Do you suffer from migraines? If so, you’re not alone. As a whopping one in five women and one in fifteen men suffer from the common health condition, as the NHS website reports.
And they can be a real pain in the… well, head! Meaning your day can take a take a turn for the worst rapidly as a result of various triggers which can set them off.
There are several kinds of migraine – none of them enjoyable, we’re sure you can agree – and symptoms can include feeling sick, being sick and being incredibly sensitive to light or sound.
And, seeing as it’s summer time, we’re more prone to bright light which can bring on a migraine, so we went on the hunt for the best ways to avoid a migraine attack.
The best anti-chafing products to avoid sore skin this summer
Expert says you shouldn’t keep hand sanitisers in your car in hot weather
Suzie Sawyer, clinical nutritionist for Alive! spoke exclusively to OK! online about how best to stop migraine misery. Here are Suzie’s five top tips.
1. Balance blood sugar
Suzie has advised that we should eat protein during each meal, from fish (not canned), to poultry, vegetables, eggs, buckwheat and grains.
She adds: “Avoid excess stimulants such as caffeinated drinks (particularly fizzy drinks), alcohol and refined sugary food, which all send blood sugar sky high.”
Susie recommends balancing blood sugar to keep hormones in balance, especially those affecting mood, appetite, stress and the menstrual cycle, which in turn have a bearing on triggering migraines.
2. Take the natural approach with Feverfew
Feverfew is a herb and contains a wealth of plant compounds and anti-inflammatory properties.
Susie explains: “Feverfew has the ability to reduce the production of histamine, a known migraine trigger and responsible for regulating a number of physiological responses in the body.
“Try MigraHerb Migraine Relief Capsules, which are a traditional herbal medicinal product used for the prevention of migraine headaches.”
3. Keep calm with magnesium
Stress is well-known to be a trigger for migraines and, with life being more hectic than normal right now amid the coronavirus pandemic, it’s important to try and keep calm.
Susie detailed the importance of magnesium for migraine avoidance: “The mineral magnesium is rich in green leafy vegetables and whole grain foods. Interestingly, migraine is often associated with low levels of magnesium two so it makes sense to include it in the diet very regularly.
Suzie recommends the Alive! range of multivitamins and minerals which help to bust stress.
4. Avoid trigger foods
You may or may not know that there a range of foods which can trigger a migraine.
A number of foods contain the amino acid, tyramine, which is a known watchpoint for migraines.
Susie discussed which foods are bad for migraine sufferers: “Top of the list of possible offenders is aged cheese, closely followed by fermented meats, chocolate, mushrooms, plus red wine and beer. Soy sauce can also be problematic because it contains the food flavouring monosodium glutamate (MSG).
Six of the best natural remedies for hay fever sufferers found in the home
Mrs Hinch shares 'fave' £15 make-up item from Chloe Ferry's beauty range
“Wheat-based foods can also set off a migraine and many sufferers might not make a connection between the two. Foods containing wheat include breads, pasta, cereals, cakes and biscuits. However, there’s plenty of wheat-free options to eat as alternatives.”
5. Cook up a migraine-busting breakfast
Have you been skipping breakfast? If so, this could be why you’ve got a sore head because starting the day right, without loading the body with caffeine and sugar-filled cereals, is super important.
Susie explained: “Breakfast is important for balancing blood sugar levels but also avoiding migraines. For a wonderfully filling, non-allergenic, and energising breakfast, why not make some Buckwheat Crepes using buckwheat flour, almond or soya milk, an egg and a little olive oil.
“The real taste comes from the many varieties of toppings to choose from; natural yoghurt and blueberries or apple compote, scrambled eggs or baked beans; the choice is yours!”
Source: Read Full Article