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Migraine
Chocolate, cheese, citrus fruits, red wine, port and coffee can all spark migraine. Allergy to wheat, shellfish, oranges or other foods may also be involved. Missing a meal may provoke an attack by causing a drop in blood sugar - so try to eat little and often.
“Oily fish have an anti-inflammatory action, which can help, although the effects won’t be immediate,” says nutritionist and herbalist Dr Ann Walker. The herb feverfew is also a well-known natural cure. The leaves taste bitter and can cause mouth ulcers, so eat them in a sandwich rather than alone. Ginger can help relieve nausea often associated with migraine.
Ideal meal: Salmon and watercress sandwich (including a couple of feverfew leaves); glass of ginger cordial and sparkling mineral water.

Premenstrual Syndrome
Nutritionist Maryon Stewart, author of Every Woman’s Health Guide, says PMS is closely related to diet. “You need 2,000 extra kilojoules a day in your premenstrual week,” she says. “Breakfast is the most important meal. You should also have a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack and aim to eat a salad and three portions of vegetables every day.
Go for wholesome food little and often, with plenty of protein, fruit and vegetable fibre and some carbohydrate - though be careful with wheat, it can make things worse. “PMS is often caused by low levels of oestrogen, magnesium and iron,” adds Maryon Stewart. “Nuts, dried fruit and seeds are all rich sources of these nutrients, and nuts and seeds also contain naturally occurring oestrogens.”
Ideal meal: Home-made muesli with oats, puffed rice, cornflakes, chopped almonds, hazelnuts, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds; served with yoghurt and chopped fresh peach.

Irritable Bladder
Certain foods and drinks can cause symptoms similar to cystitis, with an urgent need to urinate and stinging sensations. They include alcohol, tea, coffee, cola, orange juice, cayenne, chilli or spicy foods.
Drink lots of water or homemade barley water to dilute the urine and make it less acidic. During an attack, drink at least two to three litres of still water a day. A wholefood diet with vegetables such as asparagus, artichokes and celery has a diuretic effect - along with parsley.
Ideal meal: Barley soup; stir-fried asparagus,celery, carrot, beansprouts, with parsley; a glass of freshly squeezed apple and carrot juice.

Fluid Retention
Fatty meals may encourage fluid retention, as do salty or pickled foods. Cut out bacon, salami, stock cubes and convenience foods, which are often high in salt.
Instead, put diuretic herbs and spices, such as parsley, celery, caraway and dandelion, on the menu. Potassium also helps maintain a healthy fluid balance - it’s found in fruit, especially bananas, and vegetables like asparagus, spinach and artichokes.
Ideal meal: Spinach risotto sprinkled with a good quantity of parsley; mixed salad, including dandelion leaves, celery, cucumber, banana.

Constipation
Convenience food with very little fibre and a low fluid intake are a recipe for constipation. Instead, says Dr Ann Walker, “Eat plenty of foods that are high in fibre, such as wholegrains, wholemeal pasta, jacket potatoes, bread, fruit and vegetables; and increase your fluid intake to at least 1.5 litres a day.” Pulses are high in fibre; while rhubarb and prunes contain compounds that stimulate the colon.
Ideal meal: Jacket potato with lentils in tomato sauce; carrot, celery, and apple salad; prune compote with natural yoghurt.

Fatigue
A diet that’s high in processed foods, or low in essential kilojoules or minerals (especially iron and zinc), can cause fatigue. Alcohol is an energy-drainer; and while coffee, tea and cola can act as short-term pick-me-ups, drinking more than six cups a day can make you tired.
One of the most common causes of fatigue is anaemia, due to lack of iron, which is needed to make haemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of blood. Iron is found in meat, beans, lentils, dark green, leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds and fruit such as apricots and dried fruits.
For healthy blood, you’ll need plenty of vitamin B12, in meat, fish, eggs and dairy foods; and folic acid, in wholegrain cereals, liver, dark green, leafy vegetables and nuts. Other vital nutrients for energy include vitamins C and E, magnesium and potassium - raw foods and sprouted seeds are a good source and put less strain on the digestive system.
Ideal meal: Grilled chicken with rosemary; large sprouted-seed salad; apricot compote with live natural yoghurt.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 28th, 2007 at 2:12 pm and is filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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