A new U.S. study has found that eating too much salt can trigger headaches, and reducing salt intake can lower the probability of headaches by one third. The salt in your kitchen can give you headaches.
In the new study, Dr. Lawrence Appel of Johns Hopkins University and his colleagues studied 400 participants. The researchers randomly divided the participants into three groups: a fruit and vegetable low-fat diet group, a low-fat dairy product group, and a typical Western diet group (the control group).
The study period was divided into three equal phases. In the first phase, participants consumed 9 grams of salt per day. In the second phase, salt intake was reduced to 6 grams per day, and in the final phase, daily salt intake was reduced to 3 grams. The researchers also surveyed the participants via questionnaire about issues such as headaches, bloating, dry mouth, thirst, fatigue or weakness, nausea, and altered taste that occurred during each phase. The results showed that reducing daily salt intake from 9 grams to 3 grams could lower the probability of headaches by 31%. The study also found that even among people with normal blood pressure, reducing salt intake could decrease the likelihood of headaches.
Dr. Appel explained that reducing salt intake can lower the probability of headache attacks because less salt can lower blood pressure and vascular pressure. 3 grams of salt is equivalent to half a teaspoon, or the salt content of a McDonald's Big Mac hamburger or a large order of french fries. Dr. Appel also stated that the results of this new study show that reducing dietary sodium intake is a new method for preventing headaches.