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Question about cooking for a friend with migraines.

I have started cooking for a friend with chronic migraines with no processed foods/chemicals etc. I know drinking beer is bad, but can I give her food cooked with beer? My pot roast uses a bottle of dark beer. I also make a Guinness beef stew that obviously uses Guinness Stout.

  1. Hi ,

    Welcome to our discussion forum! How very kind you are to be cooking for someone living with migraine disease - that's terrific!!

    I wish I knew the answer to this, but believe it depends on the person and how they react, or don't to beer being included in a dish. I think the alcohol gets cooked out, however there are other ingredients including sulfites and malt may be the culprit. I know that doesn't answer your question. Living with migraine disease is so different for each of us it really is hard to pinpoint this sort of thing. Having said that, I'm sure others will be here shortly to share their experiences with you.

    A number of people with migraine have lots of food triggers, others only a few and there are some who don't have any food triggers! I don't drink beer, hate the taste, but don't mind it when used in cooking. Having said that, it doesn't trigger me.

    Will you let me know how you make out?
    Thank you for being such a wonderful supportive friend!

    Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Advocate/Moderator

    1. Hi there - I wanted to check-in to see how it's going with your friend and if you've been able to chat with them about any food triggers/sensitivities?


      - Jake (Team Member)

      1. We are holding off on any sort of experimentation until she finishes chemo for cancer. Unfortunately, the chemo is aggravating her migraines as well as killing her appetite.

        1. Hi ,

          I'm sorry things are so difficult for her right now. Has she mentioned her uptick in migraine frequency to the doctor?

          Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Advocate/Moderator

      2. Oh yes, but the oncologist she is working with doesn't really understand how debilitating they can be. ("Just rub your temples." ) She has a migraine doctor, though she sees him through tele-heath, and his suggestions have been only moderately helpful. I referred her to my GP, an osteopath, who also suffers from migraines. She is supposed to see her this week. Keeping my fingers crossed.

        1. ,

          I'll keep my fingers AND toes crossed too!! As if rubbing our temples would simply get rid of migraine disease....UGG!

          Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Advocate/Moderator

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