Those who suffer from frequent headaches know very well that they are incredibly hard to ignore. They ruin everything, from a good time out to reading a book, it’s hard to enjoy yourself doing anything when your head is throbbing to the point that it makes you feel nauseated. But before popping those pills, we’d advise checking out some other reasons for and solutions to the problem, such as making sure you are eating things to help your headache instead of making it worse!
1. Baked Potato
Baked potato can alleviate a headache, especially one caused by drinking alcohol. Since alcohol causes an increase in urine, it can cause dehydration and the loss of important electrolytes such as potassium. Eating foods rich in potassium can then ease hangover headaches. A potato with the peel is one of the best sources of this mineral, containing about 720 mg of potassium (to compare, a banana, also rich in potassium, contains about 460 mg).
2. Watermelon
As we said above, dehydration is one of the leading reasons for headaches, so before you take that pill, consider eating foods rich in water, such as the watermelon. There are many fruits and vegetables rich in water and some also contain important minerals such as magnesium, which is considered to be an aid against headaches.
3. Coffee
Yes, coffee. The brown liquid we all drink to make it through the day has long since been considered a great folk medicine against headaches. In fact, many headache pills contain caffeine. The secret, however, is moderation. While alcohol makes the blood vessels in our body and head expand, coffee does the opposite, by shrinking them. This way, it can reduce the amount of pain we feel.
However, if you drink too much caffeine, you will increase the amount of urine which can result in dehydration, causing a headache. So, drink a cup of coffee, no more, or add a cup of water as well.
4. Whole Wheat Bread
People on a diet low in carbohydrates may suffer from frequent headaches since this kind of diet decreases the body’s store of glycogen – a main source of energy for the brain. This way, the body loses liquid and gets dehydrated, resulting in headaches. Consider adding some complex carbs to your diet, like those in whole wheat, fruit or yogurt. It may also improve your mood since it enables the body to release serotonin.
5. Almonds
Research shows that the magnesium in almonds may protect the body from headaches by releasing the blood vessels. For those who suffer from migraines, a diet rich in magnesium may bring about great relief. To increase your intake of magnesium, try to consume almonds, bananas, avocado, whole rice etc.
6. Spicy Salsa
This may sound weird, but spicy foods like spicy salsa or hot peppers can help you get rid of that headache that much faster. The question is – what caused the pain? These foods are great at solving pain related to your sinuses. The spicy foods will open the airways, which will alleviate the headache