If you get headaches, it helps to know what triggers them so you can avoid them. Sometimes triggers are diet-related. Chronic headache sufferers often learn which foods and drinks are best avoided.
But if some foods are off limits, are there also foods that help? The evidence is less convincing, but there may be some potential pain-savers. These six foods probably won't make a headache disappear, but research shows that they have preventive powers:
1) Spinach: The leafy greens are rich in riboflavin, a B vitamin linked to preventing migraines.
2) Fatty fish: The anti-inflammatory properties in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the pain of chronic headaches.
3) Watermelon: If a headache is related to being dehydrated, water-filled foods like watermelon and cucumber will help. Watermelon also offers minerals magnesium and potassium, which are lost when you are dehydrated.
4) Potatoes: Potatoes contain potassium, a mineral that helps treat headaches linked to dehydration. Potatoes contain more than double the potassium of a banana.
5) Caffeine: As long as you don't overdo it, caffeine may help headaches. But if you become too reliant on tea or java, you risk withdrawal headaches. These are likely if you're consuming the equivalent of five cups of coffee.
6) Almonds: A small body of research examined magnesium’s role when it comes to treating migraines, without concrete findings. While it may offer some migraine prevention, there's little to suggest it would help mid-headache. Almonds contain 80 milligrams per serving of magnesium.
Click here to read more.
The OMS, Ltd. is a nationally recognized team of physicians and medical specialists who work closely with other occupational health and safety professionals. To find out more click here or call us at (800) 359-1979.