HEADACHE FOODS
By identifying your personal triggers, you can often reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches. Keep a migraine diary to spot cause-effect relationships.
Common nonfood triggers include:
- Stress
- Hormonal changes
- Intense sensory stimuli
- Physical exertion or abrupt lifestyle changes
- Environmental factors
- Medications
Food can also act as a big, big trigger for some people. The following foods are the most common offenders.
If you discover that one of the foods listed here is a trigger, then you know that you should avoid that particular food if you want to minimize migraine frequency.
Tyramine or phenylethylamine
Two amino acids found in chocolate, aged or fermented cheese, soy foods, all nuts and most seeds, citrus fruits, and vinegar (red and balsamic). Left over foods from the day before are also dangerous since Tyramine content in food increases over time, especially if food is improperly stored.
Alcohol
Beer, red wine, sherry, and vermouth contain large amounts of tyramine, which can cause migraines. In addition, all alcohol can cause dehydration, which also can trigger headaches.
Tannins
Tea, red-skinned apples and pears, apple juice and cider, and red wine, which contain tannins.
Deli meats and other foods containing nitrites
These include pepperoni, bacon, hot dogs, sausages (including chicken, turkey and soy sausages/bacon/hot dogs that list nitrites in their ingredients), pastrami, corned beef, and all other beef/poultry/pork/wild game/fish that has been cured, smoked, pickled, canned or preserved with nitrites.
Sulfites
This preservative is commonly found in wine (more so in white wine), most dried fruits (including prunes, figs, apricots), canned vegetables and many processed foods. Check labels.
Additives
Check labels carefully and avoid foods that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP), kombu extract, any products claiming to have “natural flavor” or “natural flavorings.”
Aspartame
Be cautious of foods and beverages made with this artificial sweetener (also known as Nutrasweet and Equal).
Caffeine
People with sensitivity to caffeine can develop migraines after drinking black tea, green tea, coffee, cola soft drinks, or other caffeinated soft drinks. But caffeine can also be used to stop a migraine that is just beginning — that’s why many over-the-counter migraine medications contain caffeine. Test your personal response to caffeine. If it gives you headaches, avoid it.
NATURAL WAYS TO CURE A HEADACHE
Natural Headache Cure using Lemon:
There are several natural remedies for various types or headaches. The juice of three or four slices of lemon should be squeezed in a cup of tea and taken by the patient for treating this condition. It gives immediate relief.
The crust of lemon, which is generally thrown away, has been found useful in headaches caused by heat. Lemon crusts should be pounded into a fine paste and applied as plaster on the forehead. Applying the yellow, freshly pared-off rind of a lemon to each temple will also give relief.
Cure Headaches naturally using Apple
Apples are valuable in curing all types of headaches. After removing the upper rind and the inner hard portion of a ripe apple, it should be taken with a little salt every morning on an empty stomach in such cases. This should be continued for about a week.
Natural Headache remedy using Henna
The flowers of henna have been found valuable in curing headaches caused by hot sun. The flowers should be rubbed in vinegar and applied over the forehead. This remedy will soon provide relief.
Hot foot bath
Hot foot baths are also beneficial in the treatment of chronic headaches. The patient should keep his legs in a tub or bucket filled with hot water at a temperature of 40 degree C to 45 degree C for fifteen minutes every night before retiring. This treatment should be continued for two or three weeks.
