There is no doubt about that Headache It can be bothersome, especially if it is severe, prolonged, or recurrent. However, migraines go beyond a bad headache and can be incredibly painful, nauseating and debilitating as well.
While many factors may lead you to be more prone to migraines, there are also things that can exacerbate the condition, including your eating habits, according to a new study.
In the study, published by Nutritional Neuroscience, it was found for the first time that 1,838 of the 8,953 participants who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999-2004 were migraine sufferers.
Malnutrition
Keeping in mind the potential variables, those behind the study analyzed the available data to find associations between diet, specifically using the Prognostic Nutrition Index, or PNI, and the incidence of both severe headaches as well as migraines.
The results showed that mild, moderate, and severe malnutrition were associated with participants experiencing more severe headaches more often.
Vitamin deficiency
Those behind the study also noted that the diets of severe headache and migraine patients tended to be deficient in vitamins and nutrients such as dietary fiber, total folic acid, riboflavin, selenium, potassium, and magnesium, as well as vitamins A, B6, and B12. Vitamin C and Vitamin K.
On the other hand, those who drank more coffee and consumed more theobromine, which is something found in chocolate.
In addition, the team concluded that diet (specifically PNI) was associated with migraine risk and severity.