Headaches ruining your life? Chances are there’s too much salt in your diet, according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal.
According to the findings, which were first reported earlier last week, people whose diets were rich in salt had over 30 percent more headaches than those whose diets were low in salt.
Eating a diet high in fat and sugar were cited as the biggest reason why people consume too much salt.
“Headaches are a common medical problem, yet few studies, particularly trials, have evaluated therapies that might prevent or control headaches,” write researchers in the online version of the British Medical Journal. “A reduced sodium intake was associated with a significantly lower risk of headache, while dietary patterns had no effect on the risk of headaches in adults. Reduced dietary sodium intake offers a novel approach to prevent headaches.”
For the study, researchers recruited 412 adults with normal blood pressure readings to go through a series of tests experimenting with salt intake. For the first trial, participants ate a high-salt diet for 30 days, with researchers questioning the amount of headaches they experienced after the end of the trial. The next two trials slowly lowered this amount–first reducing it to a moderate salt intake, and then finally a low salt intake. At the end of each trial, researchers again asked them about the frequency of their headaches.
Not surprisingly, those who ate the high-salt diet had one third more headaches than those with a low salt intake–even if their blood pressure wasn’t high.
This, to researchers, suggests that salt itself could be a bigger problem than blood pressure.
“Our results contrast with the popular belief that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and potassium and low in saturated and total fat may ease the frequency, or even prevent, headache,” write researchers. “The results of this study provide encouraging evidence in support of dietary recommendations to lower sodium intake: recommendations which are currently based on the relationship of sodium intake with blood pressure. The daily intake of sodium in adults living in the USA is already in excess of their physiological need and for many individuals, is much higher than the highest level tested in this study.”
What This Means For You
By eating a diet high in sugar, fat, and processed foods, it’s easy to eat too much salt–but perhaps now it’s time to cut back, especially if you suffer from headaches. To minimize your risk of reoccurring headaches, lower the amount of foods you eat that contain these “trigger” ingredients–and instead, fill up your diet with vegetables, whole grains, and fruits instead.
Readers: Are there any foods that trigger migraines for you? If so, what are they?
Sources:
Salt, Not High Blood Pressure, May Be to Blame For That Headache – MedicalNewsToday.com
Effects of Dietary Sodium and the DASH Diet on the Occurrence of Headaches (Study) – BMJ.com
About The Author: Zero to Hero Fitness!
Our mission at Zero to Hero Fitness is to help you to finally lose the weight and keep it off, strengthen your body and mind, and experience naturally high levels of energy throughout the day. We believe everyone, regardless of your past or current struggles with your health or fitness, can greatly improve on your existing condition and live life in your best body possible.