The link between migraine and stress is well established. If you strive for perfection in everything you do, you subject your body to needless stress. Meditation, deep breathing exercises (pranayam) and exercising are good ways to de-stress. In fact, even walking briskly for half an hour could make a difference.
w Common foods believed to trigger migraine include cabbage, tomato, onions, brinjal, pineapple, potatoes, canned fish, alcohol (mainly red wine and beer), chocolates, smoked meats, yoghurt, canned fish, peanuts, caffeine, milk, yeast-based foods such as cakes, bread, etc., foods containing mono-sodium glutamate, food colours and artificial sweeteners present in jams, jellies, etc. Cheese, citrus fruits (oranges, sweet lime, lemon, etc) and ice-cold food or drinks are also believed to trigger migraine.
w If you feel a migraine is coming on, take an inch of fresh ginger with some lime and black salt sprinkled on it and chew it slowly — this could thwart a migraine attack.
w Consume ground flaxseeds or alsiseeds everyday — these contain Omega-3 fats which control prostaglandin synthesis that control pain; two to four tablespoons of alsiseed powder taken regularly for two to three months could reduce the frequency of headaches substantially. Eating fish two to three times a week also delivers similar benefits.
w Detoxify from time to time. Detoxification which can be done by using specific herbs and vegetable juices helps to eliminate accumulated toxins (a cause for headaches) from the body enabling the smooth functioning of your body organs and improving the health. Once you detect the causative factor behind your migraine attack, avoid the particular food that annoys you. Take preventive measures, if it is pre-menstrual, stress-related or due to skipping a meal.
The author is a nutritionist and founder of Health Total. Write to query@health-total.com [1].
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