Doctor reveals how McDonald's Coke and fries could help 'fix' a migraine instead of medication
Topics: Health, McDonalds, TikTok, Food and Drink
Joe Yates
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images / Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Topics: Health, McDonalds, TikTok, Food and Drink
People are claiming they’ve found an unexpected, and slightly delicious, migraine 'fix'... and it involves nothing more than a pit stop at McDonald's.
If you've ever been hungover, the chances are you've dined on the salty goodness found underneath the golden arches and have found a near-instant relief - but it stretches much further than an ailment for 'last night's antics'.
For those who suffer serious migraines, over-the-counter products often don't cut it... but that might be because you're simply at the wrong counter.
A new trend has swept through TikTok, with people explaining that a simple order of a large Coke and fries can relieve symptoms - so much so that it's now been dubbed the 'McMigraine meal' by punters.
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One user recently took to the platform to ask: "All right, can somebody please tell me the science of why McDonald's Coke and large fries cures my migraines in a way that no medication ever will?"
Fortunately, Dr Myro Figura was on hand to weigh in with an explanation that is surprisingly simple... when it's spelled out for us anyway!
"There's actually three reasons. For one, it's gonna give you a dopamine hit that's gonna make anyone feel better after anything," he explained
"Two, a large Coke is gonna have 85 milligrams of caffeine - and that is more caffeine than the leading medication for migraines, Excedrin migraine. And if you didn't know, yes, caffeine can be a relief for a headache, especially a migraine.
"And three, those french fries are gonna have a ton of salt, which is gonna hydrate you, just like an electrolyte tablet would."
He then added another point: "There's actually a fourth reason, and that is in some people, low blood sugar can provoke a migraine well 140 grams of carbs is gonna fix that real quick."
It turns out there might be some actual science behind why that quick McDonald’s run feels like a lifesaver to some people.
Migraines can be triggered or made worse by things like dehydration, low blood sugar, or caffeine withdrawal - and as Dr Figura points out, this combo of sugar, salt, and caffeine hits a few of those factors at once.
But it’s not just him backing up the idea.
David Walker, MD, a headache and facial pain specialist at Rush University Medical Center, has also previously commented on the growing popularity of the McDonald’s method.
Speaking to the VeryWell outlet, he said: "We know the caffeine can help migraines in the short-term therapy of them. So it isn't too surprising that the caffeine in Coca-Cola itself is helpful."
But before you start making this a ritual every time you feel a migraine coming on, he also cautioned that this may not be the super method you think it is.
He added: "It's great that this helps certain individuals. I don't think it should be generalized because on the flip side of things, fried foods can trigger migraines.
"I think there's a psychological component going on here. I don't think this should be ignored."
Although it's important to note that while experts say the caffeine and electrolytes might genuinely help, they also stress it’s not a medical solution - especially for chronic migraine sufferers.
So, sure, a large Coke and fries might take the edge off for some people... but maybe still keep your doctor’s number handy.