A headache is one of the most frustrating medical conditions one can have even if it does not pose a serious threat to the health and life of the individual. There are a lot of headaches with a range of various causes. However, stress, increased blood pressure rate, etc. can be some of the major causes of them. Incorporate these foods for headache relief into your diet for natural and effective comfort.
Some food items can also be the cause of these headaches and its varieties. Fortunately, there are also a couple of food and drink varieties that may help ease the pain of the headache. In this article, we will be discussing some of them and their major features. Explore foods for headache relief to find natural ways to alleviate discomfort and promote well-being.
15 Foods For Headache Relief
1. Leafy green veggies
Leafy green veggies can help a lot in relieving headaches especially, migraines. Apart from that, they are also rich in nutrients such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Folic Acid. Hence, you may consider adding kale, broccoli, spinach, and other leafy green veggies to your daily diet, in order to reduce the frequency of headache attacks and also to reduce the pain.
2. Nuts
This is one of the most delicious options you can have if you are fond of munching and snacking. Nuts are rich in the nutrient called, Magnesium. The presence of magnesium can significantly help in relaxing the blood vessels and thereby relieve the pain of headaches. You may consider almonds, cashews, and Brazil to serve the purpose.
3. Fatty fishes
Fatty fishes are also quite helpful if you are looking for dietary choices in order to help you reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. If you can consume fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel on a daily basis, you are highly likely to have significant relief from migraine attacks.
4. Fruits
Fruits are again one of the most delicious options in the dietary list you can choose to reduce the intensity of migraines and other types of headaches. They are found rich in nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, and B vitamins. Bananas, apricots, avocados, and melons, are some of the fruits that have a prominent impact in reducing headaches.
5. Seeds
These are also some of the highly nutritious food items that you may consider including in your daily diet if you are suffering from frequent attacks of migraines and other types of headaches. Sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc. can be considered for the same. It is their omega-3 fatty acid content and anti-inflammatory properties that facilitate their pain-relieving qualities.
6. Whole grains
Whole grains are one of the best rich sources of complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are in turn beneficial in order to stabilise the blood sugar levels in the body of the individual. When the person is suffering from hypoglycemia otherwise known as hypoglycemia, he or she is highly likely to have headaches including migraines more frequently.
7. Lentils
Lentils can also be a crucial help if you are quite irritated with frequent headache attacks. They are rich in nutritional elements such as magnesium, potassium, protein, and fiber. These contents would help in relieving the contractions of the blood vessels. It would help in easing the pain as well as reduce the duration of the same.
8. Hot peppers
Hot peppers are also quite beneficial for the pain and suffering you are having from headaches such as migraine and sinusitis. It is the capsaicin content in them that is responsible for the reduction of the pain. Apart from that, these peppers can also help in unclogging the pores in case you are having sinusitis.
9. Coffee
Coffee is a drink that you may consume in order to prevent headache attacks. Especially, if you are someone who drinks on a daily basis, quitting this drink altogether can cause caffeine withdrawal symptoms such as headaches. However, it is important to have an eye on the quantity of coffee you are consuming on a daily basis since too much coffee can also trigger headaches.
10. Ginger
This is another important food item that you may consider making part of your daily diet if you would like to reduce the severity of the headaches, especially migraines. Ginger has got a lot of anti-inflammatory properties that would help in reducing the pain. You may have it in the form of powder, spice, or ginger tea on a daily basis.
11. Chocolate
Chocolates, particularly dark chocolates are quite beneficial in reducing the pain of headaches. Dark chocolate has plenty of magnesium helping in relaxing the blood vessels, which helps in easing the pain. Apart from that it also contains elements such as serotonin again helpful in serving the purpose.
12. Beetroots
Apart from green leafy veggies, you may also consider beetroots in order to reduce the pain and severity of headaches. Beetroots are rich in nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, and potassium which are helpful in relaxing the blood vessels. Apart from reducing the pain, it may also ease some other symptoms of migraines.
13. Mushrooms
Mushrooms can be a great option to include in your diet to serve the purpose of headache relief. They contain a lot of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties helping in the same. The neuroprotective benefits of the mushrooms can also be quite helpful.
14. Avocados
It is quite easy to have avocados on a daily basis, since they can be consumed in the form of bread spreads, smoothies, and a lot more. It is quite rich in magnesium helping in blood vessel relaxation.
15. Water
Water is that versatile drink that you can have without having the tension of quantity and portions when it comes to headache pain relief. Apart from that, dehydration can also be a major reason causing you headaches.
Conclusion
Now you know what food to consume in order to have significant relief from the pain of migraines and other types of headaches. Eat certain foods for headache relief, aiding in natural comfort and soothing migraines. However, if you do not notice any significant changes even after making these food items and drinks a part of your daily diet, it might be because of any severe underlying medical causes. In such cases, make sure you are seeking the help of a medical practitioner without making any possible delays.
References
- Diener HC, Solbach K, Holle D, Gaul C. Integrated care for chronic migraine patients: Epidemiology, burden, diagnosis and treatment options. Clin Med (Lond). 2015;15:344‐350. [PMC free article]
- Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) . The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia. 2018;38:1‐211. [PubMed]
