A Food FIX for Migraines?! (Finally)
Chronic headaches are a major pain.
They’re also a major pain to treat.
Some people turn to NSAIDs, like Advil, for headache relief, but those who suffer from chronic migraines know that most drugs can’t touch the pain.
Your best bet is to prevent the headaches altogether, and researchers have identified a new way to do just that.
This program was so successful that many people not only experienced fewer headaches, but were also able to take less pain meds.
This program focuses on a single factor:
Your diet.
Researchers conducted a study on 182 migraine patients who were currently seeking treatment.
The researchers wanted to see if the amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids they consumed would impact their headache frequency or severity.
They studied two classes of fatty acids: omega-3s and omega-6s.
Both are important for your body, and both are good for you as long as they’re consumed in the proper ratio, which is about 4:1 (omega 6 to omega-3).
The problem?
In typical Western diets, the ratio is out of whack, at 16:1.
This is a major issue because omega-3s are anti-inflammatory (which can fight pain), while omega-6s have been shown to PROMOTE pain.
To see if the ratio of fatty acids in the diet could impact headache pain, researchers had the subjects follow one of three diets:
- A control diet maintaining the average amount of fatty acids consumed in the typical American diet
- A diet that increased omega-3s while keeping omega-6s the same
- A diet that increased omega-3s and decreased omega-6s
After 16 weeks, those following diets 2 and 3 experienced less pain than the control group.
But as you might have guessed, the group that increased their omega-3s and decreased their omega-6s saw the greatest improvements.
They reported fewer headache days, and they took less pain meds.
According to the study authors, the benefits were on par with the results of some popular pain medications.
Interestingly, this study specifically tested omega-3s from fish, and not from supplements.
That’s why I always eat fatty fish at least two to three times per week.
It’s simply the best way to get more of the healthy omega-3s that are lacking from the typical American diet.
Salmon, mackerel, trout, and sardines are excellent sources.
To reduce omega-6s, cut back on refined vegetable oils and processed foods cooked in vegetable oils.
