Archive for the ‘Nutrition and Migraines’ Category
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
According to a recent study, people with celiac disease are more likely to suffer from migraines than those without digestive disorders. What’s the connection between migraines and celiac, anyways?
Celiac disease
Celiac is an autoimmune disorder that affects the digestive system and involves intolerance for gluten. Most people can eat starchy foods containing gluten- pastries, breads, pastas- without any ill results. For a celiac patient, however, eating a morsel of wheat, rye, or barley can be the kiss of death.
So much so that even trace amounts of the gluten protein can cause severe stomach reactions and chronic pain symptoms like headaches and muscle pain.
10 Golden Food Rules for Chronic Pain Sufferers
Symptoms of celiac disease include:
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
- Stomach bloating
- Osteoporosis
- Depression
- Chronic fatigue
- Headaches
- Vertigo
- Mouth sores
- Sore muscles
- Stiff joints
- Pain and tingling in the legs
- Skin rash
- Frequent bruising
- Unusual weight loss
- Failure to thrive
- Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Migraines are also a stomach disorder
Scientists have always observed a strong link between the migraine brain and the stomach, but have not been able to explain exactly why the two correlate with each other.
Migraine Headaches and Dizziness- Stop the Ride, I want to get off!
For example, why do migraine attacks cause severe nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting, in addition to pounding headaches?
And why does vomiting during a migraine attack often produce intense relief?
American researchers from New York believe they can provide a useful clue.
The migraine-celiac connection
It’s actually not the first time somebody attempted to link neurological disorder with celiac disease- In the 60’s, scientists observed symptoms like poor motor control and peripheral neuropathy in patients of celiac, explains this study’s authors.
For the Columbia University Medical Center study, scientists focused on celiac disease, in addition to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Subjects were also asked if they ever experienced any sensitivity to wheat or gluten.
 In addition to questioning participants on their digestive health, scientists also inquired about their history regarding headaches and lifestyle choices like smoking, alcohol, and coffee usage.- Out of 501 people, 188 had celiac disease, 111 had IBD, 25 suffered from gluten intolerance, and the remaining “control group” had no digestive system disorders.
- More than half of the gluten sensitive participants suffered from chronic headaches.
- About 30% of celiac disease patients also had chronic headaches.
- Twenty-three percent of IBD sufferers also experienced chronic headaches.
- The lowest occurrence of chronic headaches was in the control group, at 14%.
- Migraine-specific headaches were reported among 21% of celiac patients and 14% of IBD patients, compared with only 6% from the healthy control group.
“We found significantly higher prevalence of headaches in patients with celiac disease compared to those without it,” states Dr. Alexandra Dimitrova, who co-authored the Neurological Institute study.
Unfortunately, scientists are still unable to determine why symptoms of IBD and celiac disease often affect the brain. Theories range from celiac disease antibodies that attack the nervous system to widespread inflammation throughout the body.
These preliminary finding were recently presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in New Orleans.
What we learn from this:
There is no one cure for migraines, but determining your migraine triggers is the first step towards successful chronic pain management.
Have you tried eliminating gluten from your diet, for at least a few months? Gluten-free dieting is not necessary unless your body has a bad reaction to gluten products. But for many migraine sufferers, eliminating certain foods from their diet, including gluten, has led to a significant reduction in migraine headaches.
Migraine Dieting with Gluten-Free Foods: Is it Necessary?
- If you’re unsure of your migraine triggers, start logging into a migraine diary.
- If your migraine drugs aren’t performing to your full satisfaction, experiment with restrictive dieting. Perhaps you’ll discover a migraine triggers of which you were unaware.
- Vitamin deficiency is another possible clue to migraine frequency. Make sure you get enough B vitamins and minerals like magnesium.
- Other dietary supplements that are helpful for preventing migraines include butterbur and Co-Q10.
Read more about migraines and diet
To Prevent Migraines, eat 11 Pounds of Beef
The Do-it-Yourself Migraine Detox Diet: What to Expect
Eat like a Migraineur- 7 Migraine Diet Tips
Please tell us…
Have you found relief from migraines by changing your diet? Please share your experience!
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
Share with your friends!
If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.
References:
Migraines More Likely for People With Celiac Disease, Study Says
Images:
Ohmega1982, stockimages,
Tags: migraine attacks, migraine headaches, migraine triggers, Migraines, Migraines and celiac disease
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Monday, April 2nd, 2012
Following a migraine diet is essential for recognizing migraine triggers and preventing migraine headaches. As more people are adopting gluten-free dieting a means of relieving chronic pain symptoms, you might be wondering what all the hoopla is about, and if you should consider dropping gluten from your migraine diet. Here are some basic facts to consider before chucking your daily bread out the window.
What is gluten?
Gluten is a protein that occurs naturally in grains like barley, wheat, and rye. Most baked goods contain gluten, but it’s also sometimes a hidden ingredient or cross-contamination in many packaged snacks, condiments, and mixes.
Symptoms of gluten intolerance
Below are some common symptoms of gluten intolerance. Some of them are very similar to migraine symptoms. Do you suffer from any of these?
 Chronic headache- Moodiness
- Irritability
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Flatulence
- Bloating
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Weight loss
- Sore joints
- Painful tingling and numbness
- Eczema
The Do-it-Yourself Migraine Detox Diet: What to Expect
Do you have celiac?
 Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes headaches, chronic pain, and fatigue, in addition to severe damage to the digestive system. Today, a simple blood test can diagnose celiac disease by detecting the presence of a gluten-reactive antibody.
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity
Not being diagnosed with celiac disease does not rule out the possibility of gluten sensitivity. Because the symptoms of gluten intolerance are so similar to those of migraines (headache, depression, stomach problems), they can easily slip past the radar when they occur at the same time as chronic migraines.
It could be the yeast.
Before making gluten a banned substance in your migraine diet, it’s important to recognize that yeast might be a culprit in causing your headaches. Many yeasted foodstuffs like breads, yeasted cakes, and beer sometimes trigger migraines, while non-yeasted gluten-containing foods may cause no reaction whatsoever.
Keep a migraine diary.
 Still think that gluten is causing your migraines? The best way to be certain is to keep a migraine diary. Log in important info like what foods you ate, when you ate them, and what your mood was at the time. Keep track of your headaches, including the time they occur, how long they last, and which medications you used to treat them.
How to Make a Migraine Headache Diary
After a few months, your migraine diary can become a valuable tool for recognizing migraine triggers, including food triggers, and weeding them out of your life.
Reduce your migraine triggers
In addition to using a migraine diet to reduce headaches, consider these other tips for preventing migraine attacks:
- Exercise
- Drink water
- Eat at regular intervals
- Sleep 8 hours at nighttime, only
- Treat sinus congestion
- Experiment with natural remedies, including vitamins and herbs for migraine prevention.
Natural Migraine Remedies: 9 Must-Take Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs
Please tell us…
Have you been able to reduce migraines by following a special migraine diet? If so, do you include gluten-free dieting?
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
Share with your friends!
If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.
Read more about nutrition and migraines
Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist
Beat Migraines with these 5 Magnesium-Rich Foods
Eat like a Migraineur- 7 Migraine Diet Tips
Chocolate for Curing Migraines- 10 Astonishing Cocoa Facts
Sources:
Should you try a gluten-free diet?
Gluten Intolerance Symptoms – How Do You Know If Gluten Is Making You Sick?
Images:
imagerymajestic, m_bartosch, Idea go, Boaz Yiftach, Ambro
Tags: chronic migraines, Gluten-Free diet migraines, migraine diet, migraine headaches, migraine symptoms, migraine triggers
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Monday, February 27th, 2012
It’s the great Catch-22 of migraine disorder: weight loss headaches. We’re constantly reminded about the strong link between obesity and migraines. Experts encourage losing weight to reduce migraine symptoms. Sounds promising, but every time you start a weight-loss diet, what do you get for your efforts? A big headache. Weight-loss headache: It’s not necessarily a migraine headache, but it sure doesn’t help to keep you on the weight-loss bandwagon, either. Here are some possible reasons for new headaches that you get whenever you try to lose weight.
Hunger headache
Migraine brains like consistency; any deviation from your normal eating habits- skipping meals, or fluctuations in your blood sugar- will likely trigger a migraine attack the size of Texas.
Of course, what you eat is just as important as how much or how often you eat. A cup of cooked white pasta might have the same amount of calories as a cup of whole-wheat spaghetti, but nutritionally, they are worlds apart. Ounce for ounce, whole-grain foods are packed with more vitamins, minerals, and tummy-filling fiber than starchy white processed foods, leaving you feeling more satisfied after finishing a meal and less likely to suffer a hunger headache.
Solution:
 When cutting back on calories, make it gradual. Avoid crash dieting. Aim to lose one or two pounds per week…or month. The slower you lose the weight, the longer you will keep it off, anyways. - Don’t skimp on quality while shopping for low-calorie foods to stock your pantry. Avoid “diet” foods that are devoid of vitamins and minerals, yet packed with preservatives, refined sugars and flours, and artificial fillers. Include filling foods in your diet, like protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables that do not trigger migraines.
- Don’t fall for imitation foods like “fat-free cream cheese” or sugarless pancake syrup. Instead, opt for natural maple syrup and real butter, and just use less.
- Eat small meals throughout the day to keep your metabolism moving and to keep migraines at bay.
- Be prepared. Always keep an emergency stash of your favorite non-perishable treat in your car, purse, and work desk.
Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist
Dehydration headache
Sometimes your become dehydrated when trying to lose weight. When this happens, your blood vessels constrict in an effort to retain moisture, causing spasms, and decreased oxygen to the brain. The result is dehydration headache. So, how much water do you need? Currently, experts recommend that you drink half of your body weight in ounces. If you weigh 180 pounds, then you should drink at least 90 ounces (approximately 11 cups) of water each day.
Solution:
- Make it easy to fulfill your daily water requirement. Stock up on plenty of good drinking water, and stash water bottles around your house. Keep a bottle by your telephone or computer. Stash one in the car and your emergency migraine tote bag.
- Invest in a good quality stainless steel water bottle, and keep it clean. Metal water bottles stay ice cold longer than plastic bottles, and they last forever.
Stay Hydrated without Drinking Water- 5 Hydrating Foods
Detox headache
Ironically, eating healthier can give you a headache. If part of your migraine diet plan includes following a restrictive diet, then you’re eating fewer foods that supply toxins to the body. As a result, your body goes into detox mode, sweating out toxins throughout your day. A few side effects of detox, however, include migraine-like headaches and skin disruptions like acne.
Solution:
- Hang in there! Detox is a temporary phase and worth the efforts. Countless studies prove that weaning your body off migraine triggering foods and chemicals significantly reduces migraine frequency and severity.
- Supplement with natural vitamins, minerals, and herbs that aid in detoxifying the body and preventing migraines. Some excellent curative nutrients for migraine prevention are magnesium, riboflavin, and coenzyme Q10.
Beat Migraines with these 5 Magnesium-Rich Foods
Please tell us…
- Are you currently using a migraine treatment that causes weight gain as one of its side effects?
- Have you been successful in losing weight while battling with migraines at the same time?
- Please share your success stories with our readers!
- As always, we welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.
Spread the love…
Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!
Read more about migraines and nutrition:
Eat like a Migraineur- 7 Migraine Diet Tips
How to Make a Migraine Headache Diary
Chocolate for Curing Migraines- 10 Astonishing Cocoa Facts
Sources:
From the Dietitian: Avoid the Hunger Headache
Headaches When Losing Weight- LIVESTRONG.COM
Tags: Detox headache, Hunger headache, migraine attack, migraine headache, migraine symptoms, Migraines, Migraines and weight loss, obesity and migraines, Weight Loss Headaches
Posted in Nutrition and Migraines | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012
Whenever somebody says they’re on a migraine diet, the first things that come to mind are migraine triggers. But there’s more to migraine dieting than avoiding foods like red wine, chocolate, and cheesecake. Even if you’ve established what not to eat, you still need to change the way you eat in order to use the migraine diet as an effective tool for preventing migraine headaches.
What are migraine triggers?
There are no food cures for migraines, nor has there been any scientific evidence stating that certain foods, stress, or weather changes directly cause migraines. Rather, certain factors- foods or environmental stimuli- “activate” neurological reactions that cause migraine headaches in people who are susceptible to them. Those factors are called “migraine triggers.”
Similarly, eating healthy, exercising, and taking vitamins and supplements like magnesium and butterbur won’t cure migraines per se, as much as they contribute to a migraine-friendly, trigger-free environment in your brain, thereby reducing your likeliness to have a migraine attack.
What is a migraine diet?
There is no one-size-fits-all migraine diet. Migraine triggers vary from person to person. You will need to develop an eating plan that is tailored to meet your migraine brain’s needs. Because there has been little funding set aside for migraine research and dietary recommendations, you will have to do quite a bit of your own detective work. (Find out how to promote migraine support.)
Fortunately, we have some tips to get your started with your migraine diet:
 #1- Find your trigger! If you haven’t determined which foods contribute to your migraines, there’s no better time than today! You can’t possibly be expected to avoid all potential migraine triggers (over 100, according to this study on migraine triggers), but you can selectively eliminate the ones that count by following an elimination diet. This will also help in determining if you have any food allergies that might be giving you headaches. Some common food allergens are tree nuts, fish, spices, preservatives, gluten, and seeds.- #2- Eat heart-healthy foods! This is great advice, particularly if you suffer from migraines with aura, which has been linked with heart disease, stroke, and seizures. Choose whole grains over processed starches, opt for lean meats and dairy products, and include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. (Read more about fatalities among migraine sufferers- Killer Migraines Might be Fatal after All- Mortality Rates among Migraine Sufferers)
- #3- Watch your blood sugar! Sometimes, low blood sugar can trigger migraine attacks. So, never skip a meal, and never go more than four hours without eating. Eat small meals frequently throughout the day, and stick to a schedule. (The migraine brain loves regimented habits!)
 #4- Limit your salt! If you’re a slave to sodium, now is the time to break the chains. Eating a high sodium diet is linked with stroke, hypertension, and heart attacks. The USRDA for people with chronic illnesses is 1,500 mg per day.
- #5- Don’t limit your water! Sometimes, people become dehydrated and get headaches just because they were too busy to stop for a water break. Keep drinking water throughout your day, and make it easy. Set up “drinking stations” by keeping a supply of water bottles at home, in your car, and at work. Do you spend a lot of time at the computer? Keep a bottle handy, at a safe distance from your keyboard, of course. Can’t stomach tap water? (Read Stay Hydrated without Drinking Water- 5 Hydrating Foods)
- #6- Take extra vitamins and minerals! For some, vitamin deficiency is a hidden migraine trigger. Nip it in the bud by including high-quality vitamins, minerals, and herbs in your migraine diet. Some good ones to try are magnesium, vitamin B12 (cobalamin), riboflavin, calcium, butterbur, and coenzyme Q10 for migraines. (Read more- Natural Migraine Remedies: 9 Must-Take Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs)
- #7- Write it down in your migraine diary! This is an important tactic that is used for losing weight, and it is just as effective for losing migraines! Keep a migraine diet journal, including useful data like what you eat, when you eat, how you’re feeling emotionally, things you did, and so on. (For tips, read How to Make a Migraine Headache Diary)
Please tell us…
Do you keep a migraine headache diary? Has your headache specialist or neurologist shown interest in reviewing migraine diet with you? Have you discovered any migraine triggers that you hadn’t known about previously?
Spread the love…
Please share this information with anybody you know who suffers from migraines. Thanks!
Sources:
Food and migraine: a personal connection- Harvard Health Publications
Migraine Triggers- University Health Services, University of California, Berkeley
Tags: Butterbur for migraines, coenzyme q10 migraines, Food cures for migraines, magnesium migraines, migraine attack, migraine diary, migraine diet, migraine headaches, migraine triggers, migraines with aura
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Thursday, September 22nd, 2011
Chocolate, not really a Migraine Trigger
Does chocolate really trigger migraines, or might chocolate possibly cure migraines? Studies and opinions vary. Here are the facts on chocolate and your brain.
1) We want chocolate, therefore we migraine…
Many neurologists believe that the amino acid tyramine that occurs naturally in chocolate is the main trigger for most migraines. However, other scientists speculate that women tend to crave chocolate before having a migraine attack, particularly during times of stress, menstruation, menopause, and skipped meals. (Think chicken and egg.)
2) Chocolate or carob- it’s your call
In a recent study on chocolate’s effect on migraines, test subjects received 60-gram bars of chocolate or “placebo” bars of carob. After 24-hours, migraine sufferers who ate the “real” chocolate suffered none of the migraine symptoms that they had previously attributed to the tyramine in chocolate, nor did the combination of chocolate with other “red light” foods have any impact. The people who ate the carob…we don’t know, but we think they wish they had gotten the chocolate.
3) I heart chocolate!
According to the British Medical Journal, eating chocolate may prevent cardiovascular disease. A study that included more than 114,000 subjects suggested a noticeably reduced risk of heart disease and stroke among people who ate chocolate.
4) Chocolate has magnificent magnesium…
Chocolate contains magnesium, a nutrient used to treat migraines, lower the frequency of migraine attacks, and reduce the severity of pain symptoms. In some situations, magnesium deficiency is diagnosed as the cause of migraine attacks.
Beat Migraines with these 5 Magnesium-Rich Foods
5) …and restorative riboflavin
Riboflavin, another nutrient that has a curative effect on migraines, is another ingredient in chocolate. Chocolate is starting to look good now, isn’t it?
6) Chocolate is pure bliss. Really.
Chocolate doesn’t just taste good; it also makes you feel good. Chocolate contains significant amounts of anandamide, a cannabinoid akin to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a chemical found in marijuana. Anandamide, a transmitter that the brain produces naturally to create feelings of well-being, comes from the word “ananda,” Sanskrit for bliss.
Foods that Relieve Stress and Improve your Mood- The Fab 4
7) Chocolate: there is no substitute
Other foods that have similar amounts of anandamide don’t produce the same feelings of happiness you get from eating a piece of rich chocolate. That’s because chocolate contains chemicals that slow down the digestion of anandamide, allowing the pleasant feelings to linger long after you nibble your last bite of chocolate fudge cake.
8) You can’t OD on chocolate, but you can have a lot of fun trying
Lest you think that overindulgence in chocolate could possibly lead to altered states of consciousness, know this: you would have to eat about 25 pounds of chocolate in order to receive a “high” similar to that of marijuana.
9) Chocolate is like kryptonite to the dark forces of evil
And for a bit of chocolate pop trivia: In the popular Harry Potter series, dementors, dark otherworldly figures that work for the evil wizard Lord Voldemort, attack innocent people by extracting all feelings of happiness, hope, and peace of mind from their victims, leaving them an empty shell of misery, grief, and despair. And the single, most powerful antidote against their destructive powers- you guessed it. Chocolate.
10) Another reason to visit Paris in the fall
In the US, any food item that has at least 10% cacao qualifies as a chocolate, and most of the beneficial properties of chocolate become weakened by the addition of sugar, water, milk, or other added ingredients. In European countries, such as Germany, chocolate contains upwards of 30% cocoa beans, with dark chocolate containing even more.
Related reading:
9 Healthiest Foods for Natural Pain Relief, plus Recipes
3 Migraine Elimination Diet Cookbooks, plus Sample Recipes
Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist
Migraine Nausea and Vomiting- 10 Natural Home Remedies
Sources:
Good news about chocolate & migraine
Migraines, Marijuana, and Chocolate
Chocolate on the Brain
Chocolate consumption and cardiometabolic disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis
Tags: chocolate and migraines, chocolate and the brain, headache triggers in food, migraine headaches, migraine illness, migraine triggers
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Monday, September 5th, 2011
Fight Pain through Diet and Nutrition: Fighting pain is easy when you follow a healthy diet plan of nutritious healthy foods that reduce inflammation, kill free radicals, and relieve arthritis pain.
Eating healthy is a win-win situation
Following a healthy diet is advisable, even if you don’t suffer from chronic pain. The best diet plans include low fat, vitamin-enriched foods for preventing heart disease, reducing cholesterol, controlling diabetes, and promoting weight loss. With proper nutrition, one can either avoid or alleviate ailments such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, morbid obesity, digestive problems, and many forms of cancer.
Healthy foods that heal your pain
Many healthy foods contain antioxidants that reduce inflammation and kill free radicals. Including anti-inflammatory foods in your diet is an excellent way to supplement your current pain relief program. However, it is not advisable to forgo any prescription pain medications without first consulting in your physician.
Flickr
Foods that Relieve Stress and Improve your Mood- The Fab 4
Below are 9 foods that help to fight painful inflammation:
1) Sesame seeds
Sesame seeds are rich in bone-healthy calcium and zinc. Additionally, sesame seeds contain copper, an essential mineral for reducing painful swelling associated with arthritis.
Flickr
Try this: Crunchy Sesame Seed Candy, a healthy sweet treat made with brown sugar, honey, sesame seeds, and ginger. –Food.com
2) Spinach
Spinach is a powerhouse of nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin K, folate, and manganese. Eating fresh, frozen, or canned spinach is helpful for preventing cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease.
Try this: Jamie’s Cranberry Spinach Salad, complete with almonds, sesame seeds, cranberries, and fresh spinach. –Allrecipes.com
3) Flax seeds
Ground flax seeds and flax oil are premium sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, in addition to an essential fibrous phytonutrient, lignan. Don’t use flax oil for cooking; instead, add a teaspoon of flax oil to salad dressings and dips. Flax seeds have a nutty flavor that complements many dishes. Use it as a topping for yogurt, ice cream, and fruit salad.
Flickr
Try this: Oven Fried Chicken, a healthier version of fried chicken, coated in crushed crackers and ground flax seed. –Ameriflax.com
4) Raw walnuts
Resist the urge to toss them in brownie batter; walnut oil’s anti-inflammatory properties are optimal in their raw form. Crunch on a handful of raw walnuts for a healthy snack, or use walnut oil in your cooking.
Try this: Black-Eyed Peas & Walnut Lettuce Wraps, a healthy “taco” that uses large lettuce leaves instead of corn taco shells. –Walnuts.org
5) Cherries
One study proved that tart cherries are ten times more effective at reducing pain inflammation than aspirin. Whether you choose sweet or tart, a few spoons of cherry juice should do the trick. Add cherry juice to lemonade, smoothies, or salad dressings.
MorgueFile
Try this: 4 J’s And A Cherry, a non-alcoholic bar drink containing cherry juice, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cranberry juice. –Bar None Drinks.com
6) Celery
Celery and celery seeds contain many anti-inflammatory agents, including apigenin. Add crunchy celery to Waldorf salad and tuna casseroles, or sprinkle celery seed on salads, stews, and roasts.
Flickr
Try this: Celery Root and Potato Purée with Chervil (Céleri Rave en Purée) , a grown-up version of mashed potatoes. –Epicurious.com
7) Ginger
In addition to reducing nausea and vomiting associated with migraine symptoms, ginger also has the ability to relieve muscular aches. Taken in a capsule, the “gingerols” contained in ginger supplements are 25% effective at reducing muscle pain associated with osteoarthritis.
Flickr
Migraine Nausea and Vomiting- 10 Natural Home Remedies
Try this: Ginger Ale, home brewed with fresh grated ginger, dry yeast, sugar, lemon juice, and filtered water. –BBC Good Food.com
8) Fatty fish
Studies prove that fatty foods containing Omega-3 oils are effective at fighting inflammation. Salmon, mackerel, and herring the richest seafood sources of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Free Digital Photos
Try this: Salmon & ginger fish cakes utilizes the pain-killing power of salmon and ginger! –BBC Good Food.com
9) Turmeric
Turmeric spice is a popular staple in Indian and Middle-Eastern cuisine; in addition to flavoring curries such as Aloo Gobi and Lamb Tagine, many also use turmeric for its anti-inflammatory properties. For centuries, people have used turmeric to treat arthritis pain, headaches, and muscular soreness. Today, we know that the “magic” behind turmeric lies in its active ingredient, curcumin.
Free Digital Photos
Try this: Indian-Style Rice with Cashews, Raisins and Turmeric, a fragrant, exotic dish of basmati rice, coconut milk, raisins, cashews, and spices. -Allrecipes.com
Related reading:
3 Migraine Elimination Diet Cookbooks, plus Sample Recipes
The Painkilling Power of Ginger: Migraines and Beyond
Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist
Sources:
100 Healthiest Foods for Women Every Nurse Should Know
4 Foods That Fight Pain – 1 – MSN Health – Arthritis Slide Show
13 Foods that Fight Pain- Care2 Healthy Living
Fatty Foods Fight Inflammation
A Bowl of Cherries
Flickr
Tags: best nutrition, diet, diet plan, dieting, healthy eating, healthy food, nutrition, nutrition facts, pain relief
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Monday, August 29th, 2011
End Migraine Triggers Simply, Deliciously
Flickr
Eliminate migraines by eliminating food triggers, such as aged cheese, wine, chocolate, dried meats, and MSG. Here are some migraine-friendly cookbook recipes.
Beyond medicating
Migraine headaches are debilitating, painful, and unfortunately, difficult to cure. A variety of pain relievers, abortive medicines, and alternative treatment remedies are available, and what works for one migraine sufferer, doesn’t necessarily kill the head pain for the rest of them. The best way to battle migraines is to adapt to a migraine-friendly lifestyle, and that means avoiding migraine triggers, such as stress, strong scents, bright lights, and dietary red-flag items.
Perfumes and Migraines: The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Stinky
Migraineurs’ cookbooks
Migraine-friendly cookbooks take all the guesswork out of elimination dieting. Here are three that are worth checking out on Amazon, or through your local library.
“Migraine-Free Cooking,” by Heidi Gunderson is the unofficial companion book to “The 1-2-3 Program for Taking Charge of Your Pain” by David Buchholz, M.D. If you miss Italian food dishes, such as spaghetti and lasagna, which are often loaded with aged salamis, then concoct your own Italian feast. Heidi includes recipes for Fresh Sausage, Tomato Sauce, and tortilla Pizza. For more recipes, get Heidi’s cookbook on Amazon.
 The “Headache Prevention Cookbook- Starting Your Own Elimination Diet,” by Dr. David Marks and Dr. Laura Marks: This book, written by the director of the New England Center for Headache, Dr. David Marks, a fellow headache sufferer himself, includes one hundred recipes collected by his wife, Dr. Laura Marks. Some recipes include Orange Blossom French Toast and Grape Tarts with Vanilla Pastry Cream. Find it at Amazon.
 “Joy Bauer’s Food Cures- Eat Right to Get Healthier, Look Younger, and Add Years to Your Life,” written by acclaimed nutritionist Joy Bauer, shows you how to reverse illness through diet. In addition to preventing arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, Joy includes migraine-fighting recipes like Gingered Carrots, Ginger-Spiced Pumpkin Muffins, and Cranberry Basil Vinaigrette. For more help curing migraine illness through diet, get her book on Amazon.
Related reading:
Foods that Relieve Stress and Improve your Mood- The Fab 4
Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist
Gotta Have Books for Migraineurs- 5 that Stand Out
Beat Migraines with these 5 Magnesium-Rich Foods
Tags: headache triggers, migraine diet, migraine headaches, migraine medications, migraine treatments, migraine triggers, prevent migraines
Posted in Nutrition and Migraines | No Comments »
Monday, August 1st, 2011
Eating to Fight Stress? Actually, it’s OK.
Give in to your body’s food cravings! Eating healthy vitamin-packed foods lowers stress levels, reduces migraines, and puts you in a better mood.
Binge on this, instead
Emotional eating has taken a bad rap. The fact is, your mood affects your eating habits, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Feeling tired, fatigued? Your body needs energy, the kind you get from healthy carbohydrates, such as fruits and whole grains. When stress levels hit the ceiling, your body needs to build up its defenses and keep blood pressure down; replenish your immune system and prevent hypertension by eating foods that contain vitamin C and antioxidant-rich vitamin E. Feeling depressed? Eating healthy carbs that monitor cortisol and serotonin levels is an effective way to boost your mood.
It’s okay to be a little nutty: Almonds, pistachios, and walnuts
Almonds are one of the healthiest nuts in town; they’re loaded with vitamin E, an essential antioxidant for boosting the immune system. Include a small handful of raw almonds with your breakfast, lunch, or just as a snack. Alternatively, studies confirm that crunching on pistachios and walnuts aids stress by lowering your blood pressure, so get cracking!
C if for calm: Blueberries, pineapple, oranges, papaya
Vitamin C is not just for preventing colds; researchers link vitamin C supplementation with reduced symptoms of stress, lowered blood pressure, and healthy management of the stress hormone, cortisol. Oranges and papayas are powerhouses of vitamin C, in addition to pineapple. Blueberries contain vitamin C, in addition to potent antioxidants. If you can’t get them fresh, buy frozen. Fruits from the frozen aisles are cheaper than imported goods and have the same nutritious health benefits.
Green is great: Avocado and spinach
Rich, creamy avocado nature’s butter; avocado is high in monounsaturated fats and potassium, which are excellent at combatting hypertension caused by stress and anxiety. Additionally, avocados aid your brain in utilizing serotonin, a hormone that relieves stress, wards off depression, treats insomnia, and for many, reduces the frequency of migraine headaches. Another great green for fighting stress is spinach, which is rich in magnesium. In addition to reducing stress levels, magnesium also prevents migraine attacks, according to studies that link magnesium deficiency with chronic migraines.
Go whole the way: Oatmeal and whole grain pasta
Craving carbs is a natural side effect of stress. Your body needs carbohydrates to produce serotonin, a hormone that your brain needs more than ever when your nerves are on red alert. Instead of indulging in unhealthy refined sugary foods, treat your body to the ultimate comfort food- a steaming mug of creamy oats, topped with a dash of cinnamon and a few spoons of cold milk. Because whole grains take longer for your body to digest, you won’t get that sugar rush that comes with eating junk breakfast cereals.
For lunch or dinner, swap your starchy white rice stand-by for nutritious brown basmati rice. You’ll love the nutty flavor and chewy texture. Whole-wheat pastas have come a long way since the early days- today’s healthy pastas come in a variety of whole grains, such as corn, wheat, and barley, and have a lighter, milder texture that will hold up well in your favorite lasagna, spaghetti, or ravioli recipes.
Related reading:
Stop Your Next Panic Attack in 4 Simple Steps
New Study Warns against Taking these Painkillers with Antidepressants
Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist
Stay Hydrated without Drinking Water- 5 Hydrating Foods
Sources:
7 Best Stress-Fighting Foods
Beat Stress: Emotional Eating Isn’t Always Bad | Women’s Health Magazine
Best Foods to Fight Stress and Improve Mood – Redbook
Role of magnesium in the pathogenesis and treatment of migraines
Top 10 Foods That Relieve Stress- AskMen
Serotonin Level & Migraines- LIVESTRONG
Tags: best vitamins, calm, eating, fighting stress, foods good mood, foods that relieve stress, healthy foods, healthy foods that reduce stress, nutrients, nutrition, stress eating, symptoms of Stress
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