Here you go @turnitaround (and this should help answer @MariaF’s HYH curiosity too) — the “greatest hits” on diet from right here on the forum:
Core wiki / overview
- Diet (6 C’s / MAV diet wiki)
The main reference post on the “MAV diet” a.k.a. the 6 C’s (Cheese, Chianti/alcohol, Caffeine, Chinese/MSG, Citrus, Chocolate) + notes on caffeine levels, links to migraine diet books, and The Dizzy Cook.
Diet
Practical “how do I actually eat?” threads
-
Shopping List for the Diet – with external blog link to a researched HYH/6C’s shopping list (US-focused but very usable anywhere):
Shopping List for the Diet -
For the people doing 6cs diet please help – super practical Q&A (what to eat, brands, is rice ok, eggs, etc.):
For the people doing 6cs diet please help -
Newly diagnosed with VM, diet? – good short thread on starting out, with link back to the 6C’s wiki and comments on how well it helps different people:
Newly diagnosed with VM, diet?
HYH & strict migraine-diet experience
-
New - could do with some support! – @DDAM1994 goes fully strict HYH (+ extras like gluten/dairy-free) and there’s lots of discussion of how hard/beneficial this level of restriction is:
New - could do with some support! -
Newbie and found the Best Doctor in Boston – classic Dr Rauch case; detailed report of using the “Migraine diet” (HYH-style) with big improvement, plus tips on problem foods like nuts, almond milk, restaurant eating:
Newbie and found the Best Doctor in Boston -
Helpful diets? – comparison of HYH with other approaches (keto, vegetarian, etc.), for when HYH/6C’s alone doesn’t seem to move the needle:
Helpful diets?
Specialty / alternative diet angles
-
Ketogenic diet – people trying keto specifically for vestibular migraine and reporting symptom changes:
Ketogenic diet -
Wish I’d been told about this diet 20 years ago.. has been life changing! – whole-food plant‑based success story (again, not HYH per se, but important context that different diets help different migraine brains):
Wish I’d been told about this diet 20 years ago.. has been life changing!
If someone wants the short explanation of HYH in this context:
- HYH = Heal Your Headache elimination diet (from Buchholz’s book).
- It’s stricter than just the 6 C’s: you avoid caffeine, aged/fermented foods, processed meats, nuts, citrus, chocolate, certain fruits (bananas, avocado), MSG, artificial sweeteners, etc., for about 8–12 weeks, then carefully re‑introduce.
But the links above are the best jumping‑off points on the forum itself.
If you’d like, I can pull together a one‑page “starter menu” that’s HYH‑compatible and VM‑friendly so nobody has to stare at an empty plate under those evil supermarket lights.