You have headaches. Want to reach for the tablet again? Please don't: Try these 7 healthy foods first, and you'll simply eat your headache away
They are unpleasant, always come at the most inopportune moments and rob us of the last nerve: headaches. Regardless of whether they manifest themselves as a nasty twinge, pulsating throbbing or in the form of an unpleasant feeling of prere. It becomes particularly annoying when they occur regularly. Painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, are the most common remedy for headaches and are quickly at hand. But an uncontrolled intake of headache pills can in the worst case even cause headaches.
Painkillers, however, are not the only solution to headaches – and certainly not the best one. Because you can also prevent and alleviate headaches with the help of the right diet.
Can certain foods trigger headaches?
Headaches are a widespread disease. Everyone has had them. Many even suffer from them regularly. Triggers for this are endless, such as stress or lack of sleep. But food is also considered a frequent cause of headaches. "Food as a trigger for headaches is usually overestimated", explains Dr. med. Stefanie Forderreuther, President of the German Migraine and Headache Society DMKG.
"Certain foods are most often blamed as triggers for migraines. In most cases, however, certain food cravings are already a precursor symptom of a migraine, i.e. an expression of an incipient attack itself" says certified headache expert. Stress, which causes you to skip a meal, for example, is seen by the expert as a greater influencing factor.
The fact is that certain nutrients affect the brain's performance. An insufficient supply of minerals and vitamins can have negative effects and promote headaches.
B vitamins are of particular importance. They are needed above all for the formation of messenger substances and neurotransmitters which, among other things, increase your ability to concentrate as well as your memory and have a positive effect on your sleep. The most important detail in the fight against headaches is also that they participate in the prere regulation of the vessels. And anything that naturally affects vascular tension helps relieve the throbbing in the head.
Eating regularly helps relieve headaches
Since the brain works at high prere all day long, it needs to be supplied with good sources of energy. This is not only crucial for your performance, but can also prevent headaches. Especially if you suffer regularly or even struggle with migraines.
"Some patients also react to thirst and fasting with headaches", says the senior physician at the Neurological Consultation Service of the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. If you skip a meal, you're denying your brain important nutrients and, more importantly, resources from which it can draw energy. "If you react to skipping a meal with a headache, you should of course make sure you eat regularly and stay hydrated."
Foods that your organism feeds on for a long time and at the same time keep your blood sugar level constant are particularly suitable. Both are optimal prerequisites for avoiding sudden headaches. In addition, fixed eating rituals can relieve stress -. That is known often enough reason for a buzzing skull. Therefore, take your time, eat in peace and use the meals to switch off for a short time.
Does a change in diet make sense for headaches?
"For very few people a special diet helps. Headaches are not allergic to food and are not usually triggered by food", clarifies the headache expert.
"Nevertheless, many people feel the need to find a culprit for their headaches. Food often has to do the trick. To be sure whether a particular food actually triggers headaches, you should carefully check whether the food really does trigger headaches on a regular basis", recommends them.
To find out, keep a food diary for a few weeks. In it you note not only what you have eaten, but also whether and in what intensity / duration headaches occurred.
These 7 foods prevent migraines and headaches
Even if tablets are the quickest solution in acute cases, a healthy diet can have a positive effect on headache suffering. These foods are supposed to help:
These 7 foods make you happy
1. Whole grains keep blood sugar constant
A constant blood sugar level not only spares you from cravings, but is also said to prevent headaches and migraines. Means for you: Instead of white flour products, which drive your blood sugar level rapidly up by simple carbohydrates, you should rather reach for the wholemeal variant with bread, noodles or rice. The complex carbs are only broken down slowly. Provide your brain with energy for a longer period of time. In addition, whole grain foods provide many other healthy nutrients such as magnesium and calcium.
2. Coffee against withdrawal headache
Coffee with lemon is a household remedy that many people swear by for headaches. This can help, as the doctor explains: "If you drink a lot of coffee on a regular basis, you can sometimes get a headache if you suddenly stop drinking coffee.
In such cases, it's called a caffeine withdrawal headache, for which you can actually get relief with coffee. Caffeine also stimulates blood circulation. Can thus push your performance – at least temporarily.
3. Nuts& Co. provide magnesium
Nuts are not only good nerve food. Walnuts, almonds, cashews or pumpkin seeds are also a good choice if you want to arm yourself against headaches. They score high on healthy fats. Are rich in magnesium.
The mineral is said to be a particularly effective weapon against regular headaches. It promotes muscle relaxation. Can so also help your head finally times to switch off.
4. Serotonin in bananas helps against migraines
Bananas not only make you happy, they're also said to knock out headaches – thanks to the neurotransmitter serotonin they contain. Known mainly as the happiness hormone. But what many people don't know is that serotonin also regulates the tension in the blood vessels. A deficiency can be the cause of headaches and migraines.
Bananas also contain a particularly large amount of the amino acid tryptophan, the precursor of serotonin. This makes them not only a good mood maker, but also a really good weapon against headaches.
5. Omega-3 fat from fish as a headache killer
Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, herring and mackerel have a particularly good reputation thanks to their high omega-3 content. The healthy fatty acid is essential, that is, vital, for your body. This is because it has a hand in a whole range of processes at once.
Among other things, it has an anti-inflammatory effect and is thus also said to provide relief from headaches, especially migraines. In combination with vitamin D – also contained in fish – this is supposed to work even better.
6. Dates as a natural aspirin
A sweet energy miracle that fights headaches: dates are rich in fructose, but at the same time a real superfood. Your many good nutrients such as vitamins B and C, magnesium and iron put you in a really good light. Those who regularly suffer from headaches have found a natural remedy in dates. You see, the sweet fruits contain salicylic acid, the same active ingredient used in aspirin that relieves pain.
Nevertheless, you should only snack on dates in moderation due to their high calorie content. When the skull is buzzing, however, so is the sideline.
7. Lack of water causes headaches
Two to three liters a day – this is how much you should definitely drink to meet your fluid needs. A lack of water is a widespread cause of headaches.
Due to a lack of fluids, your cells are only insufficiently supplied with oxygen and nutrients, and your head starts to hum. It is best to keep a bottle of water close at hand. So you are automatically reminded to take a sip regularly.
Treating headaches properly without tablets
Who suffers regularly from headache, should not be satisfied in the long run under any circumstances with it. Especially if you can no longer do without headache pills. Do not be afraid to seek advice from an expert as well. In addition to diet, there are a number of factors that can promote and influence headaches. Exercise, sports and fresh air can also help relieve tension and finally free you from your buzzing skull.