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A Delicious Juice to Help Relieve Headaches/Migraines

Have you ever had a headache or migraine that was so bad it ruined your day? How difficult was it for you to concentrate on work or spend quality time with loved ones when you were nursing a throbbing noggin? Terrible headaches and debilitating migraines might be more common than you think, but there’s a silver lining to that cloud.

With so many people suffering from headaches and migraines, the medical community has developed numerous remedies that offer quick relief. For a long time, my first thought was to reach for an over-the-counter pill killer. I didn’t have time for a gym membership or a yoga class, I didn’t want to take a prescription, and everything else I was trying simply wasn’t working.

Either way, something had to be done. So, I started doing some researching and I came across a simple recipe for a delicious juice that rapidly relieves migraines and headaches. Juicing got my attention because of the following reasons:

  • It contains no drugs.
  • It won’t interact with your medications.
  • It’s extremely tasty.
  • It’s easy to make.
  • It gives your body a boost of much-needed nourishment.

I was pleasantly surprised by how effective the migraine juice recipe was for me. Not only that, but I felt more rejuvenated and refreshed afterwards. But before I get into my personal experience, let me first explain why juice works for migraine and headache pain.

Why Juice for Headaches and Migraines Works

Juicing is well-known for its numerous benefits. Whether used for weight loss, complexion clearing, muscle toning, or detoxification, the right juice recipe can have a huge and lasting impact. Although juice consumption prevents intake of the innate dietary fibers in whole foods, responsible juicing is viewed as a healthy alternative with many of the same advantages.

PHOTO SOURCE: https://unsplash.com

Most juice recipes use a proprietary blend to create a specific outcome. Thanks to advancements in modern science and exciting discoveries about nutrition, we now know that certain foods have immediate positive effects on the brain and body. With that knowledge, it’s been easier than ever to whip up delicious juices for just about everything, headaches and migraines included.

In fact, there have been numerous studies about organic foods that can soothe a headache in minutes. The best part, in my option: the fact that most of the foods on the list are delicious. Once combined into a juice, those tasty migraine-soothing foods end up being quite fulfilling, thereby serving as a meal replacement in some circumstances.

Interestingly, juicing for headaches and migraines has a number of secondary health benefits, including:

  • Weight loss
  • Digestive detoxification
  • Blood detoxification
  • Cardiovascular support
  • Musculoskeletal support
  • Improved brain function
  • Skin, hair and nail growth
  • Anti-aging
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Energy boost

I’ve found that it’s rather difficult to sustain a headache or migraine with the right foods in my stomach. And because juicing gets the active nutrients into your bloodstream much faster than eating whole foods, it is a healthy alternative to ingesting potentially harmful medications for headaches and migraines, over-the-counter or otherwise.

What Is a Headache/Migraine?

To understand how juice works for head pain, you must first understand what a migraine is (and isn’t). For example, a migraine is not a headache. A headache is something completely different. However, both types of cranial pressure can be effectively relieved by consuming the right juice recipe.

By definition, a migraine is characterized by an unusually severe pain in the head that’s accompanied by other symptoms, which often include but are not always limited to the following:

  • Sensitivity to light
  • Sensitivity to sound
  • Nausea
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Irritability
  • Inability to communicate clearly
  • Insomnia
  • Blurred vision

Furthermore, studies have revealed that migraines typically have a genetic component that makes them more prevalent in certain families. Therefore, some people are more prone to migraines than others. However, it’s important to realize that migraines can affect people regardless of their age or family history.

The average migraine can last for several hours, with four basic phases accompanying each attack. While some phases may get skipped, all phases can be debilitating. As for headaches, they’re something different entirely – not nearly as intense and seldom accompanied by neurological symptoms, although just as off-putting for many people.

The 6 Main Causes of Headache/Migraine

Put simply, a migraine is a hyper-intensified headache which commonly causes symptoms that are not usually associated with a standard headache. To make things even more confusing, there are six different causes (or types) of head pain. So, before you go mixing up a bunch of juice to make it go away, please make sure it’s nothing too serious.

The six main causes (or types) of headache are as follows, with the first three typically requiring a doctor’s attention:

  1. Post-Traumatic

These headaches typically occur after a head injury.

  1. Chronic

These headaches occur frequently and often require regular treatments from a physician or chiropractor.

  1. Allergy/Sinus

These headaches stem from an allergic reaction or sinus infection and may require antibiotics before it gets better.

  1. Caffeine

These headaches are most common among those who consume large doses of caffeine each day. However, caffeine headaches can occur regardless of consumption volume due to a sudden chemical withdrawal of the substance.

  1. Hormonal

These headaches are due to the body’s natural hormonal fluctuations and most commonly occur in women, especially during pregnancy and menstruation.

  1. Exertion

These headaches usually happen after strenuous physical activity (running, weight lifting, sexual intercourse, etc.).

If flooding your system with the nutrients in a strategically-created juice doesn’t help, you may need to make an appointment with your doctor or chiropractor. Serious and unrelenting head pain may be a sign of something more serious. Headaches require immediate medical attention if they’re accompanied by the following side effects:

  • Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
  • Loss of eyesight
  • Paralysis
  • Stiff neck or joints
  • Slurred speech
  • Discombobulation
  • Confusion
  • Rash
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

PHOTO SOURCE: https://unsplash.com

If you feel like you’re experiencing the worst headache of your life or if you’ve been suffering from head pain for more than 48 consecutive hours, go to the emergency room as soon as possible.

The 5 Most Common Headache/Migraine Triggers

Aside from being over exerted, hormonal or craving caffeine, there are a variety of nutritional and/or environmental triggers that can make painful headaches and migraines more likely (and more intense). By knowing these well-documented triggers, it may be easier for you to keep head pain at bay:

  • Low Vitamin D Levels

According to a study from Live Science, people with high levels of vitamin D had a 116% lower chance of suffering from chronic headaches and/or migraines. On the contrary, those with low vitamin D levels reported headaches or migraines at least once per week.

  • Dehydration

Not having enough water in your body can cause numerous symptoms, including:

  • Dry mouth
  • Low urine output
  • Constipation
  • Rapid heartrate
  • Low blood pressure
  • Excessive thirst
  • Fast breathing
  • Muscle cramps and spasms
  • Fever
  • Irritability
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Tearless crying
  • Sunken eyes
  • Headache
  • Fatigue

To prevent that from happening, be sure to drink enough liquids throughout the day – the more nutrient-packed the better.

  • Fatigue

Getting plenty of sleep and adequate time to rest is an important part of whole-body wellness. However, being fatigued can trigger a headache or migraine even in an otherwise healthy person.

  • Stress and/or Anxiety

Excessive worry is one of the most common causes of headache and migraine, and while consuming a fortified juice may not reduce your stress, it could easily make the side effects more tolerable.

  • Alcohol Consumption

Consuming too much booze can give you a headache in a hurry due to the high levels of ethanol in the beverage. Acting as a quick vasodilator, the reduction in blood flow may cause severe head pain in many people (not to mention alcohol consumption also causes dehydration, another trigger mentioned above).

Keep in mind that these are not the only known headache and migraine triggers. In fact, a painful, throbbing head can also be triggered by the following:

  • Tyramine
  • Tannins
  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Sudden weather changes
  • Bright and/or flashing lights
  • Loud decibels
  • Inadequate diet

We’ve all been taught the importance of healthy eating, but not all of us understand the far-reaching side effects of insufficient nutrition. While environmental and genetic factors play a significant role in whether a person suffers from headaches or migraines often, the foods we eat contribute greatly as well.

That’s why I believe drinking the right juice to help relieve headaches and migraines is such a groundbreakingly effective approach. Well thought-out juice recipes can provide your brain and body with the nutrients it needs to run at an optimal level, such as:

  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin K
  • Vitamin B
  • Protein
  • Healthy fats
  • Fiber
  • Electrolytes
  • Magnesium
  • Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Iron

PHOTO SOURCE: https://unsplash.com

In my experience, I not only got fast relief from my migraine but I also felt less hungry, more satisfied, and a lot more energetic as a result of my favorite juice recipe (which I will share below).

The Top 3 Most Effective and Delicious Migraine Juice Recipes

Knowing your body and carefully managing what you consume are keys to living a happy life that’s virtually headache free. I’ve been doing this juicing thing for a while now, which means I’ve had plenty of time to experiment with different combinations of healthy, headache-soothing foods.

Check out these 3 yummy juice recipes created specifically to relieve headache and migraine pain. Feel free to try your own concoction as well.

  1. Chokeberry and Banana Smoothie

Serving as a perfect mid-day pick-me-up, this delicious and fulfilling juice recipe combats the symptoms of fatigue, dehydration, and digestive disfunction while soothing headaches and migraines quickly.

INGREDIENTS

½ cup of fresh chokeberries

1 peeled banana

4 TSP of honey (or another natural sweetener)

¼ cup of filtered water (optional)

METHOD: Mix all the ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy. Add ½ cup of ice to thicken and cool.

  1. Apple, Apricot and Almond “Sap”

Whimsically named, this anti-migraine juice recipe requires zero added sweeteners and is perhaps the most affordable on this list. Its high-fiber ingredients are chalk full of magnesium – an essential mineral proven to prevent or relieve headaches naturally.

INGREDIENTS

1 fresh cored and seeded but unpeeled apple (any variety)

1 fresh apricot

¼ cup of pulverized almonds

¼ cup of sparkling water (optional)

METHOD: Combine the ingredients in a blender or food processor until you reach the desired consistency. Add ½ cup of fat-free frozen yogurt for a kick of creamy vitamin D.

  1. The Garden’s Gates

This delicious recipe is so jam-packed with brain and body-fortifying nutrients that it can relieve a wide variety of ailments, from headaches and migraine to upset stomach and menstrual cramps.

INGREDIENTS

¼ cup of cherries, pitted

¼ cup of cantaloupe

¼ cup of kiwi

¼ cup of cherry or grape tomatoes

¼ cup of fresh spinach or kale, washed

METHOD: Mix the ingredients together in a blender or food processor and serve over ice or from a chilled glass. Add a sprinkle of cayenne pepper for spice (studies have shown a direct correlation between spicy foods and headache relief, by the way).

Luckily, there are many more migraine and headache fighting juice recipes out there to try. Obviously, they’re not all going to please everyone’s pallet. However, playing with various ingredients can help you discover your own favorite. The following are the most potent and effective juice-friendly foods I’ve found for soothing a horrible headache:

  • Tomatoes
  • Spinach
  • Almonds
  • Banana
  • Salmon
  • Ginger
  • Chile peppers
  • Coffee
  • Pumpkin
  • Squash
  • Avocados
  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Garlic
  • Grapefruit
  • Grapes
  • Peaches
  • Sesame seeds

My Final Thoughts

Since juicing my headaches away, I’ve had far fewer days with debilitating migraines and I’ve seen a drastic increase in my overall health. I do recommend, however, using either whole or cold-pressed berries to make your juice. Also, be sure to consume it correctly to get maximum benefit. My suggestion: make each batch of juice fresh and drink it on an empty stomach so the nutrients can flood your systems as quickly as possible.

AUTHOR BIO: Dr. Brent Wells

Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. is loving husband, family man and graduate of the University of Nevada and of Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon. As the proud founder of Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab, Dr. Wells is highly respected in his field and is now known as one of the premier chiropractors in Anchorage, Alaska. He specializes in rehabilitative therapies which include acupressure, chiropractic massage, adjustments and natural pain relief at his multi-disciplinary clinic. When the good doctor is not working he stays busy by furthering his education, participating in community-centered activities or playing his blues/rock guitar with his family.

AUTHORITY SOURCES:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/juicing/faq-20058020

https://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/advice/g2387/foods-help-headache/

https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/eat-smart-healthier-brain#1

http://www.coreperformance.com/knowledge/nutrition/healing-food.html

https://migraine.com/what-is-migraine/

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001244.htm

https://headaches.org/2007/10/25/alcohol-and-headaches/

https://www.healthhype.com/headache-dehydration-causes-symptoms-prevention-treatmen.html

https://www.activebeat.com/diet-nutrition/15-foods-proven-to-relieve-headaches/

https://www.epicurious.com/archive/blogs/editor/2014/03/migraine-food-cures.html

1 Comment on A Delicious Juice to Help Relieve Headaches/Migraines

  1. We should try this different juices to relieve headache.

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