superfoods for migraines

Migraines and Cluster Headaches – Whatever the label, the pain and side effects can be intense! In addition to traditional treatments, including more of the following “superfoods” can help.

What are superfoods? Well, they’re not exactly supplements, although some supplement companies have begun marketing “extracts” of various superfoods. By definition, superfoods are whole foods or oils that offer exceptionally high doses of nutrition. People call them “super” partly because of their benefits and partly because of their origins. Most superfoods are not new; rather, they have been used by powerful ancient cultures and only recently rediscovered by the West. Although some scientists and many raw foodists credit superfoods for their amazing regenerative and protective abilities for almost any health problem, this article takes a look at superfoods for consideration especially by those who suffer from migraines and/or cluster headaches.

Cocoa (kuh-COW) – Commonly marketed as raw cacao or raw chocolate, this “food of the gods” actually became currency in the Aztec empire! Conventional wisdom tells people with migraines to avoid chocolate as their main trigger food. While some people have a sensitivity to chocolate, most people actually react to the typical dairy and refined sugar in cooked chocolate bars. Raw cacao, on the other hand, offers seven times more antioxidants than its cooked version, without dairy or sugar. More importantly for migraine sufferers, raw cacao contains one of the highest sources of magnesium in any food. Magnesium acts as the relaxing counterpart to calcium and helps balance brain chemistry. In fact, many migraine sufferers manage to avoid headaches by taking large amounts of magnesium supplements. Magnesium can also help with PMS, another known trigger for migraines. In addition to magnesium, raw cacao offers caffeine (which seems to affect the body less strongly in its raw form). Some people with migraines find that the judicious use of caffeine can reduce the headache before it becomes a full blown episode. Most prescription migraine pills contain some form of caffeine. From a nutritional standpoint, raw cacao certainly beats a Pepsi! If you’re sure chocolate causes a reaction, skip the raw cacao, but otherwise it might be worth a try (yummy). Add cacao nibs or powder to morning smoothies, or make raw fudge by mixing the powder with coconut butter, raw agave nectar or honey, and some of the other superfoods listed below. As with any new food, start small so that you can monitor your reactions.

Maca (MAH-kuh): Also known as “Peruvian Viagra,” maca is a root that grows at 14,000 feet in the Andes mountains. Despite its claim to keep Peruvian men virile until their 80s, maca actually works as an adaptogen, meaning it balances all the hormones. If someone has too much estrogen, maca works to lower estrogen levels. If someone else has too little estrogen, maca helps the body bring those levels back to optimal levels. Maca also nourishes the adrenal glands, helping the body manage some of the stress that so often triggers cluster headaches and migraines. Maca grows in some of the most inhospitable conditions on earth, but it has learned to flourish where other plants die. The natives believe that the root transfers this strength and adaptability to those who consume it: “You are what you eat!” Metaphysics aside, maca’s high mineral, B-vitamins, protein, fatty acid, and plant sterol content allow it to rebuild the body where it needs help most—good news for people whose headaches stem from stress or stress. hormone imbalance. Maca tastes a bit like radish, so you shouldn’t add too much to sweet smoothies. However, it pairs exceptionally well with cocoa, and I always enjoy a morning glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice in water with a teaspoon of maca. The lemon brings out the hidden sweetness of the maca, making for a surprisingly flavorful lemonade.

Hemp: No, I am not referring to marijuana, although some people use cannabis for medicinal purposes. You can now find shelled hemp seeds, hemp butter, hemp protein powder, and hemp oil at alternative health food stores and many online stores. Despite containing virtually no THC (the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana), the US government prohibits the sale of ready-to-sprout hemp seeds, so only shelled seeds or products can be legally purchased. of hemp, most of which appear to come from Canada. However, hemp has experienced quite a resurgence in recent years as people have rediscovered what ancient Europeans knew so long ago. Hemp supports the immune system and contains edestin, the most easily assimilated protein by humans—good news for people who react to protein powders made from soy or dairy (whey). The hemp seeds, butter and oil also contain the perfect ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids, thought to help balance hormones and brain chemistry. Also, the green color of hemp comes from chlorophyll, which differs by only one atom from hemoglobin. (Hemoglobin forms around an iron atom, while chlorophyll forms around that beneficial magnesium atom.) Purifying the blood with chlorophyll-rich foods like hemp, wheatgrass, and leafy greens can alkalize the body, which, in turn, alleviates stress responses like migraines and cluster headaches. Hemp protein powder tastes a bit gritty, but the butter, oil, and seeds impart a nice, slightly nutty feel that pairs especially well with raw cacao and maca. You can also replace bulgur wheat (gluten is a major migraine trigger) in foods like tabouli with hemp seeds, or use hemp butter as a nutritious replacement for another common trigger: peanut butter.

Yerba Mate (YUR-buh MAH-tay): For those people who know they need to kick the coffee habit but just can’t give up their cuppa Joe, Yerba Mate offers a good substitute. Another highly mineralized South American food, yerba mate tastes somewhat similar to coffee, but instead of taxing the adrenal glands, it nourishes them with B vitamins, 15 amino acids, 11 polyphenols (as in green tea and red wine), and, did you guess? en: more magnesium and chlorophyll. While coffee provides a jolt of caffeine, mate’s power comes from B vitamins, blood-purifying properties, and a component called mateine. Unlike caffeine, mateine ​​gives you a kick without the crash. Some independent coffee shops now serve “mate lattes” with soy milk, or you can make the tea at home. For best results, heat but do not boil the water, then steep the tea for 5 minutes. You can then add hemp milk and essential oils like peppermint with a touch of raw cocoa powder, creating your own minty mocha. Yerba Mate also brews well as a sun tea, mixed with orange peel or traditional chai tea spices. A favorite of shamans, yerba mate offers a traditional nutritional alternative to coffee, along with minerals and nutrients thought to support hormonal balance and alkalinity.

In short, these superfoods pack trace minerals, potent nutrients, and a bit of folklore. Like food rather than medicine, they gradually rebuild and support the body, rather than a “quick fix.” If you want a holistic approach to treating migraines or cluster headaches and haven’t responded to “novel cures,” you may want to explore some old-fashioned culinary delights.