What Cheese Can People With Migraine Eat?
Neurological DisordersMigraine
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What Cheese Can People With Migraine Eat?

What Cheese Can People With Migraine Eat?
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Updated on August 6, 2025
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If you live with migraine, you already know how debilitating those headaches can be. But what you may not know is there's a possible connection between some types of dairy and migraine. Aged cheeses like Gruyère, Havarti, Parmesan, and even some cheddars can trigger migraine episodes within hours.

People with migraine should stick to fresh cheeses or milder cheese that have had a shorter aging period, like mild cheddar, ricotta, cottage cheese, American cheese, Colby, and Monterey Jack.

If you suspect food is a trigger for your migraine, keeping a food journal can help you pinpoint any potential offenders.

Tyramine and Migraine

Some people with headaches and other migraine symptoms are sensitive to certain foods. Many of these foods contain an amino acid called tyramine. Eating foods that contain tyramine can set off a chain reaction that causes vasoconstriction — or narrowing — of some of the blood vessels in the brain. This vasoconstriction is then followed by dilation — or widening — of the blood vessels. This back and forth narrowing and widening causes the characteristic throbbing headache associated with migraine.

One of the items on the list of tyramine-containing foods to avoid is aged cheese. Aged cheeses go through a process of sitting for a period of time in order to develop a deeper flavor and a different texture. Different cheeses are aged to different degrees, and as a general rule, aged cheeses are harder than fresh cheeses. Some examples of aged cheeses that people with migraine may want to avoid include:

  • Parmesan
  • Asiago
  • Pecorino Romano
  • Gruyère
  • Havarti
  • Sharp cheddar
  • Emmental (made in Switzerland)
  • Fontina
  • Manchego Viejo
  • Romano
  • Stravecchio
  • Aged mozzarella
  • Gorgonzola
  • Provolone
  • Gouda
  • Camembert
  • Brie
  • Blue cheese
  • Muenster

On the other hand, fresh cheeses, and other mild cheeses that don't sit as long as aged cheeses, don't typically trigger migraine. Some examples that are typically safe for people with migraine include:

  • American cheese
  • Swiss cheese (made in America)
  • Baby Swiss
  • Mild cheddar
  • Stracchino
  • Tabor
  • Ricotta
  • Cottage cheese
  • Queso quesadilla
  • Pepper Jack
  • Pecorino fresco
  • Fresh mozzarella
  • Monterey Jack
  • Manchego fresco
  • Colby

Other Foods People With Migraine May Want to Avoid

Aged cheese isn't the only type of food with tyramine, and many other foods that contain the compound have been linked to the onset of migraine as well. Some of these include:

  • Processed meats (ham, salami, sausage, and pepperoni)
  • Raw onion
  • Citrus-type fruits (orange, grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, lemon, and lime)
  • Chocolate
  • Anything with nitrates, nitrites, MSG, aspartame, and sulfites (like deli meats and hot dogs)
  • Yeast extract
There are also some foods that don't contain tyramine that have been shown to trigger migraine and bring on headaches in those who are susceptible. If you suspect something in your diet is a trigger for you, it may also be helpful to avoid these foods and drinks, which include:

  • Alcohol
  • Peanuts and peanut butter
  • Tomato-based foods, like pizza
  • Potato chips
  • Pickled foods
  • Avocados
  • Dried fruits
  • Cultured dairy products (sour cream, yogurt, and buttermilk)
  • Caffeinated beverages (coffee, tea, and soda)
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Low-Tyramine Diet for Individuals with Headache or Migraine. National Headache Foundation.
  2. Low-Tyramine Headache Diet. National Headache Foundation.
  3. Estemalik E. What Can I Do to Avoid Headache and Migraine Triggers? Cleveland Clinic. June 27, 2019.
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Jessica Baity, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Jessica Baity, MD, is a board-certified neurologist practicing in southern Louisiana. She cares for a variety of patients in all fields of neurology, including epilepsy, headache, dementia, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, and stroke.

She received a bachelor's degree in international studies and history from the University of Miami and a master's in international relations from American University. She graduated from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine, where she also did her internship in internal medicine and her residency in neurology.

Prior to practicing medicine, she worked in international relations and owned a foreign language instruction and translation company. 

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Lindsay Boyers is a holistic nutritionist with a Bachelor's degree in food and nutrition and a certificate in holistic nutrition consulting. She has a background in functional nutrition and is currently studying for her RD exam.

In addition to contributing to everydayhealth.com, she has 12 published books, including The Everything Guide to Gut Health, The Everything Guide to the Ketogenic Diet, and The Everything Guide to Intermittent Fasting.

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