Blame Your Diet for Your Headaches
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Defined Tag: Diet Headache.

 
Medical experts advise people suffering from headaches and migraines to avoid specific foods and drinks. However, only about 20% of these sufferers who modified their diets reported any benefits in their doing so.

The six C's you must avoid if you often have headaches and migraines are: coffee, cheese, cola drinks, citrus fruits and drinks, and congeners.Other food items that you have to avoid because they can trigger migraines and headaches include:

* Nuts and cheeses, which contain Tyramine, an amino acid.  There is tyramine in aged cheeses such as parmesan, brie and cheddar.

* Beer and red wine, as they both have histamine.

* Processed meat products like hot dogs, sausage, luncheon meat and cured ham.  Food manufacturers use nitrates as meat preservative.

* Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a known food additive that enhances flavor.  Most Chinese restaurants include MSG in their cuisine.

It is a widely held belief that "vaso-active" amines contained in some foods cause blood vessels to become dilated. When blood vessels are dilated, they press on the surrounding nerves. The nerves in turn send pain signals to the brain and you feel the headache. These foods may or may not really affect you. Therefore, you might have to conduct a little experiment and test each item to see its effect on you. In time, you can identify foods that specifically trigger your headaches so you will know to avoid them.

Chocolate contains amines and has long been thought to cause headaches and migraines. However, recent studies show that this is not a general rule for everybody. Chocolate lovers may find the results comforting but they are still advised to eat chocolate in moderation.

Dehydration Can Trigger Headaches

Other than avoiding foods that have been identified as triggers for headaches and migraines, there are still other aspects of your diet that must be taken in consideration. For one, pay attention to your water intake. Many cases of headaches are caused by dehydration. Obviously, the remedy is quick and easy: drink plenty of water.

Investigate the case of your child who arrives home from school complaining of a headache. Your child might be dehydrated.  School children usually do not drink as much water at school as they would at home either intentionally to avoid frequent bathroom visits, or because they feel they do not have the time to do so.  You can solve the problem by sending your child to school with a bottle of water that he can sip from time to time.

Sometimes you can be too immersed in your work that you fail to notice you are getting thirsty and must drink some water. The best way to avoid this situation is by planning regular breaks or by keeping a glass of water beside you as you work. You will appreciate the benefits of drinking plenty of water.  Not only will you avert headaches due to dehydration, but you can also enjoy a clear, glowing skin.

Headaches Due to Low Blood Sugar

Blood sugar levels can also trigger migraines and headaches.  You may take delight on a lunch of chips, downing it with sweet drinks and having candy for dessert, foods with high sugar content and refined carbohydrates. They would cause your blood sugar to rise rapidly, making you feel some sort of a blast. As soon as you digest your lunch, however, your blood sugar level will drop suddenly and you would feel tired and hazy with your head aching badly.  Experts’ advice is to eat foods that contain complex carbohydrates like whole meal bread, cheese, turkey and fruit. They require a longer digestion period and give you more energy.  This diet not only improves your digestive system but saves you the ordeal of frequent headaches.

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