Curing migraines, a side-effect of a whole food plant-based diet.

By the time the summer of 2015 was over, I knew it was time for change. To do something, make some kind of resolution and follow through.

‘The pain was often unbearable and the whole process could last a week to ten days’.

Consulting my GP really achieved very little. He explained I would have to live with these migraines as there was no cure. His advice was simply to take up to four ibuprofen every four hours. I did not relish this prospect, and felt disappointed with the medical profession. So, I tried to help myself. For a time, I gave up chocolate, to no avail. I tried cutting out cheese, to no avail. I updated my eye prescription. No change. Migraine was the thief that stole my time and enjoyment of being and it refused to leave. I had not given up, but I had certainly arrived at a dead end.

‘When I was well, the fear of the migraines recurring was overwhelming’.

Leading up to 2015 I began to notice changes in my body. My weight had been creeping up gradually, I was constantly thirsty, felt tired even after a good night’s sleep and low in energy most days, my eating was becoming less controlled and my brain was plagued with a fog that came in hard and fast at the most inconvenient times. This time, rather than heading for another dead end, I opted to do my own research and courtesy of Google, I self-diagnosed. From what I could ascertain, it looked like I was heading for pre-diabetes or possibly even diabetes. This was serious and concerns over this development were more pressing and imminent than the migraines. I had witnessed friends with diabetes, and the prospect was not glamorous.

‘I learned the risks associated with eating meat and dairy. I learned about diabetes and atherosclerosis and how it may be reversed through a WFPB lifestyle’.

In April of 2017 I embarked on a research project that would take up the rest of that year. I read and read and read, watched Forks over Knives and Rip Esselstyn YouTube clips. I attended online food summits, and then read some more. I learned everything there was to know about this new way of living. I learned the risks associated with eating meat and dairy. I learned about diabetes and atherosclerosis and how it may be reversed through a WFPB lifestyle. I learned how to look after my heart. And I cooked. And cooked and cooked. I learned to cook without oil. I learned to swap out ingredients and how to bake cakes without eggs, butter and sugar. I learned to make my own bread. Lentils and I became friends. It was fascinating and exciting.

‘Within a week I witnessed some astounding changes’.

But the best change came unexpectedly. I only realised migraines had been absent for weeks, when one started. In all the excitement about the changes brought on by the new lifestyle, I had not noticed initially that I had gone longer than normal without migraines. Then some visual disturbance, the usual starting point for at least a week of misery, occurred. The visual disturbance passed as usual, but unusually no migraine followed. This was incredible! When I reflect back on this discovery, it still makes me feel quite emotional.

‘Being cured from severe migraines was completely unexpected’.

Ever since, visual disturbances occur occasionally, migraines even more infrequently and mostly when I have fallen off the wagon and eaten foods that fit my old habits. And when they recur, they do not last as they used to, and rarely fully lodge themselves. The more closely I adhere to the plant-based lifestyle, eat right, sleep and move, the less frequent and less severe they are.

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Consultant Haematologist and Lifestyle Medicine Physician. Founder and Director of Plant-based health professionals UK.

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Shireen Kassam

Consultant Haematologist and Lifestyle Medicine Physician. Founder and Director of Plant-based health professionals UK.