Diet can cool off that irritant headache

Many people who suffer from recurrent headaches find that simple changes to their diet can offer fast and effective relief. Eating small, regular meals, for example, is a good preventive measure, as skipping meals is known to cause a drop in blood sugar levels, which in turn can precipitate headaches.

If you often wake up with a headache, low blood sugar could be the culprit. Try to maintain levels by eating a snack last thing at night, and again on waking in the morning.

Dehydration is another common cause of headaches, particularly in hot weather or following sport or excessive alcohol consumption. Simply drinking plenty of water to replace lost fluids will often help to relieve these headaches. Try to avoid becoming dehydrated when exercising by sipping water during the activity.

Consuming excessive caffeine alters blood supply to the brain hence causing a headache. Doctors recommend that you drink no more than six cups of tea or coffee a day. Cutting down on caffeine can help people who suffer from recurrent headaches, but eliminating it too quickly from your diet may cause withdrawal headaches.

Additives used in certain processed foods can be culprits too. Fermented soya and fish sauces often used in some cuisines could also trigger headaches. If you think that the headache is related to specific foods, try cutting out suspect foods one by one.

Many headaches are caused by tension. Throbbing headaches that present with pressure behind eyes and a tight band around head, are a sign of tension.

Other causes of headaches include poor liver or kidney function, low fluid intake, allergies, hangovers, worry, bad posture, strenuous activity, and arthritis in the neck, long distance driving, eyestrain, or wearing ill-fitting glasses that irritate the muscles of the forehead. Hormonal fluctuations before the onset of monthly periods, during pregnancy and at menopause often trigger headaches in women.

Foods rich in vitamin E including avocados, nuts and seeds may help, because they neutralise the effect of toxic free radicals, which are believed to cause some headaches. Most headaches will respond to resting, drinking plenty of fluids and painkillers.