Medical science has come a long way in the last couple of hundred years. We have been able to eradicate a number of diseases like polio and small pox that caused so many epidemics in the past. But the cure for a number of diseases still evades us – diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s etc. are only treatable and not curable. Among these is a disease which may not be that deadly but afflicts 15% of the population at least once in their life – migraine.

Not a lot is known about the reasons behind migraines apart from the fact that it is hereditary in nature and also dependant on environmental factors. Migraine attacks are extremely painful episodes – in addition to searing headaches, patients also suffer from nausea, vomiting and may develop sensitivity towards light and sound.

The only way to treat migraine attacks is by using pain-killers. It is therefore of utmost important to avoid migraine attacks from happening in the first place. In addition to avoiding migraine triggers (these are usually different for different people), another possible step you could take is to consume a diet that can help you avoid migraine attacks. Certain foods and nutrients can prevent migraine attacks; here are some of them:-

1. Quinoa

Quinoa is one of the most popular superfoods today and it deserves that title because it helps the body in many numerous ways. But one lesser known benefit of quinoa is the fact that including it in your diet can have an impact on migraine attacks.

Quinoa is rich in many, many minerals and one of them is magnesium. A regular intake of magnesium has been proven to be effective in preventing migraine attacks. Introducing quinoa in your diet in place of regular carbs can thus be a useful strategy in reducing the occurrence of migraine attacks.

You can learn more about the benefits of quinoa here.

2. Sunflower Seeds

Not only are sunflower seeds a healthy and tasty snack that can satisfy your food cravings at odd hours, they can also be a good way to hamper the onset of a migraine attack. Sunflower seeds are also rich in magnesium and have been found to be of great help for women suffering from menstrual migraines.

To find out more about sunflower seeds, click here.

3. Cereal

As we don’t know a lot about why migraine attacks occur there are a number of theories that scientists are working on. One of these link migraine attacks to low reserves of energy in cells. Keeping this theory in mind, any food that can help for the body’s cells to maintain high energy levels are highly helpful.

Whole grain cereals are extremely rich in vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, which can affect the production of energy at the cellular level. Eating a bowlful of cereal can thus be an effective strategy for combating migraine attacks.

Find out more about whole grain organic cereals here.

4. Olive Oil

Olive oil is steadily gaining popularity as the cooking oil of choice due to its extremely healthy fat content. Unlike other cooking oils, olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and these fats are quite healthy for the body. In addition to that, these fats also help to reduce the inflammation in the body that can trigger migraine attacks. By including olive oil in your diet, you thus have a strong chance of reducing the severity of migraine attacks.

Find out all you need to know about the benefits of olive oil here.

5. Herbal Tea

Dehydration is one of the most common triggers of migraine attacks. People who suffer from migraines need to be extremely cautious about their fluid intake and should regularly keep themselves hydrated with water. In addition to water, several other fluids can also be of great help in keeping migraine attacks away – one of them is herbal tea. It not only rehydrates but also provides other benefits due to its anti-oxidant content. It is also important to remember that caffeinated drinks shouldn’t be considered a substitute for water when it comes to hydration. Migraine patients should stay away from such drinks.

You can find out more about the health benefits of herbal tea here.