Foods For Headaches

Author: Marko Balašević Time for reading: ~2 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

In this article, learn more about Foods For Headaches. How many types of headaches are the most common and which foods fight them?.

Headaches are among the most common health complaints. Regardless of the season, time or place, millions of people around the world suffer from it every day, and for over 70 million people it is chronic. It is not always possible to take painkillers or reduce the levels of noise, light or other irritants that intensify the pain. However, some foods have a proven effect in controlling the condition and can even prevent it.

Migraines - a type of chronic headache with a certain frequency and severe, intense pain , are able to lead to fainting, and even if they are milder, seriously disrupt daily life and reduce efficiency. Studies show that a slightly increased intake of riboflavin - vitamin B 2 , reduces the incidence of migraines by up to 48%.

The vitamin improves the energy metabolism of brain cells and protects them from exhaustion. 401 mg is the required daily dose of vitamin B 2 , but at 460-500, it helps both to prevent migraines completely and to relieve their symptoms. Foods such as mushrooms, asparagus, almonds, peas and eggs are excellent sources of riboflavin, and just one glass of low-fat milk contains about 32% of the required daily dose.

Hormone-induced headaches are also controllable through food and, like migraines, are usually expressed in localized side pain in the head - acute, throbbing and prolonged .

Estrogen is the reason why women suffer from headaches more often - in them it is in much larger quantities and its reduction almost always leads to complaints. Swiss scientists say that magnesium in food is essential for the control of hormonal headaches, because it triggers a mechanism to relieve nervous activity and calm the nerves . 445 mg of magnesium is designated as the World Health Organization's Indicative Daily Intake (RDA), with spinach being the richest vegetable in this element and 100 g of it providing about 40% of the RDA.

Headaches for colds and flu, on the other hand, are most often caused by dehydration - the body quickly loses water and salts with fever and infection. Dehydration leads to electrolyte imbalance, which is a prerequisite for severe headaches. During a cold or flu, in addition to the required 1.5-2 liters of water per day, it is recommended to consume 2-3 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables with high water content: grapes, apples, pears, grapefruit, cucumbers, cabbage, turnips, tomatoes.

Stress caused by stress and overload localized in the nape of the neck is also common. It is caused by overexertion of the neck and other muscles, which disrupt the blood supply to the brain. Scientists recommend slightly increased levels of coenzyme Q10 - an important antioxidant that keeps blood vessels healthy and with its ability to protect the body from free radicals, it improves the functions of mitochondria - cellular organelles - "energy centers" that play a role in these headaches. The daily dose of about 300 mg can be increased by 10-20%, which will have a refreshing effect on both the brain and neck muscles. According to scientists, increasing the intake of Q10 reduces the frequency of such headacheswith 30-40%. Good sources of Q10 are foods such as eggs, tuna, mackerel, cauliflower, broccoli and more.

Foods For Headaches

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