kidneys.