In Blog, Diet, Lifestyle

Guest blog post from Wahls Protocol Health Practitioner, Alene Brennan:

Migraines can be just as tricky to manage as multiple sclerosis. 

Doctors can’t tell you exactly why you’re getting migraines. 

Nor can they tell you exactly how to stop them. 

Yet the Migraine Research Foundation tells us that migraines are the third most prevalent illness in the world and it’s the six most disabling illness in the world.

And there’s even research to suggest that those living with multiple sclerosis may have an increased incidence of migraines. 

Now for the goods news. 

If you’re reading this, it likely means you’re a Wahls Warrior and you know that despite all odds, we can take control of our health through diet and lifestyle. 

That is exactly what I did decades ago to eliminate debilitating migraines. Now, as a Wahls Certified Health Practitioner, I help many fellow Wahls Warriors™ do the same. 

We need to live beyond migraines and beyond MS. 

So, how can you get started in taking control of your migraines? 

Here are the top three ways to eliminate migraines. 

Hydration

Yes, I know it sounds so simple. And migraines are anything but simple. 

So, can water really make a difference? 

The answer is yes. 

Poor hydration can be a significant contributor to migraine headaches.

The optimal amount of water to drink is a day is half your body weight in ounces of water. 

Yes, I recognize, I’m sharing this to the MS community who also often struggles with bladder control. I have MS too, so I know firsthand the irony in this suggestion. 

Don’t start chugging water. This is something that you want to gradually work your way up to tolerance. 

And if nothing else, make sure that the beverages you do drink throughout the day are pure water. So even if you don’t change the number of ounces, you at least shift over to the most hydrating beverage… and it’s free!

Food

This step can be the most complex but also the most rewarding. 

While the list of possible food triggers can feel endless, being able to identify the specific foods that are triggering YOUR migraines can be incredibly empowering.  

A good starting point is eliminating gluten and dairy, as they are common triggers for many migraineurs. You could also explore nuts, chocolate and artificial sweeteners. 

This is where it can be helpful to work with a health practitioner to support you through the full migraine trigger elimination diet. 

Stress 

This may seem like an obvious one, because stress seems to come up as a culprit to just about every health challenge. Migraines are no exception. 

Incorporating a consistent stress management technique can help to keep migraines (and tension headaches) at bay.

Remember, starting small is better than not starting at all. 

Many people find guided meditation apps like Calm and Headspace to be helpful in getting started with a simple 5-minute practice. You could also do just a few stretches at the beginning or end of your day. 

Start small and you can build upon it as your time and energy permits. 

The most important thing to know is that you likely have more control over your migraines than you previously believed. Just as we turn to diet and lifestyle to help manage MS, we can do the same for migraines. 

To learn more potential migraine triggers, you can download a free copy of the Top 10 Most Overlooked Migraine Triggers.


To view more of my work go to:
http://www.jacksaady.com/
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Alene Brennan, Health Coach, www.alenebrennan.com

Beyond food, Alene empowers individuals with the use of doTERRA essential oils to help manage physical symptoms, emotional wellbeing and reduce the toxic load in their home. Essential oils are a natural extension of the food is medicine approach – or as Alene says, “Less Pharm, More Table.”

Alene holds four certifications: Nutrition Coach, Natural Food Chef, Yoga Instructor and Personal Trainer and two specialty certifications in the Wahls Protocol and the Autoimmune Protocol. In addition to these certifications, she has great insight in the food and healthcare industry having lead a 12-year corporate career working for Fortune 500 Companies such as Campbell Soup and Aramark and Virtua. 

She has been featured in USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Mind Body Green and on Fox News. 

To learn more and receive free resources, visit her website at www.alenebrennan.com and follow her on Instagram @abrenn.

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