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Best Foods for Headaches

Published on Nov 25, 2015

9 Best Foods for a Headache...or Hangover

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

9 best foods for a headache

...or hangover
Photo by bark

1. salad

If dehydration is the issue because you had too much fun (i.e. alcohol) the night before, lettuce will replenish those car bombs and tequila shots with water and fiber to rehydrate your body.

2. Apricots

Apricots are loaded with magnesium which, according to recent studies, appear to make those headaches more difficult to come by. This may be due to the fact that magnesium plays an integral role in regulating blood pressure.

3. coffee

Yes! Everybody's favorite (at least for 54% of Americans over the age of 18) breakfast juice DOES help aide in hangover, I mean headache, prevention. Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which is a fancy word for reducing the size of blood vessels. If seasonal allergies cause your headache, then coffee can decrease the release of histamine in your blood, the same drug found in over-the-counter drugs that reduce allergic reactions. Of course, too much coffee can have the opposite effect and cause a headache.

4. fish, grains, legumes

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate pain signals in the body, and tryptophan is an amino acid that aides in producing serotonin. Recent studies indicate that increasing the amount of tryptophan through fish, grains, and legumes, helps buffer that headache down to a level of "manageable."
Photo by MGunawan

5. Milk

Nope, not whipped cream, but dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt are all rich in calcium, a main contributor to headaches when deficient in the body.

6. Bananas

Getting your daily dose of potassium is not easy. In fact, the majority of people do not receive their recommended daily allowance. Bananas are rich in potassium, but they're also high in calories, so one banana a day should be enough.
Photo by Luke Wisley

7. broccoli

Broccoli is high in riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2. Riboflavin deficiencies can be passed down through genetics or simply due to a poor diet. Eating a diet high in B2 can help relieve and prevent headaches because of its role in creating cellular energy.
Photo by HatM

8. spice!

Salsa, hot peppers, and anything else that helps clear your sinuses also helps reduce nasal congestion, a leading cause of headaches. If it's that time of year where you know a stuffy nose is likely around the corner, start loading up on those spices! (Of course, you may want to include a roll of Tums to that grocery list.)
Photo by Luke Wisley

9. spinach

Spinach is a huge moneymaker when it comes to migraine relief for a number of reasons: It reduces blood pressure, which means it also helps prevent chronic headaches; it's high in magnesium; and it is water-rich, which helps to rehydrate you. Just be sure not to overcook this little gem as all its nutrient awesomeness will dissipate into thin air.
Photo by Kid Gibson