McMigraine: Can a McDonald’s Meal Really Relieve Headaches?

Like many of us, I sometimes find myself caught in the scroll — browsing TikTok to see what’s trending in the world of food, wellness, and so-called ‘health hacks.’ Recently, one claim made me pause: people saying a McDonald’s meal helped ease their migraine.

Yes, you read that right — not a prescription, not rest in a dark room, but cola and fries. As someone who both works in the field of nutrition and experiences migraines firsthand, I was honestly surprised and intrigued. I was wondering whether this is just another quirky internet moment or could there be any explanation, even the smallest one, behind it?

Before we all start ordering a large Coke and fries for headache relief, it’s worth digging deeper. Let’s take a closer look at what we do know about migraines, what might be going on behind fast food fix anecdotes, and why it’s important to be cautious when social media turns pain relief into a viral food trend.

Understanding migraines: more than just a headache

Before we dive into the exploration of this new viral trend, let’s first understand what migraines are.

While probably many of us have experienced headaches at least once in our lives, from personal experience, I can say that migraines are a ‘next-level’ type of pain.

Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that is genetically influenced, causing episodes of moderate-to-severe headaches, frequently accompanied by nausea and heightened sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can last hours to days, tremendously impacting daily activities and quality of life for many people.

A lot of factors lead to migraine’s development, most pronounced include genetics, inheritance, and various genetic disorders associated with cerebrovascular dysfunction.

Subtypes of migraine

Migraines can be divided into types, with the most common two being:

• Migraine without aura. A migraine without aura means a recurrent headache attack usually lasting 4–72 hours. It typically involves pulsating, moderate-to-severe intensity of pain and is associated with nausea, photophobia (light sensitivity), and phonophobia (sound sensitivity).
• Migraine with aura. This type of migraine usually causes repeated episodes that come and go, lasting just a few minutes. Each episode often starts with symptoms on one side of the body, like changes in vision, strange sensations (like tingling), trouble speaking, muscle weakness, or dizziness. These symptoms go away completely following a headache and other typical migraine symptoms like nausea or sensitivity to light.

Remember that this complex neurological disorder can only be diagnosed by healthcare providers. The diagnosis of migraine includes your overall health and headache history, physical examination, and other diagnostic criteria. If you have concerns about your recurrent headaches, always consult with your healthcare provider and never rely on self-diagnosis, as recurrent headaches could also be a sign of other serious health issues.

Migraine triggers

Some sources suggest that 76% of people diagnosed with migraines report certain triggers. The most common include:

• Stress. Continued and chronic stress may lead to more frequent migraines. It is one of the most common triggers, affecting 80% of cases.
• Hormonal changes. It is suggested that at least 65% of cases of migraine attacks can be triggered by changes in hormones, especially during menstruation, ovulation, or pregnancy.
• Skipped meals. A common factor, triggering at least 57% of all migraine attacks.
• Weather changes. Rapidly changing weather, for example, going from gloomy to sunny weather, may impact the exposure to light, potentially triggering a migraine.
• Sleep. Excessive or insufficient sleep may affect migraine occurrence.
• Odors. Perfumes, colognes, and other odors, sometimes including even things like a not properly ventilated environment, may trigger headaches and especially a migraine attack.
• Exposure to light. A hypersensitive nervous system, particularly in the parts of the brain that process sensory information, may make those areas overactive, making light feel much more intense than it is.
• Alcohol intake. Alcohol may cause blood vessels to expand, which may trigger migraines in some people. Also, it may contribute to dehydration or indirectly affect sleep quality in some cases, which may aggravate migraine symptoms.
• Smoking. Nicotine may stimulate the nervous system even more, as well as constrict blood vessels, increasing migraine risk, especially the type with aura.
• Dehydration. Some studies suggest that electrolyte imbalance or simply not meeting your daily water intake may have a meaningful impact on triggering migraines and increasing pain severity.

When we have all of the basics of understanding migraines in check, let’s see what the fuss is about in terms of McDonald's for migraine relief.

McMigrane phenomenon: could fast food really ‘ease’ a migraine?

While a lot of us may enjoy a nice burger, soda, and some fries, from a scientific perspective, there is absolutely no scientific research that suggests the ability of fast food to relieve migraine headaches in any way.

However, even without any scientific backing, some people swear by this ‘hack,’ so let’s explore the potential theoretical mechanism that may contribute to the risk reduction of developing a migraine headache or potentially ‘help’ to reduce its severity.

Salt, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance

One of the noted triggers of migraines is dehydration. Sodium intake from highly salty fast foods may contribute to replenishing the body with some electrolytes, especially if that is then followed by drinking fluids or water to reduce mild dehydration.

However, even this plausible explanation is quickly ‘debunked’ by science, with some studies suggesting that higher salt intake, in fact, may promote longer-lasting headaches and higher migraine headache index scores (MHIS), meaning that the overall burden of a headache may be worse.

Another clinical trial with 390 participants also found that meaningfully lowering sodium intake contributes to a lower risk of headaches in adults.

While the idea of salty foods may temporarily relieve migraine symptoms through fluid and electrolyte balance in some people who may have mild dehydration, the broader body of evidence points in the opposite direction, suggesting that consistent high sodium intake may actually worsen headache outcomes.

Caffeine intake

Another potential factor impacting the outcome of fast food for migraine relief is caffeine content. A typical McDonald’s meal often includes some kind of drink like cola or iced coffee, which in turn has some caffeine. For example, a 12-oz regular cola drink may contain around 34 mg of caffeine.

Interestingly, caffeine may contribute to constricting blood vessels, thus helping the pain-relieving effects of medications work more efficiently. It is also suggested that sudden caffeine withdrawal may trigger migraine attacks.

Thus, drinking small amounts of caffeine for those who are used to the daily intake may contribute to the reduction of headaches as a way of reducing the risk of caffeine withdrawal symptoms.

Simple carbohydrates and blood sugar

Migraine symptoms can sometimes be tied to blood sugar fluctuations. Hypoglycemia (a low blood sugar level in the body) may trigger headaches in some people.

Fast food is rich in simple carbohydrates, which can rapidly raise blood sugar levels. This quick influx of simple carbs may contribute to relieving migraine pain caused by the dip in blood glucose.

However, it is important to highlight that blood sugar fluctuations that may meaningfully affect health may be present only in some people, so such potential mechanisms can be applied only to those having blood sugar or insulin issues.

Even more importantly, relying on fast foods to regulate blood sugar is not a sustainable or reliable strategy. If you are experiencing frequent blood glucose fluctuations, it is essential to discuss this with your healthcare provider, as additional assessments may be needed to determine any potential underlying health conditions and their management methods.

Potential health issues of ‘fast food fix’ for migraines

Let’s be real, occasional consumption of fast food, especially for those who are generally following a healthy and balanced diet, may not have a tremendous impact on health short term.

However, a habitual intake of fast food to potentially relieve pain long-term may actually impact certain health issues.

Cardiovascular health risks

Some studies suggest that people suffering from migraines, especially those with aura, have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. When fast food is regularly used to cope with migraine episodes, it may worsen the risks, especially cardiovascular ones, that people with migraines already face.

Fast food contains higher amounts of trans fats, saturated fats, refined carbohydrates, and added sugars. These factors are well-known contributors to cardiovascular disease.

Caffeine overload

Caffeine, in fact, is a double-edged sword in migraine management. While we previously discussed that withdrawal symptoms may exacerbate migraine symptoms, excessive intake of caffeine may backfire in promoting migraine attacks.

Research shows that for those suffering from migraines, daily caffeine intake over 200–300 mg (roughly 2–3 strong coffees) may increase the likelihood of headache chronification. This means migraines may become not only more frequent but also harder to manage.

So, even if your migraine was not triggered by caffeine prior to eating some fast food, trying to seek relief from sweetened and caffeinated beverages may tip you over the daily caffeine intake, especially for those who already consume some caffeine per day. This may only increase the risk of migraine recurrence or exacerbate symptoms rather than support relief.

Weight gain

Understandably, turning to fast food during a migraine attack may seem harmless in the moment. However, it is worth considering that fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages tend to be high in calories, fat, and refined carbohydrates that are often delivered in large portions.

With a combination of the need for pain relief and fast food palatability, it becomes easier to passively and unintentionally overeat. This means consuming far more energy than the body needs without realizing it.

When these patterns repeat over time, especially given the frequent occurrence of migraines, they may contribute to positive energy balance and eventually weight gain.

Some studies support a bidirectional relationship between migraines and obesity, where especially abdominal obesity is linked to the increased risk and progression to chronic migraine, thus potentially only deepening the cycle of pain and seeking potential relief.

Evidence-based migraine management techniques

While indulging in fast food for migraine management may not be a sustainable or scientifically backed strategy, there are techniques validated to contribute to headache management.

Nutritional approaches

Nutrition plays a role in many health-related aspects of our lives. It may also impact the occurrence. This is why some techniques may help you reduce the risks of migraine occurrence from a nutritional standpoint.

• Assess and minimize potential food triggers. Certain foods are known to trigger migraines in some individuals. Those foods include aged cheeses, processed meats, chocolate, and some foods containing artificial sweeteners. Once personal food triggers are identified, minimizing them can help reduce the risk of migraines.
• Maintain regular meals throughout the day. Regular meals and balanced snacks can not only maintain proper energy levels but also reduce the risk of blood sugar fluctuations, which may contribute to migraine prevention.
• Avoid highly processed foods. Ultra-processed foods like packed snacks or fast food contain various additives, excess sodium, and fats, which may contribute to migraine attacks.
• Include more whole foods and omega-3s. A diet rich in minimally processed foods like vegetables, fruits, berries, legumes, whole grains, and lean proteins provides essential nutrients that may support brain health and the nervous system. Omega-3 may also support vascular health, indirectly contributing to migraine prevention.

However, it’s important to note that migraines are a complex health condition that require addressing multiple factors, thus focusing solely on nutrition may not be enough.

Lifestyle approaches

Trying to manage key components in our daily life may contribute to the risk reduction of migraine occurrence.

• Make sure to practice stress management. As mentioned earlier, high stress is one of the most common triggers for migraine attacks. Even if you cannot completely avoid stressful situations in your daily life, try at least including some mindfulness, yoga, meditation, or cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to reduce your levels of stress and lessen the risk of migraine attacks.
• Follow proper sleep hygiene practices. Sleep hygiene is critical, as it not only helps minimize migraine triggers directly but also potentially aids in coping with other triggers, such as stress. It includes a proper bedtime routine, adequate sleep time, reduction of screen time, and comfortable sleeping environment maintenance.
• Hydration is the key. Proper intake of fluids, including water, unsweetened herbal tea, or other unsweetened and uncaffeinated drinks that you prefer, may help maintain hydration and reduce the risk of dehydration-caused migraine attacks.
• Participate in regular physical activity. Physical activity, even if it's as simple as long, calming walks, may support vascular health and may even help recover a bit more efficiently after a migraine headache.

Michael Chua, MD, in this recent YouTube video, highlights: “The most important aspect of preventing and managing migraines is to track your triggers in a migraine diary and to avoid those triggers you are personally sensitive to.”

“During the migraines, it may be helpful to seclude yourself in a quiet and dark room to further avoid potential triggers such as certain odors, sounds, or light,” the doctor further elaborates.

If you struggle with identifying the triggers, or you may not be able to reduce the risk of migraines only by these techniques, consult with your healthcare provider for additional information and potential medication to manage this condition.

Bottom line

While some people claim that fast food like McDonald’s meals helps relieve migraines, scientific evidence does not support this as a reliable, sustainable, or healthy strategy.

Factors like salt, caffeine, and refined carbs in fast food might potentially temporarily relieve perceived symptoms for some, but habitual reliance may worsen migraine outcomes and increase risks related to overall health.

Instead of focusing on short-term practices, focus on balanced nutrition, trigger identification, lifestyle habits, and medical guidance for effective migraine management long term.