During my migraine education, my supervising doc had commented to me on the similarities between epileptic seizures and migraines, so I decided this year, on finding the epileptic diet info, to try it. All doctors had given up on me, so I decided, why not?

Interesting! I feel much better on the ketogenic diet–fewer headaches, both severe and mild. Of course, mine is not a controlled, randomized study. But as a case study, I offer my experience, along with those of others here, for consideration.

I believe there is something to this. I hope someone will go the distance and do a randomized trial. Not likely, I know, since no prescription medication sales would be involved. But we can hope.

Thanks for your blog. I just found you today, by Google. I was wondering if anyone else was trying this for migraine. Aren’t we all just so amazingly smart? God bless!

I found that my severe reactions to going too long without eating were due to hypoglycemia. I did some research and put things together. Hypoglycemia causes seizures and scotomas. A ketogenic diet controls hypoglycemia and epileptic seizures. Perhaps ketosis can treat classic migraines too? Maybe there is a link.

I have been able to avoid the optical migraines for quite some time by staying hydrated and not allowing myself to get too hungry. Before I understood the effects of carbohydrates I had a meltdown once or twice a week. When I eat a ketogenic diet, I have no symptoms at all; and can go for long periods of time without scotomas or any other ill effects.

Thanks for this blog. I hope more research is done on this topic.

A ketogenic diet is an interesting approach. (It might help reduce carb cravings by adding cream of tartar and chicory inulin to your diet. Tartar & FOS will help reduce the beastie yeasties that crave sugar carbs.)
Excitotoxins such as aspartame & msg trigger a vigorous glutamate response. Cutting back or completely eliminating packaged and canned foods will significantly reduce glutamate exposure. Most of my friends reduce their exposure by staying away from non-dairy creamers and artificial sweeteners that are common in soft drinks. Unfortunately, most low-carb packaged foods are FULL of sugar or artificial sweeteners~

What about glutamate inhibitors? Two of the easiest inhibitors to use are theanine (tea) and magnesium malate or magnesium citrate. It might be worthwhile to do a websearch of glutamate inhibitors, excitotoxins and supplements that are neuroprotective.

Thanks for the great post!

At the time, I didn’t know one magnesium from the other, so of course like most people I bought the cheap magnesium oxide. I’m now taking magnesium malate, which is supposed to be better. I never gave up the magnesium because it’s supposed to have all kinds of good effects, and it’s really hard to get the RDA from food. But I attribute my 8 migraine-free months to Inderal, and I’m a little too chicken to stop it and see if low-carb really keeps everything under control.

Regarding caffeine and low-carb, I’m a big believer in one thing at a time. I think low-carb has such dramatic results for most people who can stick to it for just two short weeks, that anything else you can do to improve your health is just tweaking.