Cutting down on salt could cut headaches by a third, new research shows.
People who reduced their salt intake to three grams a day — about a half-teaspoon — suffered significantly fewer headaches,
The Daily Mail reports.
Cutting salt could reduce headaches because it lowers blood and pulse pressure, experts said. But even people with normal blood pressure saw a reduction in headaches when they reduced their salt intake.
The study involved nearly 400 people were randomly assigned either a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products or a typical Western diet as a control.
The results showed halving salt intake from nine grams a day to three grams a day reduced headaches by 31 percent.
“A reduced sodium intake was associated with a significantly lower risk of headache, while dietary patterns had no effect on the risk of headaches in adults,” said Lawrence Appel, of John Hopkins University. “Reduced dietary sodium intake offers a novel approach to prevent headaches.”
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