Some people still believe chocolate is a migraine trigger, because they notice they eat more chocolate just before an attack. Yet there are several reasons why dark chocolate is actually good for people with migraine, and why that increased craving for chocolate may be your body’s attempt to top up the deficiencies that lead to an attack.
Magnesium
One of the benefits of dark chocolate for people with migraine is its magnesium content. In migraine, vasoconstriction happens first, followed by vasodilation as a reaction. It is at the moment of this dilation that the pain starts. So your blood vessels first cramp up and then, as a kind of rebound effect, relax too much. Certain forms of magnesium, such as magnesium citrate, can help the blood vessels relax so they are less likely to cramp up.
Other forms of magnesium, such as magnesium bisglycinate, curb the activity of glutamate in the brain, which helps your neurons settle down more easily.
It is important to note, however, that dark chocolate probably contains mainly magnesium oxide, which the body absorbs less well. This means that although the craving is understandable, eating chocolate alone is not enough to properly top up a magnesium deficiency with the right forms.
Potassium
Cocoa also contains potassium, a mineral that plays a crucial role in neuronal activity. While sodium activates the signal in the neuron, potassium brings the neuron back to rest. When your brain is overactive (which is typical in people with migraine), it uses up extra sodium and potassium. Sodium and potassium have to be in balance (“homeostasis”) to keep signal transmission in your brain running smoothly. But you would have to eat half a kilo of chocolate to come close to the daily requirement for a “normal” person (as in “someone without migraine”).
Endorphins
Another interesting aspect of cocoa is phenylethylamine (PEA), a compound that supports the spam filter (the “PAG”) in our brain. In chronic pain, that PAG often no longer does its job well enough, so too many stimuli are experienced as danger or pain (a strong perfume, for example), and your brain becomes overactive to stay alert to the “looming danger”.
Although the exact amount of PEA in chocolate is unknown, it seems unlikely that the amount in chocolate is enough to correct a disrupted spam filter.
Digestion
Dark chocolate supports digestion because it triggers the pancreas to release digestive juices. This allows us to absorb more nutrients and supply ourselves with more of the energy, minerals and vitamins we need, which supports energy production in our brain. Chocolate alone, however, will not make the difference between enough and not enough energy for your brain cells.
Sugar or sweeteners
Eating too much sugar results in insulin resistance. This gives you sharp peaks and dips in the energy supply to your brain. So if you eat milk chocolate or white chocolate, you take in a lot of sugar, and that is something we cannot recommend.
Chocolate with sweeteners can also throw your glucose levels off, which can get the energy supply to your brain into trouble. On top of that, some sweeteners, such as aspartame, are neurotoxic.
Lead and cadmium
Cocoa can also contain traces of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, which are neurotoxic. Fortunately, chocolate also contains zinc, which can help detoxify these heavy metals. Whether the two cancel each other out is a fair question.
Conclusion
So, what is the conclusion? Craving chocolate around migraine attacks is understandable and may be a sign that the body is trying to make up for certain deficiencies. Dark chocolate certainly has benefits, but as an anti-migraine strategy it falls short. Supplementation may be necessary to give your busy brain the substances it needs.
If you want to enjoy both the taste and the benefits, choose dark chocolate with at least 80% cocoa, avoid artificial sweeteners and eat it in moderation. If you also want to support your digestion, it is best to eat your piece of chocolate after a meal.
But above all, enjoy it!
