Neurologist reveals if viral McDonald's migraine 'hack' actually works
The McDonald's migraine 'hack' seems to be a popular choice for people trying to alleviate the agonising pain in their skull, but it sounds a bit too good to be true than the sort of thing that would actually work.
For the uninitiated, this supposed pain relief comes in the form of fries and a coke from the popular fast food joint as some fans of the idea swear by it and claim it's better than painkillers.
There are some reasons why this might actually work, since you can get a hit of dopamine from the fast food which can make your mind feel better and the dose of caffeine in your fizzy drink could also give your brain a bit of a boost.
The salt on the fries could also help in the short term, though health experts have pointed out that some people suffering from the terrible pain will be in no condition to get the food or eat it.
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Doctors have also said that trying to 'fix' a migraine with a McDonald's could also backfire and make you feel worse, so it's definitely not the sort of thing you should use as a substitute for actual painkillers.
Neurologist Jessica Lowe explained that the large coke had 'about 80mg of caffeine' which she reckoned was 'enough to stop your migraine in its tracks'.
She echoed the other health advice on the McDonald's migraine hack that the electrolytes in very salty fries and the carbs themselves could help with.
"A lot of people have migraines that are provoked by hunger or just their glucose starting to drop," she said.
"So those carbs are certainly gonna help out that department. Are there healthier ways to accomplish? Yes."
Sorry gang, but if you thought a neurologist wasn't going to tell you there was a better way than fast food to soothe the pain of a migraine then you were engaging in some very wishful thinking.
Lowe said that one tablet of Excedrin, a painkiller used for headaches and migraines, has 60 to 65mg of caffeine in it and since the recommended dosage is two tablets, that'd be far more effective than a big cup of coke.
She also added that if you wanted to get some electrolytes, then you should 'chug a big Gatorade' as that would 'also help with hydration in addition' whereas salty foods would have the opposite effect.
"Carbohydrates, it's probably not difficult to find a carbohydrate that is healthier than deep fried potatoes so go for gold," the neurologist said of healthier alternatives to food.
She understood why some people would want it as 'sometimes you just want some comfort food', but she stressed that 'fast food is unhealthy, deep fried food is unhealthy' and there were better alternatives.
So it sounds like there's some science to back it up but it's definitely not the best option you could go for.
Topics: Health, McDonalds, Food And Drink, Hacks
Joe Harker