The Dizzy Cook: Managing Migraine with More Than 90 Comforting Recipes and Lifestyle Tips

A great resource for chronic migraine sufferers! It was recommended to me during an inpatient migraine stay and I’ve found some great recipes. It also has some helpful info on how to approach diet as a whole with migraine.

Someone told me about thedizzycook.com website shortly after I read Dr. Buchholz’ "Heal Your Headache" book in the fall of 2018. I’ve had migraines for a very long time and thought I had tried everything to get them under control. I was so intrigued with the HYH book that I immediately started the 3-step plan – so much of it just made sense to me (finally!). I had been on Maxalt for years and felt that it was the only thing that got me through my job when a migraine hit while at work, so I began having a lot of rebound headaches that kept the cycle going. When I heard about Alicia’s website with specific foods and menus to follow, I thought it was such a great companion to the HYH book, and I started on my journey. It took several months of following the plans of both (I had a lot to overcome), but I finally began having fewer headaches and was absolutely thrilled when I reached my years-long goal of a whole month without a headache. I'm not very creative with foods, so I’ve been glued to Alicia’s website for meal suggestions and have made so many of her recipes since starting my journey. When I learned she was coming out with a cookbook, I immediately preordered it on Amazon! Not only does it have delicious recipes, but pulls together background information at the beginning of the book that ties everything together so nicely and compactly. And gives *reasons* for eliminating certain foods and adding others. I have my book now and am SO enjoying it. I still have occasional headaches when the sum of my triggers exceeds my personal threshold, but the amount of time between headaches has dramatically increased, and I now know how to get back on track. I never imagined that foods might be a big source of my migraines. My advice – go all in and don’t cheat! It’ll pay off in the long run.

I have suffered from migraines all my life and was diagnosed with vestibular migraine. I started the HYH diet on my own long before this book came out. It was a struggle to adapt and be able to find recipes that didn't require a lot of modification. This book is AMAZING! It has a lot of the same information my neurologist and VRT therapist gave me and it has a full list of sources in the back. I find it a very credible source. Alicia also goes a step beyond and says that some thing's in the book might not work. I think her putting that in is great because some of the triggers she mentions, I don't have, but do know of other people having. It's a great starting point for people who are just diagnosed or someone, like me, who is trying to find new recipes after a long time of being disappointed with food on a migraine diet. If you're nervous about buying this book, I highly recommend going to Alicias website where she has posted some of her recipes. Try them out and see if you like them. That's one of the reasons I also bought this book because all the recipes I tried on her site, I loved. Especially the Garlic Chili Shrimp! You'll find that her recipes are insanely simple so if you are having a migraine or a vestibular attack, you can still manage to eat. She even tells you if you can freeze it! That's a big one if you really can't cook due to an attack. Also, I will say that if you're just starting a migraine diet, you really have to stick to it for a while. It took me about 2 months to feel better, but I know some people that didn't feel until the one year mark. It's all based on YOUR body and how quickly you were able to realize that food was a trigger (the people I know who were on it for a year to see results weren't diagnosed quickly like me. So it took their body longer to heal). If you're skeptical of this book working, don't be. It takes time to heal and your body will after some time.

If you suffer from vestibular migraines, this cookbook is just a godsend. There is super useful info - easy to read and understand and BONUS - great recipes too. This is a diagnosis for me so I am busy collecting all the info I can. This is the book I go back to again and again - especially right now when I am just learning how to live with this diagnosis. On the cooking section, I need photos when I cook anything - and - this so much more than a cookbook - but when you get to the recipe sections the photos are plentiful and beautiful. Lots and lots of them. This book as a whole is worth every single penny. As I get through some of the recipes I will check back in if it seems an update of my review would be helpful. They seem reasonable for anyone who has a general understanding of how to cook - no julia childs or martha stewart like stuff as far as I can see. I fold down corners of the recipes I want to try in all my books and this one is almost entirely folded!

This book is a great starting point for trying to eliminate potential food triggers for migraines. Rather than just a long, complicated list of foods to avoid, the author also includes lists of things to eat and a variety of tasty recipes that include the good foods and not the bad. The idea is to eat this way for a bit and then slowly start adding foods back in. Migraine is a complex issue, and not all the information is complete or will necessarily apply to your situation. There are some contradictory things in the book, and some things are presented as fact when further research seems to show they are not widely accepted as facts yet. I took off a star for this. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or just miserable, this is a great resource. The range of recipes is helpful for inspiring and getting out of a cooking rut. There are some simple main dishes that are quick and easy to whip up, but a lot of them are a bit more involved. If you have kids and a job, I recommend just starting with a few recipes and simple snacks, get the items at the store and go from there. There are also some easy substitutions that make the switch less daunting (e.g., some of your go-to recipes can probably be adapted by using shallots instead of onions and changing the cheese). Some of our family favorites from the book are the salsa verde, chicken enchiladas, white bean chicken chili, chicken salad, salmon bake, and salad dressings. One warning, and perhaps I missed it in the book, but if you consume any caffeine regularly (including green tea, apparently), slowly REDUCE the amount per day, rather than cut it out suddenly. Going cold turkey with caffeine can trigger migraines.

I’ve been a chronic migraine sufferer for 32 years. EVERYTHING about this book is EXCELLENT. The “Foods to Avoid” and “Foods to Embrace” lists are absolute gold. Before this book, I had to use (painful) trial-and error and conflicting, biased web searches to build my own internal rough ideas. No more. Those lists confirm all my known triggers and suspects. Now I have ONE reliable reference. GOLD. Second: the recipes are delicious. I don’t have or take the time to cook much, so for several months, I hired someone to cook three recipes from this and Alicia Wolf’s other cookbook, every two weeks. Across the board: delicious, healthy, and migraine SAFE ! Third: I’m on her mailing list: ALSO great. Alicia Wolf DOES HER RESEARCH, brings in specialist collaborators, and is simply a wonderful and beautiful woman down to the bone. If I could give this 10 stars, I would.

I'm so thankful to Alicia for creating this delicious, safe cookbook for those of us with migraines. Her website has been life-changing for me, and I always look forward to all her recipes. What a real treat to get an entire book of really wonderful food I usually don't get to eat! Her advice has allowed me to finally eat safely and without fear of triggering major pain. She is knowledgeable, practical, and breaks things down in a way that keeps the food prep simple for our energy levels. She has made food fun again for me after a decade of being afraid of it! I also find it funny that now everyone wants to eat what I'm having. My boyfriend (non-migrainer) also really enjoys making the recipes too and has loved all of them. It has been a joy to adapt my kitchen and pantry to what I know will be nourishing and not triggering. I especially love her salad dressings, granola, pancakes, chili, and pesto. For the first time in over a decade, I can actually have chicken stock that doesn't send me into 3 days of agony...delicious soups have been amazing to have again. I highly recommend this wonderful cookbook, and I know this will be a huge help to so many people who suffer migraines.

I love the recipes in this book and the additional information. It’s a great resource for managing migraines while applying Dr Buchholz’s diet for controlling dietary triggers. I’ve been following the diet since about 2006. I can relate to the author when she mentions having tried so many things to come up with a recipe, and that feeling of ‘this crazy, I can’t do any more today.’ I cook for myself and my two teenage sons, and have been quickly throwing together what I could for years. These new ideas are a welcome change. The crunchy granola is so good on Haagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream. The chia puddings are delicious; I’d struggled to come up with a vanilla pudding recipe. We’ve been enjoying several of the main dishes and sides. Through the book, I’ve discovered new ingredients I didn’t know about, such as Boursin garlic and herb cheese and Tortilla Land tortillas. She talks about managing travel and other challenging situations and finding support through migraine communities, all so helpful. I’ve already signed up for a road race I found out about in the book. Love the photos throughout the book. I plan what we’ll eat by looking at the pictures. We’ve also been enjoying the recipes on Alicia’s Dizzy Cook website.

This cookbook and way of eating has been a lifesaver for me! I am 64 yrs and have had migraine of some sort or other, including vestibular, since I was 4 yrs old. My husband is just about beyond belief at how well I have done since the end of January of this year since altering my eating habits. I am just about 4 months in and my improvement in mental clarity is a huge surprise to both of us...I can actually think clearly and can once again do my own banking!! This shows me I have food issues related to my migraine diagnosis. The Dizzy Cook entered my life in the nick of time with her food plan and delicious recipes and her easy & approachable personality. If you know anyone with migraine/ headache/ or cluster headaches I highly recommend this book!! I am actually excited about life again, and very very grateful🤗

I bought this as a gift for my son, who has vestibular migraine and has to really watch his diet. He loves this book and he wants me to leave this quote: "it's the best cookery book I own and wish I opened up to these recipes and ingredients years ago. Simple but delicious recipes with minimum ingredients that are easy to follow and I’ve now been fortunate enough to try myself!" I ordered it to the UK and it has been worth every penny

Très bien.

I love this book! What I loved the most about it isn’t just the recipes (although I’m so excited to try so many things) but it’s the knowledge that Alicia shares about the foods that may trigger migraine and her personal journey to creating this book. It doesn’t just inspire what I plate on the table, it inspires my journey living with migraine. Thank you, Alicia!

This book has literally saved my life. After 6 awful months of chronic VM I finally got some relief after following Alicia & receiving this cookbook. The meals are simple & quick to make as well as delicious. My favourites are the Moroccan meatballs & the cream cheese strawberry muffins. This book will not disappoint, whether you suffer from migraine or want to support someone who does.