Headache cure: Get rid of headaches by drinking this hot beverage
HEADACHES effect all of us, but the pain could be relieved by increasing your intake of your favourite drinks. Try upping your daily consumption of these beverages to ease symptoms.
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Everyone has a headache occasionally, but many people deal with them on a daily basis.
They can range from uncomfortable to unbearable, and can disrupt a sufferer’s day-to-day life.
The most common is the tension headache, followed by cluster headaches, which happen in groups, and migraines, which are most severe.
Certain foods and drinks can exacerbate a headache, such as chocolate or alcohol, but there are things you should be eating and drinking to naturally alleviate headache pain.
Drink caffeinated tea or coffee
Sipping on beverages that contain caffeine may provide relief when you are experiencing a headache, according to medical website Healthline.
“Caffeine constricts blood vessels, improves mood and increases alertness, all of which can have a positive effect on headache symptoms,” it states.
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Caffeine in tea and coffee also helps increase the effectiveness of common painkillers used to treat headaches, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol.
However, caffeine withdrawal has been shown to cause headaches if a person regularly consumes large amounts of caffeine and suddenly stops.
Eat whole grains
Starving your body of carbohydrates might bring on a headache.
“When you follow a low-carbohydrate diet, you begin to deplete glycogen stores, which are a main source of energy to the brain," says dietitian Erin Palinski.
"This also causes an increase in fluid losses from the body, which can trigger dehydration. By reducing energy to the brain and causing dehydration, these low-carbohydrate diets can trigger headaches."
Eating healthy carbs such as whole-grain bread and rolled oats can help soothe headache pain.
Drinking beverages that contain caffeine may provide relief when you have a headache
Eat more ginger
Ginger root contains many powerful compounds, including antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, that can ease pain.
One study cited by Healthline found that for chronic migraine sufferers, 250mg of ginger powder was as effective as a conventional headache medication at reducing migraine pain.
Ginger is also known to reduce nausea and vomiting, both which are common symptoms associated with severe headaches.
If you struggle to include ginger in your meals regularly, sip ginger root tea or take ginger powder in capsule form.
Nibble on almonds
Almonds could trigger migraines in some migraine sufferers, but if you have a regular tension headache, trying eating a handful or two of the nuts.
They are thought to soothe headaches thanks to their high level of magnesium, which relaxes blood vessels.
Other foods high in magnesium include bananas, dried apricots and brown rice.
If you’re suffering from a headache, the NHS recommends drinking plenty of water, taking painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, and getting plenty of rest.
Exercising can also help to ease the pain. Don't skip meals or sleep more than you normally wood, as these seem to make symptoms worse.
The advise seeing your GP if your headache keeps coming back, painkillers don’t help, or you vomit and are sensitive to light.
Seek urgent help if your jaw hurts when eating, you have double vision or your scalp feels sore, as these could be signs than the arteries in your head and neck are inflamed.
