Migraine sufferers may want to eat…

Migraines are incredibly debilitating and also very mysterious. Although they affect 12% of the population (one person in each household), they remain difficult to treat. But a new study suggests a solution: eating more fish and less fried foods.

A study published in the journal BMJ looked at whether increasing the consumption of omega-3 fats (usually found in fish and many plant foods) would help people manage their migraines. The researchers also wanted to reduce the omega-6 fat content in many processed oils. According to study participants, this dietary change significantly reduced their headaches.

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“I haven’t had a migraine, even a mild one, in over two years,” Tanya Kamka told the New York Times. “For me, going from one week a week to none was just incredible.”

Researchers found that such a simple dietary change can significantly improve the lives of people who suffer from recurring migraine attacks, reducing the number and severity of their attacks. “Many people with chronic pain continue to suffer despite taking medication,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Christopher E Ramsden. “I think this is something that could be combined with other treatments to improve their quality of life and reduce their pain.”

On average, participants experienced migraines for 16 days at the start of the study. The participants were divided into three groups. One had a diet high in omega-3 fats, eating foods like wild salmon and albacore tuna and low in omega-6 fats. The second group ate more omega-3 fats but maintained their normal intake of omega-6 fats. The final group was the control group, which consumed a normal amount of both fats.

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According to study statistics, people experienced an average of 16 headaches per month. After 16 weeks of following their diet, the group that ate more fish and reduced their consumption of omega-6 fats had an average of four fewer days of headaches per month. The second group, who increased their fish consumption while maintaining their intake of omega-6 fats, had two fewer headaches per month.

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According to researchers, the easiest way to start this diet would be to eat more fatty fish such as salmon, albacore tuna, trout and anchovies. To avoid omega-6 fats, it helps to avoid fried and processed foods and replace these oils with coconut, macadamia and avocado oil.