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Researchers have looked into this question and found a surprising explanation.
People who suffer from headaches know that certain foods trigger them.
However, these are commonly consumed foods, including:
- cheese
- chocolate
- the bread
- the alcohol
- red wine
- yogurt
- overripe fruits and vegetables
- nuts
- salted, dried, marinated or smoked fish
Scientists have looked into this riddle and found the answer: all these foods have a high nitrate levels.
However, once in the body, these nitrates are transformed into nitric oxide, and it is the latter which would trigger migraines and headaches.
The question then arose: why are some people sensitive to this process?
According to a more recent study, this could have a link with the bacteria present in the mouth: in fact, it is the action of certain bacteria which allows the transformation of nitrates into nitric oxide.
Scientist Antonio Gonzalez and his colleagues at the University of California, San Diego, analyzed 172 oral samples and nearly 2 fecal samples from healthy people.
Each of these people was asked about their tendency to suffer from migraines and headaches.
At first, the scientists simply analyzed the bacteria present in the samples and did not notice any real differences between people who were prone to migraine and those who were not.
Then they took a closer look at the ability of bacteria to convert nitrate into nitric oxide, and real distinctions have emerged: people suffering from migraines would have in their mouths more nitrate-reducing bacteria than people without headaches.
However, although researchers have found a link between the presence of these bacteria and headaches, they have not yet proven 100% that these bacteria are the cause of headaches.
Some tips to prevent migraines:
- Do not skip meals (skipping meals impacts hormones related to hunger control, and these same hormones could trigger migraines).
- Stay hydrated (dehydration affects blood pressure and the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the brain, which can cause migraines)
- moderate your alcohol consumption (alcohol can definitely cause migraines)
- get enough sleep
- exercise regularly
- reduce your sources of stress
Photo credit: Portrait of stressed young housewife in modern kitchen – Ihar Ulashchyk – Fotolia.com
