Table of contents:
- Best fruit recommendations for headache relief
- 1. Watermelon
- 2. Bananas
- 3. Avocado
- 4. Pineapple
- 5. Cranberries
- 6. Apples
- 7. Cherries
- Fruit that should be avoided when you have a headache
Headaches can strike anytime and anywhere. Well, apart from resting and taking headache medicine, you can also eat fruit to help get rid of this condition even faster. There are at least six choices of fruit that you can try as a headache reliever at home. What are you curious about? See the following recommendations.
Best fruit recommendations for headache relief
An unhealthy dietary factor is one of the most common causes of headaches. Quoted from the Cleveland Clinic, the chemical composition and content of food can be one of the triggers for headaches. That's why it's important to eat a nutritionally balanced diet and increase your intake of vegetables and fruit to treat headaches.
To help get rid of headaches, there are several fruit recommendations that you can try. Here are the options:
1. Watermelon
Watermelon is a fruit for relieving headaches due to dehydration. According to a study published in British Journal of Nutrition, dehydration can cause headaches or migraines. The watermelon is known to contain 92% water which can restore body fluid levels.
In addition, watermelon also has other ingredients that are beneficial for headache sufferers, such as fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, and magnesium. In headache sufferers, magnesium content is needed. The reason is, this mineral deficiency is often associated with headache sufferers and is said to be one of the triggers.
However, it should be noted that you should consume this headache reliever fruit in its fully ripe condition. Don't eat watermelon that is overripe or nearly rotten. The reason is that in the process of decomposition, this fruit produces a waste substance called tyramine. Tyramine can potentially trigger migraine headaches in sensitive people.
2. Bananas
You can also use bananas as a fruit to relieve headaches, including cluster headaches. The reason is, bananas contain high potassium. Potassium can help restore fluids and electrolytes in the body that are lost when you experience headaches due to dehydration.
Not only that, bananas are also known to contain magnesium, so they can increase magnesium levels which are reduced in headache sufferers. One medium banana is known to contain 32 mg of magnesium. Apart from bananas, high magnesium is also contained in almonds, spinach, or other headache relieving foods.
3. Avocado
Apart from bananas, fruit with high levels of magnesium is also found in avocados. Thus, this fruit can be an option for you to help get rid of headaches.
One serving of diced avocado is known to contain 44 mg of magnesium. This amount is about 11-15 percent of your daily magnesium requirement. The recommended daily amount of magnesium is 400-420 mg per day in adult men and 310-320 mg per day in adult women.
4. Pineapple
The fruit for the next headache is pineapple. You may use this fruit to relieve secondary types of headaches, especially those that occur due to sinus infections or sinusitis. In pineapple there is the enzyme bromelain which functions to digest protein.
A study conducted in 2016 and published in a journal Biomedical Reports stated, bromelain has the potential to reduce the duration of sinusitis especially in children. In addition, this fruit can also improve breathing and reduce inflammation of the respiratory tract.
In addition, pineapple also contains B vitamins which can encourage the brain to perform its functions better and increase the body's ability to deal with stress efficiently. Stress is one of the triggers for headaches, especially tension headaches. However, consuming this fruit in excess can also cause side effects, in the form of stomach pain or diarrhea.
5. Cranberries
Cranberries (cranberries) are a popular fruit for treating urinary tract infections. However, you can also eat cranberries to try to relieve headaches.
This is because cranberries are high in content salicylic acid which functions the same as aspirin to relieve pain. This content can also reduce inflammation, swelling, and prevent blood clots that are the cause of headaches.
6. Apples
Apples are a fruit that is safe for consumption for headache sufferers, including those with migraine symptoms. The reason is, this fruit contains low levels of tyramine so that it does not cause headaches. Not only that, you can also try this fruit to relieve the headaches you are experiencing.
Apples are said to contain high fiber and vitamin C and several phytochemical compounds that act as antioxidants. All of these ingredients can indirectly help relieve headaches caused by indigestion.
Apart from the fruit that is eaten immediately, you can also eat it apple cider vinegar or apple cider vinegar for headache relief. Apple cider vinegar is also known to be one of the natural remedies for headaches.
7. Cherries
Cherries are known for their properties to reduce a person's uric acid levels. Not only that, consuming this fruit is also believed to relieve headaches.
Just like apples, the levels of tyramine in cherries are also low, so this fruit is safe for consumption by migraine sufferers. In addition, researchers from Michigan State University found that the chemical that gives cherries their red color can reduce pain better than aspirin and provide antioxidant protection comparable to a vitamin E supplement.
This fruit can also inhibit the same cyclooxygenase-1 and 2 enzymes as aspirin and ibuprofen work in relieving pain in headache sufferers.
You can consume fruit regularly to help relieve the headaches you experience. However, if the headache you are experiencing is really annoying or makes you uncomfortable, you should consult a doctor for proper treatment.
Fruit that should be avoided when you have a headache
Basically all types of fruit are good for health. A row of fruit above even has additional benefits as headache relievers.
However, there are other fruits that might actually trigger certain headaches. One example is citrus fruits, such as lemons and oranges, which are thought to trigger migraines in some people.
Even so, not everyone who consumes these fruits will definitely experience migraine headaches. You are said to be sensitive to certain fruits if you experience consistent headaches 20 minutes to 2 hours after eating them.
The cause of migraines in each person may be different. Therefore, if you want to find out the cause of your migraines try to keep a diary that records the times of the headaches you experienced. That way, it will be easier for you to understand what causes the headache.
If certain fruits tend to trigger headaches, it is better for you to eat them sparsely or in limited portions.