Migraines and Raw Foods
Migraine is not simply another name for a headache that some people use to try to get sympathy, they are very different altogether and debilitating for the sufferer. When someone gets a migraine they need to lie down in a darkened room for a while and cannot function in the normal way, work, drive and so on.
What are They?
Migraines are recurrent severe headaches that can be accompanied by sickness and sensitivity to light. These can last hours or even days and are more prevalent amongst women between the ages of 30-40yrs and adolescents.
How are they Caused?
It is not clear what causes someone to suffer migraines although it is believed that it happens when there is a change in the blood flow to part of the brain. This can be triggered by being tired and by hormones fluctuating during the menstrual cycle, which is why women suffer from them more than men. Other trigger factors can be related to diet.
Lifestyle Changes you Should Make
On account of the long list of trigger factors: diet, bright lights, long journeys, loud noises, strong smells, weather changes and stress it is advised that you keep a diary. You should note down every day key factors and try to isolate what your day was like just before the onset of a migraine so you can make, if you an, the necessary lifestyle changes to reduce migraine attacks.
Regular exercise, a healthy diet and regular meals keep blood sugar levels up.
The Impact of Raw Foods and Other Food Types
With migraine it is more a matter of avoiding trigger foods rather than eating specific ones. The main ones to avoid are:
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Citrus fruits and bananas
- Nuts
- Fried foods
- Ice cream
Foods to eat to prevent migraine attacks are:
- Mint teas (please see my Raw Japanese Herbal Teas & Drink for more details)
- Cayenne pepper
- Ginger
- Flaxseed Oil
- Foods rich in calcium (calcium is often low in migraine sufferers)
- Foods rich in magnesium (magnesium is often low as well)
- Spinach
- Wheat grass
- Garlic
Migraines are very unpleasant, completely debilitating and tend only to be fully understood by those who suffer from them as those simply wanting to express that they have a severe headache often use the same word. Those who truly suffer from migraines tend to know what triggers them and can avoid those foods or situations. This is the most effective was to reduce the frequency of attacks. If you aren't sure then keep a diary. As a precautionary measure it would also be a good idea to include in your diet some of the foods mentioned above that can be helpful in preventing attacks as well as gradually changing your diet to raw and living foods.
By TTS Cofounder Botanical Chef Omid Jaffari
|
Prev
