Reach out for these healthy ingredients the next time your head is pounding

Don’t you just hate it when you’re in the middle of something important then a headache comes out of nowhere? It’s painful, uncomfortable, and it could interfere with your performance in school, at work, or even at home.

Headaches are one of the most common health problems that people suffer from. The World Health Organization estimates that nearly half of the world’s adult population experience this condition every year. Not all headaches are caused by the same thing. There are some cases wherein the headache is caused by problems with blood vessels, muscles, or nerves in the head and neck region while there are also some instances where a headache is just a symptom of another condition. Some health problems associated with headaches include the following:

• Hangovers
• Brain tumors
• Blood clots
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Concussion
• Dehydration
• Influenza
• Stroke

Foods that solve headaches

Although there are conventional medications for headaches, most of these are associated with side effects such as nausea, liver problems, heartburn, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Fortunately, there are many natural remedies for headaches, including food. Some examples of headache-soothing foods include the following:

• Baked potato — This delicious side dish is great for curing headaches, especially if they’re due to dehydration or a hangover. This is because baked potatoes are rich in potassium that replenish lost electrolytes. If you’re eating a baked potato for this purpose, make sure to eat the skin as well so that you can maximize the amount of potassium you get from it.
• Coffee — For centuries, java beans have been used as a traditional remedy for headaches and research has proven that it does work, but only in moderation. Coffee prevents headaches from worsening by reducing the size of blood vessels. However, too much coffee can lead to dehydration and further aggravate your condition. Limit your intake to just one cup so that you can reap its benefits without the consequences.
• Whole-grain toast — Insufficient carbohydrate levels can trigger and worsen headaches since the brain won’t have an adequate supply of energy. To avoid this, eat more whole-wheat bread and oatmeal since these are good sources of healthy carbohydrates.
• Almonds — The magnesium present in almonds alleviates headaches by relaxing blood vessels. Some other foods that are rich in this mineral include bananas, dried apricots, avocados, cashews, brown rice, legumes, and seeds.
• Hot peppers — If you’re suffering from a headache due to sinus congestion, try eating hot peppers and other spicy foods since these can reduce congestion and open up the airways.
• Sesame seeds — Sesame seeds are packed with nutrients such as vitamin E, which helps regulate estrogen levels so that women who are on their periods won’t suffer from migraines. This vitamin also improves circulation in order to prevent headaches. Additionally, sesame seeds contain high amounts of magnesium that also help soothe headaches.
• Spinach — Previous studies have shown that spinach improves blood pressure, prevents hangovers, and alleviates headaches. So if you’re suffering from a headache, why not eat some spinach leaves? You can even sprinkle some almonds and sesame seeds over it and turn it into a powerful headache-soothing salad.

Before you start popping painkillers for your headaches, try giving these delicious foods a shot so that you won’t have to deal with the adverse side effects of conventional medicine. (Related: Got a headache? Foods and the active components within them that will alleviate even the toughest headaches fast.)

Read more news articles on natural headache remedies by visiting NaturalCures.news.

Sources include:

GoodHousekeeping.com

MedicalNewsToday.com