by Joshua Pantalleresco

Created on: February 09, 2009

Headaches are one constant most of us get at one point or another. There are many reasons why we get headaches, some commonly known and others not as obvious. There are a number of different ways to combat headaches. Some are as simple as eating an orange, while others require a more meticulous approach.

Let's look at the first most common cause of a headache: stress. The headache is a side effect from the stress in your life, whether it be financial stress, or family problems or just the burdens of everyday life. There are days that kind of headache catches up with all of us. There are a number of ways to combat this.

One very easy method of doing this involves cocoa. I'm not talking chocolate bars like Reeses or Mars or Nestle Crunch, but real baking cocoa. A bar of 80% cocoa works best. Take only a piece of the bar and bite into it; you will feel instant relief and feel better about the world. However, only take a piece. Cocoa at that amount can become very addicting in its own right, so less is definitely more here. That said, the results are great. You feel better, your mood improves and that headache goes away.

Another method for combatting stress is to keep the brain fed with things it needs like B Complex, Vit. C and Choline. Choline is short for acetylcholine, and is one of the four brain chemicals needed to make your brain function correctly. It is also one of the primary factors in mood. You can take it in combination of B, C or both to improve your mood immediately.

Stress aside however, there are many factors that can contribute to a headache. What did you have for breakfast? Sometimes a headache is a small sign that the body is attempting to break down something that isn't easily digested. That can be fixed in a number ways, from digestive enzymes to Vitamin C. In fact, an easy way to deal with a headache of that sort is to eat an orange. You should feel instant relief. Probiotic enzymes, and foods like yogurt, fruits and granola can help the body metabolize foods faster, making the headache go away.

There are other factors that can cause headaches, but the real secret to treating them is knowing your own body and what's going on. Self analysis is discouraged these days, but the truth is no one knows your body like you do. Take the time to ask yourself some questions. We all know when we're stressed, but focusing on why you are this way goes a long way into solving the issue. So before you try anything, see if you can figure out what's wrong yourself.

Learn more about this author, Joshua Pantalleresco.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.