Why Some People Reach for Soda When a Migraine Starts

Why Migraines Can Make People Crave Sugar, Salt, and Caffeine — and Why Some Find Temporary Relief


Migraine is not “just a headache”
Migraine is a complex neurological condition with multiple phases, each driven by changes in brain signaling, blood flow, and metabolism. While the pain phase gets most of the attention, many people experience symptoms hours — sometimes a full day — before the headache even begins.

These early symptoms can include:

• Fatigue
  
  
• Yawning
  
  
• Difficulty concentrating
  
  
• Mood changes
  
  
• Sensitivity to light or sound
  
  
• Food and drink cravings

Those cravings are often misunderstood. They are not random weakness or comfort-seeking behavior. Increasing evidence suggests they may reflect specific biochemical changes happening in the brain during the early migraine phase.

Why cravings happen before the pain starts
Many people notice cravings before the migraine pain develops. This timing is important. It suggests cravings are part of the migraine process itself, not simply a reaction to pain.

Several overlapping mechanisms are likely involved.

Changes in brain energy use
The brain relies heavily on glucose. During a migraine, brain energy metabolism can become less efficient. This creates a relative energy shortfall in certain brain regions, triggering signals associated with hunger or sugar craving.

The body interprets this mismatch as a need for quick energy.

This explains why people often crave:

• Sweet foods
  
  
• Refined carbohydrates
  
  
• Sugary drinks

The craving is not psychological — it is neurobiological.

The role of blood sugar fluctuations
Drops in blood sugar are a recognized migraine trigger for many people. Skipping meals, irregular eating, or long gaps between meals can set off attacks.

During the prodrome phase, even subtle drops in glucose can:

• Increase headache risk
  
  
• Produce fatigue and dizziness
  
  
• Trigger cravings for fast-acting carbohydrates

This is why rapidly absorbed sugars may feel helpful in the short term. They temporarily stabilize blood glucose and satisfy the brain’s demand for quick energy.

Why caffeine keeps appearing in migraine folklore
Caffeine plays a complicated role in migraine.

On one hand:

• It constricts certain blood vessels
  
  
• It enhances absorption of some pain medications
  
  
• It can reduce headache intensity in some individuals

On the other hand:

• Regular caffeine use can create dependency
  
  
• Withdrawal itself can cause headache
  
  
• In some people, caffeine triggers migraines rather than relieving them

During a migraine prodrome, the brain may “seek” caffeine because of its vascular and neurological effects. This explains why many people instinctively reach for caffeinated drinks when an attack is developing.

Important nuance: caffeine helps some migraines — not all.

Why salty, fatty foods are commonly craved
Sugar cravings get the spotlight, but salt cravings are just as common.

Possible reasons include:

• Mild dehydration accompanying migraine
  
  
• Changes in electrolyte balance
  
  
• Altered hypothalamic signaling during prodrome

Salt triggers thirst, encouraging fluid intake. For someone who is slightly dehydrated — a known migraine trigger — this can feel physiologically rewarding.

Fatty foods may play a comfort role by slowing gastric emptying and stabilizing glucose absorption, creating a short-lived sense of relief.

Why people report relief after sugary, caffeinated, salty foods
Some individuals genuinely experience short-term improvement when they consume a combination of:

• Fluids
  
  
• Sugar
  
  
• Salt
  
  
• Caffeine

This relief likely occurs because multiple contributing factors are temporarily addressed:

• Hydration improves
  
  
• Blood glucose rises
  
  
• Certain blood vessels constrict
  
  
• Nausea eases
  
  
• The nervous system receives a familiar, comforting signal

This does not mean the migraine is “cured.”
It means some early triggers are momentarily blunted.

Why this approach works inconsistently
The biggest mistake is assuming migraine is a single disease with a single solution.

Migraine mechanisms vary widely:

• Some are primarily vascular
  
  
• Some are metabolic
  
  
• Some are hormonally driven
  
  
• Some are stress-induced
  
  
• Some are triggered by sleep disruption
  
  
• Some are associated with gut motility changes

What helps one migraine can worsen another.

For example:

• In some people, caffeine relieves symptoms
  
  
• In others, caffeine triggers the attack
  
  
• Sugar may help early symptoms but worsen rebound headaches later
  
  
• Salt helps dehydration-related migraines but worsens blood pressure in others

This variability explains why anecdotal remedies spread quickly — and fail just as often.

Why social media amplified this phenomenon
The recent surge in attention around sugary caffeinated drinks for migraine relief reflects deeper problems in migraine care.

Many patients feel undertreated
Migraines are often:

• Minimised
  
  
• Misdiagnosed
  
  
• Treated reactively instead of preventively

People who feel unheard will experiment.

People crave quick solutions
Migraine hits suddenly. When in pain, people want relief in minutes — not appointments, diaries, or long-term plans.

Simple solutions feel appealing.

Healthcare messaging is often too complex
When medical advice feels inaccessible, people turn to peer experiences instead.

The danger of mistaking cravings for triggers
Many patients mistakenly blame cravings for causing migraines.

In reality, cravings are often a symptom, not the cause.

For example:

• A person craves sugar because the migraine has already started
  
  
• They assume sugar caused the migraine
  
  
• They try avoiding sugar, but attacks still happen

This misunderstanding leads to unnecessary dietary restriction and frustration.

Why repeated reliance on this strategy is risky
Even if sugary or caffeinated drinks provide relief occasionally, repeated dependence carries risks:

• Blood sugar spikes and crashes
  
  
• Increased migraine frequency due to rebound mechanisms
  
  
• Weight gain
  
  
• Worsening insulin resistance
  
  
• Blood pressure concerns
  
  
• Caffeine dependence headaches

Short-term relief does not equal long-term management.

Healthier alternatives that target the same pathways
If relief comes from hydration, glucose stabilization, or mild caffeine, safer approaches can be considered:

• Drinking water or electrolyte fluids
  
  
• Eating a small balanced snack (complex carbs + protein)
  
  
• Using controlled caffeine sources rather than large sugary drinks
  
  
• Treating nausea early
  
  
• Using prescribed migraine medications promptly

The key is addressing the mechanism — not the specific food.

What clinicians should ask migraine patients
Useful questions include:

• Do you crave certain foods before attacks?
  
  
• Do those cravings come before or after pain?
  
  
• Does caffeine help or worsen symptoms?
  
  
• Are attacks linked to missed meals?
  
  
• Do symptoms improve with hydration?

These questions provide insight into individual migraine patterns.

How this fits into modern migraine care
Cravings offer valuable clues. They can signal:

• Prodrome phase onset
  
  
• Energy metabolism involvement
  
  
• Hydration status
  
  
• Trigger timing

Instead of dismissing these experiences, clinicians should use them to personalize care.

Migraine management works best when it is:

• Preventive
  
  
• Personalized
  
  
• Mechanism-focused
  
  
• Educative

Why patients deserve better explanations
Many people feel embarrassed discussing food cravings during migraines. They assume it sounds irrational or indulgent.

In reality, these cravings reflect real neurobiological changes.

Normalizing this helps patients:

• Understand their condition
  
  
• Reduce guilt
  
  
• Track symptoms more accurately
  
  
• Engage more effectively in treatment plans

The real message patients should hear
Temporary relief from sweet or caffeinated foods does not mean they are “treating migraine correctly.”

It means:

• Their body is responding to early warning signals
  
  
• Some contributing factors are being briefly addressed
  
  
• Long-term migraine control still requires structured management