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What is the Best Alcohol for Migraine?

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×Published: by This post may contain affiliate links.What is the best alcohol for migraine sufferers? The topic of alcohol and migraine seems to be a tricky one. There are so many reasons we probably should avoid alcohol when we have a migraine disorder, but around the holidays, birthdays, or the new year, it can get to be incredibly difficult.If you're anything like me, you might love a glass of wine as a way to celebrate special occasions. Before I was diagnosed with vestibular migraine, I was really into wine. As a lover of food, a lot of my trips have centered around exploring regional cuisines and that often includes enjoying wine or local cocktails. However, I knew that if I was going to try a migraine diet, I'd have to sacrifice alcohol for a little while.What I found after years of navigating migraine disease and alcohol is that you may not have to avoid it completely, despite what other resources say. This post will share some tips for what you can look for in liquor, beer, and wine, if you live with migraine attacks, as well as some recommended options!Jump to:migraine elimination dietreintroduce foodsWhen we live with migraine, it can often feel like we're robbed of a lot of joyful momentsprioritize.Alcohol is perceived as a widely common food trigger, but just how common is it? In some studies, only 10% have found a link. Considering around 39 million people live with migraine, even 10% is a pretty big chunk.Generally food triggers like alcohol can trigger an attack within 30 minutes to a couple of hours after consumption. This would be known as an alcohol induced attack. Delayed alcohol induced headache aka "hangover" is typically experienced the next day. Unfortunately people who experience migraine are more prone to experiencing a migraine attack after drinking than the average person.There are several factors that can coincide with individual triggers when it comes to how alcohol may trigger a migraine attack. This could point to a histamine sensitivity or tyramine sensitivity, particularly with certain types of fermentation, sensitivity to certain additives and flavorings, or a sensitivity to sulfites.Other factors, like the expansion of blood vessels and increased blood flow when we drink alcohol can contribute.Congeners, which are byproducts of the distillation process like acids, acetaldehyde, and methanol, are thought by some researches to cause migraine attacks. These occur in dark liquors like brandy, red wine, bourbon and whiskey.Lighter drinks like vodka, white wine, and light beers typically have low levels of congeners. It's theorized that breaking down congeners in the body competes with breaking down ethanol and this is what contributes to a hangover. More research is needed in this area, but it could explain why some of these drinks are better tolerated than others.This can be completely individual and depend on what you're sensitive to. All wines contain sulfites, histamine, tyramine, and tannins, as these are a result of the fermentation processes for wine.Wines with higher alcohol content contain more naturally-occurring sulfites than less alcoholic wine. But adding sulfites to wine is a common practice, especially in sweeter wines, as sulfites are a preservative. Some wineries offer “sulfite-free” wines that have either no added sulfites or that have had the majority of the sulfites removed, though there is no such thing as a truly sulfite-free wine (read labels carefully to be sure you know what you’re getting). So if you’re sensitive to sulfites, look for labels that say things like “organic,” “sulfite-free,” or “no added sulfites.” Or, try a dry white wine, like a Sauvignon Blanc.You won’t find any labels indicating tyramine and histamine content in wine, but it’s generally the case that red wines and sparkling wines have both histamine and tyramine in greater quantities than other types of wine. Another thing you won't find on the label? Additives.Many mass-produced wines like Kendall Jackson or Beringer have clients that expect the same flavor year after year and have to mass produce so much wine they can't be picky with their grapes. But grapes don't produce that same flavor every year. The flavor of those grapes can significantly depend on the weather that year - droughts, too much rain, too much sun, just to mention a few.So how do wine brands get around this so you can have that big buttery flavor in your KJ chardonnay? By manipulating it with additives. The FDA doesn't require these to be labeled on wine like they do sulfites, but they definitely exist.&nbsp;Other factors include how the winery treats the grapes. Are they spraying lots of pesticides? Do they include rotted grapes in their batches? These are all little things that could potentially filter down to a trigger for someone with migraine. So how do you find wine like this? A little research!Here are some tips for navigating wine and migraine.Here are a few favorite wines that have worked well for me personally. I'm a big fan of wines from the Santa Barbara region of California and find there's a large emphasis there on sustainable practices, so you'll see that reflected here with suggestions.I highly recommend planning to spend at least $15, which will generally get you a better brand overall.Wine wands are developed by&nbsp;PureWine, a small Texas-based company that my family actually ended up investing in once we realized how well they worked for me. Even once I reintroduced foods, I could only tolerate white wines, but red seemed to always trigger dizziness for me. This was especially common with bold reds, like cabernet sauvignon. One common misconception I see in my migraine groups is that these are basically the same thing as the drops you see online - this is not true.PureWine&nbsp;is the only product on the market that also addresses biogenic amines, like&nbsp;tyramine and histamine. Stirring the wine wand in your drink for up to 8 minutes removes not only all the sulfites but also these amines, which tend to be a bigger culprit for triggering attacks than sulfites. The other products, like the drops, only remove sulfites. There are so many&nbsp;common wine myths&nbsp;out there - like if you just buy sulfite-free wine you won't get an attack - but most are just misinformation.&nbsp;You can get 20% off on these all the time with my code SAVE20.Non-alcoholic wines (and non-alcoholic beers) are produced in the same way as their alcoholic counterparts. The alcohol is removed after the fact, meaning that all the other byproducts of fermentation and additives are still in non-alcoholic wines. So, if you aren’t in it for the alcohol, you’re better off with a delicious mocktail!That being said, you may be able to try using a wine wand on them to see if it helps out. I generally find the flavor isn't the best for these, despite it improving over the years. If you are only triggered by the alcohol and not the additives, I recommend Giesen Sauvignon Blanc and Nosecco.Beer contains fewer sulfites than wines, and fewer histamines and tyramine than red wines. Look for organic beers to avoid additives, and try a lighter beer with a lower alcohol content, like a lager. This can help minimize histamine and tyramine.Another factor is some beers contain gluten and if you have a gluten sensitivity or celiac, this can also contribute to migraine attacks.Expert tip - You can also use the Wine Wand with beer to aid with some of the histamine removal.&nbsp;It may just take away some of the fizziness, but it is effective.Some recommended beer brands:If wine isn't your thing or it's not well tolerated, there are a few liquor options that may work well for you. Just like wine, some options are better than others. This can depend on the same process. Are there flavorings added or is the liquor produced with a natural process?&nbsp;If you're a fan of the darker liquors, you can also use the Wine Wand with liquor and beer to aid with some of the histamine removal.&nbsp;As we've discussed above, dark liquors and red wine tend to have the highest amounts of congeners as well as tyramine and histamine. Champagne and sweeter wines also tend to be a larger issue from higher sugar content.Types of alcohol to avoid for migraine:For those that cannot tolerate alcohol at all, but are ready to get a little more adventurous with their diet, there are a few really great non-alcoholic knockoffs.Many of these do contain things like citric acid, which is ok on a migraine diet, but some find they are sensitive. Some of the natural flavors may also contain citrus, so this is something to keep in mind.&nbsp;See these recipes for easy migraine-friendly drinks without alcohol. And if you're looking for mixers, see my post on the best ginger beers or how to make a base for homemade ginger juice.This post was originally published in December 2020 and was recently updated to include new pictures and information on congeners, with some more information on beer and wine from Natalie Mead.« Strawberry Cheesecake BarsBlackened Cobia Recipe »I see a lot of talk about wine and hard liquors but I'm a hillbilly and like a beer once in a while. Just wondering how non-alcoholic beers might factor in? I cannot drink alcohol, but something like Budweiser Zero says the ingredients are barley, rice, hops, and water. It is brewed, so does that produce Tyramine? Curious if anybody knows. Thanks, JoeReplyHello,I’m reasonably new to the VM world, only diagnosed a few months ago. I was wondering if non-alcoholic wine is ok or if it is still a trigger?ThanksReplyIve been studying the dos and donts on the vestibular migraine diet and was wondering if alcoholic seltzers should be avoided? Or if there’s one or more that are ok to have a couple. White claw?ReplyHi, what would you recommend drinking gin with?ReplyHey ! Thank you so much for this article it helps so much !!I was just wondering do you think white claws would be okay? They are my favorite drinks to grabReplyHi Alicia,Thank you so much for this! You have helped me so much in my migraine journey.Are there any safe red wines? Sorry if I missed a post about that. Thank you!ReplyHi Alicia,I can't thank you enough for this website!! I've been diagnosed with vestibular migraine since July last year 2019 and have been following the heal your headache diet since about Sept. It was such a hard year last year with having a vertigo attack in Jan last year then ongoing dizziness, had to take time off work. All together took about 5 weeks off work for the year because of it. I've also found a new job also which was challenging when I was having little flare ups. I'm a landscaper so always outside and very physical job. I'm pretty lucky I've been able to manage my migraines through following the HYH diet and the migraine preventer the neurologist have me (amitriptyline) seems to work for the most part. They still have a few side effects but it's still better than not being on them. This Christmas (my first Xmas since being diagnosed) was a hard one. Had a big flare up and have been dizzy since boxing day. I'm at the tail end of it now though and feeling no where near as dizzy (still a little). Just took everything back to basics again and strict HYH diet. Your recipes have been a god send for my mother in-law also so she knows what she can cook when I'm over. I can drive and go to the shops again now and can handle small social things. I'm booked in to see a naturopath today as I believe there is more I can do to help myself naturally instead of drugs. But I can't thank you enough hearing about your journey with this and showing that you can live a normal life and how to manage flare ups. I notice the difference between when I'm not eating well and lazy with my foods to when I'm being diligent and not eating trigger foods. So thank you so much! I can enjoy eating and feeling well again ????. Long post sorry! LolReplyI really appreciated hearing this talk! I am four years into this and am still trying to have more good days without dizziness and tintinitis. I definitely agree with the helpfulness of massage and meditation ( I use the Headspace app). 2mg of Valium is my go to when the dizziness gets to be too much. I also try to get extra rest and drink more water when I attend an event that could cause problems. Thanks for sharing your tips!ReplyThanks Alicia. I appreciate your prompt reply. I will let you know if I have received some relief from acupuncture. Again, thank you for your support.VilmaReplyTHANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!! I have been suffering with Vestibular Migraines for 8 weeks. (Originally diagnosed as BPPV.) I want to treat with natural options. Your articles are a Godsend. I am truly grateful. I found your link when looking to see if decaf coffee is OK. Obviously it can also be a trigger. I am going to Whole Foods for the Allegro Organic French Roast from the Swiss Water Process.By the way, I am looking into some treatments with acupuncture. Have you found any positive comments on this procedure to help cope with this ailment.I truly appreciate your link. Thank you again. VilmaVilmaReplyThis dizzy talk was so timely! Thank you soooo much. I was feeling so discouraged tonight after watching my VM suffering hub push through some challenging social events this past weekend. Can't wait for him to watch this. You gave so many great suggestions, thank you! ????ReplySubscribe for new recipes, tips, and discounts.Subscribe for new recipes, tips, and discounts.

×Published: by This post may contain affiliate links.What is the best alcohol for migraine sufferers? The topic of alcohol and migraine seems to be a tricky one. There are so many reasons we probably should avoid alcohol when we have a migraine disorder, but around the holidays, birthdays, or the new year, it can get to be incredibly difficult.If you're anything like me, you might love a glass of wine as a way to celebrate special occasions. Before I was diagnosed with vestibular migraine, I was really into wine. As a lover of food, a lot of my trips have centered around exploring regional...

What is the Best Alcohol for Migraine?

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