When you have a headache, you continue doing the usual things, take a painkiller, or lie down in a darkened room. But did you know that certain foods can alleviate, or even prevent, headaches?
1. Baked potatoes
An exaggerated intake of the carbonated drinks and alcoholic beverages can cause an increased loss of electrolytes like potassium and increase the need for additional water, because water is spent during their degradation. Therefore, foods rich in potassium can help to alleviate headaches.
Baked or boiled potato with skin is one of the best sources of potassium, which contains an amazing 721 mg. In comparison, a banana contains 467 mg of potassium. Fruit and vegetable juices also contain potassium, as well as some other minerals.
2. Watermelon
An insufficient water intake can lead to dehydration, which is the main cause of a headache. Instead of taking painkillers, you should reach out for foods that are rich in water, such as watermelon. The natural water found in fruit and vegetables contains the essential minerals like magnesium, which are crucial for headache prevention.
Bonus: ginger can alleviate headache and reduce nausea at the same time. Other foods with a high water concentration are: berries, cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, and lettuce.
3. Coffee
Coffee has been a natural headache medicine for centuries, but when consumed in moderate amounts. The caffeine in the coffee is a vasoconstrictor (constricts or narrows the blood vessels) and can alleviate the headache by reducing the size of the blood vessels. An exaggerated coffee intake could worsen a headache, because caffeine also acts as a diuretic, which can encourage dehydration and increase the severity of a headache.
One cup of coffee can be useful for alleviating the headache, but drinking coffee throughout the day should not be your first choice for a headache treatment.
4. Carbohydrates
An irregular diet and sudden and rigorous weight loss diets can cause extremely severe headaches. Diets with the low carbohydrate intake lead to the exhaustion of glycogen from the body, which is the main source of the brain energy. The reduced energy inflow into the brain causes dehydration and can also cause headaches.
When you have a headache, make sure that you consume healthy carbohydrates, like the ones found in a whole wheat bread, oatmeal, fruit, or a piece of dark chocolate.
Bonus: a healthy carbohydrate stimulus can improve your mood, because the body releases serotonin, a hormone that gives you a sense of satisfaction and mental relaxation.
5. Almonds
Almond is rich in magnesium, which is important for the relaxation of the arteries and better oxygen and nutrient flow in the body. The stressful situations cause a fast magnesium consumption and excretion.
It has been proven that the persons who suffer from migraines and headaches have low concentrations of this mineral in the blood.
Magnesium intake can be increased by consuming the foods rich in magnesium, such as bananas, dry apricots, avocados, almonds, cashews, brown rice, pulses, and seeds.
6. Yoghurt
When you have a headache, your body can also signal a lack of calcium. The brain depends on calcium ions as transmitters of fast activity within the nervous system. Make sure that you consume foods rich in calcium, such as the fat-free yoghurt, which is an excellent source of calcium and other useful probiotic.
7. Sesame seeds
You can sprinkle whole or minced sesame seeds on your salads, integrate them into your oatmeal, or soups and stews. Why? These tiny seeds have a high nutritional value. Sesame seeds are rich in vitamin E, which can stabilize the estrogen levels and prevent the hormonally caused migraines. They also improve the circulation, which can prevent headaches.
Bonus: sesame seeds are also rich in magnesium and calcium, both of which can alleviate headaches.
8. Herbal teas
Mint or chamomile teas have a relaxing effect on the muscles; they refresh and have a stimulative effect on your psycho-physical tension. By drinking tea, you consume the liquids that rehydrate your body, but if you are not a tea lover, you can use the essential oils, which can also be used as air fresheners.