The most common type of headache is a tension headache, according to MedlinePlus. Tension headaches are caused by tight muscles in your neck and shoulders. Stress or illness can also cause headaches. Luckily, there is a selection of foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals that can help fight headaches.
Salmon
Salmon is a good dietary source of vitamin B-6 or pyridoxine. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin B-6 helps make chemicals called neurotransmitters, which are responsible for sending nerve signals to cells, including those in your brain. This vitamin is also important for normal brain function and growth. Vitamin B-6 helps the body make a serotonin, a hormone that influences your mood. Low levels of serotonin in your body can make you stressed, which can result in headaches. In addition, a deficiency in vitamin B-6 can lead to muscle weakness, trouble concentrating and depression, all factors that can contribute to headaches.
Oranges
Oranges are a rich source of vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin that is not stored in your body because it leaves through urination. According to "Trigger Point Therapy for Headaches & Migraines: Your Self-Treatment Workbook for Pain Relief," by Valerie DeLaune, low intake of vitamin C may lead to headaches. Vitamin C helps keep arteries and blood vessels strong, helping to promote healthy blood flow to the brain. Like vitamin B-6, vitamin C assists the body in creating neurotransmitters. Low amounts of neurotransmitters in your body can affect your ability to handle stress, causing headaches.
Pork
Pork is rich in vitamin B-12 or cobalamin. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin B-12 helps maintain nerve cells. This vitamin works with folate to help make a hormone called S-adenosylmethionine, a compound that is involved in mood function. DeLaune says that vitamin B-12 is also essential for the production of red blood cells. A lack of vitamin B-12 in your body can interrupt the transfer of oxygen from cells to brain, resulting in headaches.
