Sometimes there is nothing worse than getting a pounding headache – and the only thing I can think of that is worse is when you have a migraine. The crippling pain can be absolutely debilitating. You find yourself nauseous, sensitive to light and weakened to the point where you want to do nothing but lay down in a dark room and try to sleep it off.
As a sufferer of migraines myself, I can attest to how bothersome they can be and how much they can rob you of your ability to do pretty much anything. Taking an over the counter pain reliever can dull the pain a bit, but can’t quite get rid of it like it would a normal headache.
I have found that the best course of action is to prevent migraines from occurring in the first place. While they aren’t entirely avoidable, there are some changes to your diet you can make that can help reduce the chance of them from coming.
What Foods Can Prevent Migraines?
Before I get into what to eat to avoid migraines, let’s talk about who you should not be eating. It has been found that people who are prone to get migraines tend to eat a lot of aged meats and cheeses, drink a moderate to high amount of alcohol, as well as eat a lot of packaged or processed foods that are high in preservatives and MSG. Another big culprit is diet soda, which I have talked about before as being something you want to avoid altogether anyway.
As for what you should eat instead, it follows pretty closely to what you should be striving to do anyway – eating healthy.
Dr. Stevie DeJuan Stringer from Wise and Well recently visited KRQE in New Mexico to provide a list of recommended foods to help alleviate the pain of migraines.
These include orange, green, and yellow vegetables (think leafy greens and red/green/yellow peppers), as well as non-processed meats (go to your deli counter instead of picking up a package from the refrigerated section), fish, and poultry. On top of that, one thing I always preach (and is especially the case here) is making sure that you are drinking enough water (which can help you lose weight, too – more detail here).
All in all, beyond being a list of foods that can help to reduce migraine attacks, it is solid advice for healthy choices in the kitchen anyway. Make sure you are eating as little processed and packaged food as possible. Stick with whole, pure, fresh foods instead. Make it a point to get your daily dose of vegetables and fruits for all the essential vitamins and minerals that they provide. And, of course, drinking plenty of water throughout the day (instead of diet soda) is absolutely vital for your health and wellness.
Not only are these foods good for warding off the onset of a migraine, but they can also help to reduce the length and severity if you are currently experiencing a migraine. Next time you have that throbbing ache in your head, reach for one of the healthy food options listed above.
About Shaun Hudson
Shaun Hudson loves sports, being outdoors, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. After many unsuccessful attempts to lose weight, he finally was able to drop 25 pounds and keep it off. The secret? He kept a journal of his activity, diet, and daily life. That journal changed his life, and has since evolved into this website. Read his full bio.