Migraines are one of the most common ailments that people have to contend with. These supercharged headaches can range from a few minutes of searing pain, to a debilitating headache that incapacitates its victim for an entire afternoon. Migraines are very unpleasant, and often, sufferers just have to wait out the pain.
There are, however, several methods of reducing or extinguishing the migraine pain. Many migraine sufferers turn to some sort of medicinal relief. There are other options. Some of these options come in the form of food. Certain foods are known to relieve migraines, and some may even help reduce their frequency.
It is important, however, to note that some foods are actually triggers for migraines. If you suffer from chronic migraines, it is in your best interest to figure out what causes the migraines. It is possible that something in your diet is doing so. If you suffer from chronic migraines, you should do your best to eat a healthier diet. Eating a well-balanced diet can often lead to migraine reduction.
However, depending on the person, many foods can trigger migraines, and that includes food deemed good for your body. Dairy, nuts, and some fruits can all cause migraines. Additionally, chocolate, fermented/pickled foods, and cured foods with nitrates are all known causers of headaches. If you document what you are eating, and coincide it with your migraines, you should be able to determine what causes your migraines. Each person is different, so it is important to know what your specific problem foods are.
Dehydration
One of the biggest sources of headaches/migraines is dehydration. Especially in hot weather, dehydration can lead to a pounding migraine. While drinking water is essential in combating this, there are a few foods that can aide in combating a dehydration caused headache.
- Watermelon: Eating watermelon is a great way to hydrate and help get your body over a severe migraine. In addition to the large amounts of water the fruit holds, the melon also has some good sugars in its fruit that help you refuel, in addition to being delicious. Other types of melons can also be great for rehydration.
- Cucumber: Cucumber is a great vegetable for the purpose of rehydrating your body. Cucumber holds a lot of water, and can be refreshing on a hot day. Cucumbers also hold a lot of nutrients which are great for your body (lack of these nutrients can also cause headaches).
- Salad: Salad holds a good amount of water, which makes it a great food to consume when trying to get rehydrated. Even though it doesn’t have as much water as watermelon, salad is also chalked full of fiber and nutrients which make it a great recovery and prevention food.
Nutrition
Another common cause for migraines is a lack of certain vitamins in the body. These vitamins are integral for healthy bodily function, and without them your body suffers. In general, consuming a healthy, well-balanced diet will ensure that your body gets these vitamins. You can always take supplements in order to reach these goals, but it is typically better if you can get these vitamins straight from your diet. These are a few things that you should consider adding to your diet if you frequently suffer from migraines.
- Mushrooms: Mushrooms possess a high amount of vitamin B2 (also called riboflavin), which makes them a great inclusion into your diet. Besides being good for your body, having a diet filled with riboflavin can also relieve and prevent your headaches from happening.
- Spinach: This leafy green is a powerhouse, and should be a part of your diet, especially if you suffer from migraines. The vegetable can rehydrate you and contains high amounts of magnesium and riboflavin.
- Liver: This may come as a surprise to some, but consuming beef liver can greatly improve your chances to avoid migraines. Liver is filled with a ton of vitamins, particularly B3, without which you will often suffer strong headaches and migraines.
As previously mentioned, everyone is different. Some foods and treatment methods will work for some, while having no effect on others. The most important thing to establish is the cause of your migraines. Once you have deciphered this, adding certain foods to your diet, and removing others, can help your treat and prevent your migraines.