In my life, I suffer from multiple migraines a week that are debilitating and get in the way of classwork and my social life. Normally my go to treatment is sitting in the dark with a cold compress and a diet coke, hiding away from the world until I can emerge from my cave. Ibuprofen has become one of my best friends and I have other medications to help. However, sometimes it can take days to feel right or have the migraine completely leave.
As I was doom scrolling through TikTok the other day, I came across one of their "magical cures" for migraines called the "McMigraine". This meal consists of an order of French Fries and a Diet Coke; but does it work?
Caffeine has been a proven treatment to help give short term relief from headaches and migraines due to its ability to act as a vasoconstrictor in the body, narrowing the blood vessels and limiting the inflammatory neuropeptides that are impacting the brain. However, caffeine is often used with additional treatments such as ibuprofen and rest. Sodium helps the body absorb water and replenish electrolytes, working to bring the body back to homeostasis, especially during dehydration which can be a trigger for migraines. Sodium has been a common tool in treating brain injury and swelling as which would relieve the swelling in the brain and pressure in the skull. Excess amounts of both sodium and caffeine can have the opposite effect and trigger a migraine, therefore individuals need to be careful about how much they are ingesting.
A large Diet Coke from McDonalds contains around 46 milligrams of caffeine which is only 11% of the daily recommended caffeine intake for an adult. A large McDonalds French fry consists of around 400 milligrams of sodium which is around 26% of the daily recommended sodium intake for an adult. Therefore, while these percentages are on the lower range of the recommended daily intake, it is important to take into account the other things you eat in a day.
So does the "McMigraine" meal work? The answer is it depends. It probably isn't the best way to treat chronic migraines as continued caffeine and sodium intake can lead to withdrawal's and many other health problems (e.g., high blood pressure, high cholesterol). However, for the days when you are at your breaking point, try a trip to McDonalds and get a salty/caffeinated treat.
American Heart Association. (2024). How much sodium should I eat per day? Www.heart.org. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sodium/how-much-sodium-should-i-eat-per-day
Anson, P. (2018). Does Coffee Reduce Your Pain? Pain News Network. https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2018/9/29/does-coffee-reduce-your-pain
Marone, A. (2025). What is the caffeine content of a large Mcdonald’s Diet Coke. Womens Diet and Fitness. https://womensdietandfitness.com/what-is-the-caffeine-content-of-a-large-mcdonald-s.html
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2025). Caffeine: How much is too much? Mayo Clinic; Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20045678
McDonald's. (2017). McDonald’s Nutrition Calculator | McDonald’s. Mcdonalds.com. https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/about-our-food/nutrition-calculator.html
Miller, K. (2025). Can French Fries And Diet Coke Really Treat A Migraine? Experts Break It Down. Women’s Health. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a64841991/mcdonalds-french-fries-diet-coke-migraine/
Great post, Lauren! I personally love a McMigraine meal when I get like this.
ReplyDeleteIt would be so cool if caffeine supplements could be used to help treat chronic migraines (of course at the recommended dosage). It is interesting that this meal helps a lot of people, even though the daily values are lower than recommended. Wouldn't you think more would be the most helpful? Maybe it's a placebo effect.
This is a very interesting post Lauren! It is always interesting when you come across tips and tricks on social media, and I am always curious to see how they hold up to research. The "McMigraine Meal" is also a very creative title, I like it. It is interesting that the values are under the recommended amounts for electrolytes and caffeine. That said, I wonder if there is a meal that we can create building off of this idea, but preventing some of side effects of long term use that you mentioned (such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol). What do you think would be a better alternative as a "migraine cure"?
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