Headaches and Diet: Foods to Avoid and Foods That Can Help

Avoid fried foods, sweeteners, and aged cheeses. Instead, eat fruits, vegetables, and ginger.

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HEADACHE FOODS TO AVOID

HEADACHES AND NUTRITION

 
The relationship between diet and headaches is very close. There are foods that can even trigger them, and people who suffer from tension headaches, for example, are advised not to eat them. Chinese cooking. While among the foods recommended for preventing and also for easing the pain in case of headache, there are fruits, vegetables and ginger.

 

FOODS TO AVOID

Il headache It's unforgiving. And unfortunately, many Italians suffer from it, with diagnoses that aren't easy to reconstruct and treatments that are even more obscure. There are no foods that trigger this type of pain, but one thing is now scientifically proven: some foods can cause headachesEspecially in those most at risk. For headaches, meats rich in nitrites and nitrates are not recommended.

ALSO READ: Headaches: what are the real causes? And natural remedies. Starting with a walk...

FOODS THAT PROMOTE MIGRAINES

In particular, there are 10 products we should avoid when we suffer from headaches. Here they are.

  • Chocolate. It is a typical food that has many beneficial properties, but unfortunately it is bad for migraine sufferers.
  • Gelato. In this case, it's not the ingredients that create problems, but the cold and what comes with it.
  • Coffee. Those who suffer from headaches should not exceed three cups a day. Abstinence from caffeine, in the long run, can cause discomfort in the head.
  • Alcoholic beverages. Some people have problems with red wine, others with white wine, and still others with beer. In general, headache sufferers should minimize alcohol consumption.
  • Sausages and processed meats. They contain nitrites and can therefore cause headaches. It has been discovered, through research on samples of people who frequently suffer from headaches, that the pain begins, in 5 percent of cases, after eating some cured meats or processed meats.
  • Foods with sweeteners. Here too the problem arises from the ingredients: ahigh dose of sugars creates problems for people exposed to headaches.
  • Beverages and sweet drinks. For the same reasons as for foods, with the added complication of so-called diet drinks. They contain aspartame, which is not suitable for those who suffer from headaches.
  • Aged cheeses and condiments from Chinese cuisine. In this case, the defendant is the glutamate monosodium, a substance that promotes headache attacks.
  • Fried. Avoid due to the content of corn and sunflower oils.
  • French fries. For the same reasons as fried foods in general.
  • Dried Fruit

WHY AVOID CHINESE CUISINE IF YOU SUFFER FROM HEADACHES?

Although there is no scientific evidence on the subject yet, people who frequently suffer from headaches are advised against Chinese cuisine. This is because in oriental cuisine, and in Chinese cuisine in particular, monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer, is widely used. Glutamate, among other things, is also widely used to enhance the flavor of industrial products such as snacks, sauces, bouillon cubes, and soups. And the term "Chinese restaurant headache" refers to the onset of headaches following the consumption of monosodium glutamate.

WHAT MAKES IT WORSE MAL DI HEAD?

First of all, be careful with alcohol, especially red wine, due to the presence of tannins, which can cause headaches. As for your diet, be careful with foods that require more complex digestion.

Some examples? Fried foods, onions, nuts, chocolate, excessive amounts of coffee, as well as any other caffeinated beverages, as well as aged cheeses, warm bread, and pizza. According to the advice of the Veronesi FoundationIt's also important to pay attention to milk, yogurt, and sour cream, as well as certain substances, such as nitrates used to preserve cured meats and sausages. And if you like using stock cubes, sachet soups, and Asian foods, be careful with monosodium glutamate.

Another thing to consider is the amount of food ingested during meals: excesses can slow down and tire the digestive process, increasing the risk of headaches in predisposed individuals.

FOOD THAT HELP AGAINST THE MAL DI HEAD

Headache, which in Italy affects between 60 and 90 percent of the population, can also be fought at the table. With foods those that, in some way, have a preventive effect are correct.

According to the Veronesi Foundation, those who suffer from headaches should favor whole-grain bread, pasta, and rice, but also fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, fresh fish and meat, and freshly squeezed juices and smoothies. And of course, don't forget the importance of a balanced diet.

MAL DI HEAD AND VITAMINS

If you suffer from frequent headaches, in addition to focusing on your diet, including reducing your salt intake, you could supplement your daily diet with vitamins and minerals, especially during the hot season. Various vitamins are recommended for headaches: from vitamin B2, which apparently helps with migraines, to vitamin B1. But vitamin D also plays an important role: according to one study, studio Vitamin D deficiency, in fact, increases the risk of chronic headaches.

RECIPES FOR DELICIOUS DISHES WITHOUT FRYING

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