Migraines and Cluster Headaches – Whatever the label, the pain and side effects can be intense! In addition to traditional treatments, it may be helpful to include more of the following “superfoods.”

What are superfoods? Well, they are not exactly supplements, although some supplement companies have started marketing “extracts” of various superfoods. By definition, superfoods are whole foods or oils that offer exceptionally high doses of nutrition. People call them “super” partly because of their benefits and partly because of their origins. Most superfoods are not new; rather, they have been used by powerful ancient cultures and have only recently been rediscovered by the West. Although some scientists and many raw food experts credit superfoods with an incredible regenerative and protective capacity for almost any health problem, this article discusses superfoods for consideration especially by those suffering from migraines and / or cluster headaches.

Cacao (kuh-COW): Commonly traded as raw cacao or raw chocolate, this “food of the gods” was actually made into monetary currency in the Aztec empire. Conventional wisdom tells people with migraines to avoid chocolate as a major trigger food. While some people have a sensitivity to chocolate, most react to typical dairy and the refined sugar in cooked chocolate bars. Raw cocoa, on the other hand, offers seven times more antioxidants than its cooked version, without the dairy products and sugar. More importantly for people with migraines, raw cocoa contains one of the highest sources of magnesium in any food. Magnesium acts as a relaxing counterpart to calcium and helps balance brain chemistry. In fact, many migraine sufferers manage to avoid headaches by consuming large amounts of magnesium supplements. Magnesium can also help with PMS, another known trigger for migraines. In addition to magnesium, raw cocoa offers caffeine (which appears to affect the body less strongly in its raw form). Some people with migraines find that using caffeine wisely can reduce the headache before it becomes a full episode. Most prescription migraine pills contain some form of caffeine. From a nutritional point of view, raw cocoa definitely beats a Pepsi! If you’re sure the chocolate is causing a reaction, skip the raw cocoa, but otherwise it might be worth a try (delicious). Add cocoa nibs or powder to morning smoothies, or make raw fudge by mixing the powder with coconut butter, raw agave nectar, or honey, and some of the other superfoods listed below. As with any new food, start small so you can control your reactions.

Maca (MAH-kuh): Also known as “Peruvian viagra”, maca is a root that is grown at 14,000 feet in the Andes Mountains. Despite its reputation for keeping Peruvian men virile into their 80s, maca actually works as an adaptogen, meaning it balances all hormones. If someone has too much estrogen, maca works to lower estrogen levels. If someone else has too little estrogen, maca helps the body bring those levels back to optimal levels. Maca also nourishes the adrenal glands, helping the body handle some of the stress that so often triggers cluster headaches and migraines. Maca grows in some of the most inhospitable conditions on earth, but it has learned to flourish where other plants die. The natives believe that the root transfers this strength and adaptability to the user: “You are what you eat!” Metaphysics aside, maca’s high mineral content, B vitamins, proteins, fatty acids, and plant sterols allow it to rebuild the body where it needs help most – good news for people whose headaches come from. from stress or hormonal imbalance. Maca tastes a bit like radish, so you don’t want to add too much to sweet smoothies. However, it mixes exceptionally well with cocoa, and I always enjoy a morning glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice in water with about a teaspoon of maca. The lemon brings out the hidden sweetness of the maca, making a surprisingly spicy lemonade.

Hemp: No, I’m not talking about marijuana, although some people use cannabis for medicinal purposes. You can now find dehulled hemp seeds, hemp butter, hemp protein powder, and hemp oil at alternative health food stores and many online stores. Despite the fact that there is practically no content of THC (the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana), the US government prohibits the sale of ready-to-sprout hemp seeds, so you can only legally buy hemp or shelled products , most of which appear to come from Canada. Nonetheless, hemp has seen a major resurgence in recent years as people have rediscovered what ancient Europeans knew so long ago. Hemp supports the immune system and contains edestin, the protein that humans assimilate most easily; good news for people who react to protein powders made from soy or dairy (whey). Hemp seeds, butter, and oil also contain the perfect ratio of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, which are believed to help balance hormones and brain chemistry. Also, the green color of hemp comes from chlorophyll, which only differs by one atom from hemoglobin. (Hemoglobin forms around an iron atom, while chlorophyll forms around that beneficial magnesium atom.) Purifying the blood with chlorophyll-rich foods like hemp, wheatgrass, and green leafy vegetables can alkalize the body, which, in turn, alleviates stress responses like migraines and cluster headaches. Hemp protein powder tastes a bit gritty, but the butters, oil, and seeds have a nice slightly nutty feel that pairs especially well with raw cocoa and maca. You can also replace bulghur wheat (gluten is a major migraine trigger) in foods like tabouli with hemp seeds, or use hemp butter as a nutritious replacement for another common trigger: peanut butter.

Yerba Mate (YUR-buh MAH-tay): For those people who know they need to kick the coffee habit but just can’t give up their cup of coffee, Yerba Mate offers a good substitute. Another highly mineralized South American food, yerba mate tastes somewhat similar to coffee, but instead of depleting the adrenal glands, it nourishes them with B vitamins, 15 amino acids, 11 polyphenols (as in green tea and red wine), and, you guessed it. that: more magnesium and chlorophyll. While coffee provides a caffeine jolt, mate’s energy comes from B vitamins, blood-purifying properties, and a component called mateine. Unlike caffeine, mateine ​​gives a boost without the crash. Some independent coffee shops now serve “mate with soy milk,” or you can make the tea at home. For best results, heat but do not boil the water, then steep the tea for 5 minutes. You can then add hemp milk and essential oils like peppermint with a hint of raw cocoa powder, creating your own peppermint mocha. Yerba mate also works well as a tea in the sun, mixed with orange peel or the traditional spices of chai tea. A favorite among shamans, yerba mate offers a traditional nutritional alternative to coffee, along with minerals and nutrients that are believed to support hormonal balance and alkalinity.

In short, these superfoods provide trace elements, powerful nutrients, and a bit of folklore. As food rather than medicine, they gradually rebuild and support the body, rather than generating a “quick fix.” If you want a holistic approach to treating migraines or cluster headaches and haven’t responded to the “novel cures,” you may want to explore some ancient culinary delights.