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Million of people are affected by Migraine. It has been disclosed by studies that Women are more affected than men. People get affected because of more over life style and bad food habits, poor diet and lack of nutrients. It can be prevented with change of life style and qualitative foods with full of vitamins and minerals.  

What is Migraine Headache?

Migraine is a severe vascular headache. The pain usually starts on one side of the head and can spread. It varies mild to severe and may last for 4 to72 hours. It is a throbbing pain rather than dull, constant ache; blurring or bright spots in the vision, anxiety, and fatigue often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sounds, sweating. During a migraine attack, the temporal artery which is just under the skin of the temples starts constriction and dilation and causes nerves to swell around the temple artery. The tension of nerves triggers the chemicals that cause inflammation, pain and even more enlargement of artery of temple region intensifies the pain.

Common cause of migraines

Stress, sleeps disorder, fatigue and environmental factors, smoking or exposed to smoke, changes in hormonal levels during a women’s menstrual cycle or with the use of birth control pills, sexual stimulated-pills, missed or delayed meals, use and withdrawl of certain drug or medicines. In some cases it’s found the hereditary also.

Food- allergy, intoleration and sensitivity are also the main cause of migraines headache. Certain people are sensitive to foods and preservatives which triggers the migraine in some people not in all, like processed, fermented foods, pickles, dairy products (yogurt skin or whole cow’s milk, Cheese etc), citrus fruits, chocolates,eggs,onions,apples,babana,bread and pasta. Certain beverages like alcohol especially Red wine (containing tyramine), caffeinated drinks (Coffee, tea and colas) smoked fish, chicken livers, figs and certain beans, food containing monosodium glutamate. Nut and peanuts are also in some cases worst triggers of migraines.

Migraine can not be cured but one can prevent themselves by avoiding or identifying the good and favorable foods and changes of environment for certain time. Better way to identify the reasons by maintaining a diary. When your headache occurs? What was the intensity of severe pain? What you have eaten-in result of that it occurs? Women should observe whether it occurs during menstrual cycle or after taking the birth control pills.

You can judge the frequency and make you alert in advance. You can avoid such kind of food easily which are allergic to you. Check your diet and routine which is pro to migraine and stop the same immediately and you will feel a lot of relief. If your diet change makes your headache disappear or become much less frequent, the next step is to confirm which food are triggers and then eliminate them.  Foods can be reintroduced, one at a time, every alternate day step by step reintroduce the food items. Anything that causes a headache should be eliminated again. Then, after a week or two, try the suspected food/beverages once again for reconfirmation. Always keep your diet as simple as so that you can detect the effect of new diet, easily. Non-vegetarian foods may harm you and if possible avoid them and eliminate from your regular meals for ever which are worst migraine triggers. They disturb not only the natural hormones balance but their cholesterol, fat and animal proteins are linked to serious health concerns including heart diseases, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, breast, prostate, and colon cancer.

If Migraine hits

• Ice/ Cold water packs can help to constrict the blood vessels, returning to normal size.
• Cinnamon-Dalchini, easily available in every kitchen. Make a paste of Cinnamon and apply on fore head for quick relief. It can be taken raw and can chew for faster relief.
• Ginger has anti-nausea and anti-vomiting properties and has been reported to be very effective in preventing the migraines. Ginger is having anti inflammatory components. You can consume ginger as powder, root tea (steeped or boiled) or eat it fresh. Ginger gives quick relief in migraine headache. Take out ginger juices and mix with honey which gives quick relief.
• Consuming vegetable juices are good for Migraines. It has been disclosed by researchers that low levels of magnesium are a major cause of migraines. Since magnesium is considered to be effective in relaxing the body, regular consumption of magnesium supplements alleviate migraine pain. Dark green leafy vegetables are the best natural sources of magnesium like spinach, broccoli are the rich sources of magnesium. Also recommended most nuts (almonds, peanuts, and cashews), whole grain, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds for natural source of magnesium.

Magnesium is “anti stress” mineral. It is also a calcium blocker, which is playing important role in brain chemistry and prevents the migraines. Magnesium loss is also caused by alcohol, caffeine and sugar.

• Cocktail of vegetable juices-carrot combined with spinach, beetroot and cucumber is great pain reliever. Fresh grape juice has also very effective for migraines.
• Omega 3 Factors- fish oil supplements is quite favorable for migraines
• Cinnamon (Dalchini) Ginger (adarak) and pepper (Gol-Kali-Mirch) and Tulsi can be mixed together and can be taken with either honey or with normal water, 3 to 4 times in a day with cold water or honey, will be a great relief.

In addition to the dietary and supplement strategies biofeedback and relaxation training can also be helpful in reducing the frequency and severity of the pain. It was apparent that non-drug approach was as effective as the drug approach but without side effect. If you are taking any drug other than pain killer please consult your Doctor.

• Sleep-when you have a migraine.
• Use eye pillow-it is wonderful relief for headaches and migraines.
• Eat and drink- Unless you feel nauseous, takes a light and refreshing snack, an apple or some ripe melon or ginger ale.
• Vitamins are very important especially B-complex, Riboflavin-researchers found a very good support in controlling the migraines. It has no side effect. It is found in Mushrooms, sprouted seed, eggs; meat but again you should observe which food is allergic to you and avoid that.

I would like to conclude by saying that you should be very careful about intake foods.  Make you sure that food is not allergic to you then you can prevent yourself from Migraines headache. Food is plays a very important role in maintaining the health.

Tags: headaches, migraine, migraine & home remedies, prevention from migraine