You may be interested to know that a root vegetable of the cruciferous vegetable called maca has been touted as natural remedy for some people with migraine headaches. Migraine headaches can last for a few hours, or longer, and can get so bad that you are completely incapacitated when they hit. Besides feeling like your head is in a vice, vomiting, nausea and loss of appetite are common symptoms that go with a migraine.
Migraines can be triggered for a variety of reasons, food allergies, food sensitivities, irregular sleeping hours, lack of sleep and no exercise are among common causes. The intense pain experienced during a migraine is the result of blood vessels in the brain ‘cramping’, hence the ‘head in a vice’ kind of pain. Disrupted hormones are a major player in the production of migraine headaches too.
There is growing evidence to support the reality that toxicity in the body as a result of exposure to various harmful chemicals in our environment are also a fundamental cause of migraines. Eating highly processed and non-organic food is also a major cause of toxicity that gravely affects our endocrine system and knocks our natural hormonal levels all over the place. Interestingly, migraines affect women 75% as much as they do men.
So lets move on to the good news. The many studies that have analyzed maca have found that maca is superfood and also a powerful adaptogen. Adaptogens are natural products that impact upon our hormones and glands in a healthy way to improve overall health and well being.
Maca is real tough vegetable that can grow in the inhospitable and very high altitudes of the Peruvian area of the Andes mountain range. This superfood is loaded with most vitamins, many essential alkalizing minerals, living enzymes, plant sterols, phytochemicals (powerful antioxidants) and polyunsaturated fats that work together in synergy to support proper gland and hormonal functioning. Due to the fact that the maca root is grown in high in the Andes mountains, the fresh vegetable is only available in Peru and surrounding countries, however, a powdered supplemental version of maca is found at most health food stores in the USA and other countries.
The adrenal glands (which are found near the kidneys) in particular benefit greatly when we consume maca frequently. This is why migraine headaches can be relieved because the kidneys secrete stress hormones into our system, such as cortisone, that can trigger exaggerated contractions of blood vessels in the brain. The nutrition in maca influences the kidneys to release stress hormones and benefit migraines headaches by this method.
To get the best from maca supplements, ensure you get yourself a high quality product. Look for products that are organic and are not heat processed, heat processing destroys some of the valuable nutrients. Organic products also protect the growers of maca to make sure they get a fair deal for their hard work.
For more information about this amazing root vegetable check out maca.