What you eat could be the key to easing your headache or migraine symptoms. Though adjusting your diet is far from a miracle cure, when paired with other healthy habits, like maintaining your hydration, getting enough exercise, getting enough sleep and managing stress, it's a low-effort way to relieve your pain.
"The most important thing I tell patients is that migraines are highly individualized," says Dr. Nicholas Church, a board-certified member of the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians. "What helps one person may not help another, and what's a trigger for one might be therapeutic for someone else."
Church advises patients to keep a "headache diary" to track these factors and see if they notice any triggers. To understand how what you eat can affect your headaches, we talked to dietitians and doctors to determine which foods ease symptoms and which might be contributing to your pain.
1. Omega-3-rich foods like walnuts
"I recommend omega-3-rich fish, such as salmon, mackerel and sardines," says Church. "These fish are high in anti-inflammatory fats (EPA and DHA), which can reduce inflammation throughout the body, including in the vascular system and brain."
Citing a 2021 randomized controlled trial, Church explains that because migraines are believed to involve inflammatory and vascular changes in the body, omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce their frequency or intensity when eaten regularly. "The study's findings also align with earlier data showing that omega-3s help regulate prostaglandins, which play a role in headache inflammation," says Church. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances that impact bodily functions like inflammation, pain and menstrual cramps.
Fatty fish also contain vitamin D, coenzyme Q10 and B vitamins like riboflavin, which support healthy brain metabolism.
Kiran Campbell, a registered dietitian nutritionist at MyNetDiary, also mentions a 2024 meta-analysis revealing that omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the frequency, duration and severity of migraines. She adds that plant-based sources include chia seeds, walnuts, flaxseed and algae oil.
Example foods: salmon, mackerel, sardines, chia seeds, walnuts, flaxseed and algae oil
Chia and flax seeds are great sources of omega-3s. mikroman6/Getty Images
... continue reading