Headaches to most people are a nuisance solved by taking a few panadol. Quick, easy, problem solved. But is it? Headaches are not natural and it is possible to go through life without any! A headache is your body’s way of saying that you are not in balance and often a few dietary changes or key nutrients can be all that is standing in your way from being headache free.
Headaches can be caused by any of the following:
- Dehydration
- Stress
- Nutrient deficiency
- Hormonal imbalance
- Food intolerances
- Food additives
- Allergies
- Sinus
- Blood pressure
- Excessive intake of caffeine, alcohol, nicotine or drugs
- Withdrawal from caffeine, alcohol, nicotine or drugs
- Low blood sugar
- Constipation
- Poor digestion
- Eye strain
- Poor posture, spinal misalignment especially of the neck and TMJ (jaw)
Eight keys for headache sufferers
- Water, water and more water! Drink a large glass of filtered water at least every 2 hours.
- Take a magnesium supplement: Headaches can be due to a constriction of blood vessels in the head. Magnesium dilates blood vessels and can reduce the severity and length of the headache. Magnesium is also essential if there is stress or tight muscles present.
- Avoid MSG (flavour 621 – present in most flavoured types of chips and crackers), food additives such as preservatives and artificial colours and flavours.
- Avoid coffee, caffeinated drinks and soft drinks.
- Increase your vegetables and fruit and decrease your sugar and junk food.
- Supplements like 5 HTP, essential fatty acids and vitamin B6 have all been found to be beneficial.
- Rub peppermint or lavender oil into your temples.
- If these things don’t make a difference then consider:
- Herbal bowel cleanse program to rid body of toxic waste supervised by a practitioner
- Eye sight and blood pressure check
- Chiropractor/osteopath examination
- Hormonal imbalance particularly evident if you suffer headaches just before or during your period. Herbal medicine and nutrients such as Chaste tree and vitamin B6 are useful in this case
A note for migraines sufferers
Migraine sufferers should avoid foods containing tyramine (cheese, chocolate, citrus, coffee, cold cuts of meat, herring, smoked fish, wine, sausage, sour cream and vinegar) and phenylalanine (MSG, aspartame, nitrates found in processed meats).
