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If you get headaches, it helps to know what triggers them so you can avoid them.  Sometimes triggers are diet-related. Chronic headache sufferers often learn which foods and drinks are best avoided.

But if some foods are off limits, are there also foods that help? The evidence is less convincing, but there may be some potential pain-savers. These six foods probably won't make a headache disappear, but research shows that they have preventive powers:
1)    Spinach: The leafy greens are rich in riboflavin, a B vitamin linked to preventing migraines.

2)    Fatty fish: The anti-inflammatory properties in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the pain of chronic headaches.

3)    Watermelon:  If a headache is related to being dehydrated, water-filled foods like watermelon and cucumber will help. Watermelon also offers minerals magnesium and potassium, which are lost when you are dehydrated.

4)    Potatoes: Potatoes contain potassium, a mineral that helps treat headaches linked to dehydration. Potatoes contain more than double the potassium of a banana.

5)    Caffeine:  As long as you don't overdo it, caffeine may help headaches. But if you become too reliant on tea or java, you risk withdrawal headaches. These are likely if you're consuming the equivalent of five cups of coffee. 

6)    Almonds: A small body of research examined magnesium’s role when it comes to treating migraines, without concrete findings. While it may offer some migraine prevention, there's little to suggest it would help mid-headache. Almonds contain 80 milligrams per serving of magnesium.

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The OMS, Ltd. is a nationally recognized team of physicians and medical specialists who work closely with other occupational health and safety professionals. To find out more click here or call us at  (800) 359-1979.

People who work shifts are more likely to have a diet that promotes chronic inflammation, says a study in the February Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). Their diet may contribute to the health risks tied to shiftwork, including increased risks of high blood pressure, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Researchers looked at the relationship between shiftwork and pro-inflammatory diet using data from a nationwide sample of employed adults. Based on diet questionnaires, researcher Michael Wirth of the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and his colleagues calculated a "dietary inflammatory index" (DII) for each person. The greater the DII score, the more pro-inflammatory the diet.

With adjustments for other factors, shift workers had an elevated DII, compared to day workers. The difference was significant for rotating shift workers (those who worked varying shifts): average DII 1.07, compared to 0.86 for day workers.

Women had higher DII values than men. Among women, the DII was higher for evening or night shift workers compared to day workers: 1.48 versus 1.17.

Western-style diets with higher levels of calories and fats have been linked to increased inflammation, compared to Mediterranean diets high in fruits and vegetables. 

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The OMS, Ltd. is a nationally recognized team of physicians and medical specialists who work closely with other occupational health and safety professionals. To find out more click here or call us at  (800) 359-1979.