Millions of Americans—roughly 1 in 6—know all too well that the relentless grip of a migraine can bring life to a head-grinding halt. Dianna Teasdale, a holistic nutritionist from Michigan, is no stranger to this agony. A migraine sufferer for nearly a decade, she has been through the usual gamut of treatments—from diet adjustments to alternative therapies—but nothing eased her pain.
The Controversial Debate on Salt and Migraines
Historical data has associated high salt consumption with various health issues, migraines among them. Research from the journal BMJ Open in 2014 linked high-sodium diets with elevated headache risk. A 2020 study highlighted that women strictly adhering to the low-salt DASH diet saw up to 46 percent drop in severe migraines.The Migraine Enigma
Migraines are more than just an amplified headache. This multifaceted neurological disease remains a medical enigma. According to the World Health Organization, migraines rank among the top 10 most debilitating medical conditions globally. In fact, this condition is so common that there’s even a name for people who suffer migraines: migraineurs.Migraines, typically marked by severe head pain, often manifest in other ways, including light and sound sensitivity, nausea, brain fog, and dizziness. As migraineurs and medical professionals attest, the triggers for these episodes are as varied as the symptoms—ranging from dietary factors to fatigue and anxiety—with the root cause still largely uncertain.
The challenges, unfortunately, don’t end with the physical symptoms. Chronic migraine sufferers, who number up to 148 million globally, grapple daily with the unpredictability of their condition. This can limit social engagements, career opportunities, and everyday activities. Daily life becomes a delicate balance of avoiding potential triggers and managing unexpected flare-ups.
“I will never forget the day I pulled over on the side of the road a mile from my house, called a mom friend sobbing, asking her to pick up my kids for me. I couldn’t even explain why, but she was happy to help. I cried so hard that day realizing how much migraines were wrecking my life,” Ms. Teasdale said.
A Saltier Perspective: Reevaluating Salt’s Role in Migraines
Although salt’s link to headaches is well-documented, a study published in Mental Health in Family Medicine suggests that there may be nuances to that connection and that the answer to treating migraines may hinge on diet.Angela A. Stanton, a migraine and nutrition scientist, spearheaded a six-month study involving 650 migraineurs from a Facebook research group. The results were striking: Migraine frequency seemed to be heightened by diets that were high in carbohydrates and low in salt and water. Medications that block voltage-dependent calcium or sodium channels appeared to aggravate the condition.
Ms. Stanton found that by reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing salt, participants could prevent the glucose-induced electrolyte changes that often lead to migraines. Impressively, every participant who adopted these dietary changes was able to stop using migraine medications and remained free from the ailment.
The results mirrored Ms. Teasdale’s experience. After consuming salt in her water, her migraine symptoms subsided.
A notable discovery from Ms. Stanton’s research was that migraine sufferers excreted 50 percent more sodium in their urine than nonmigraineurs.
“Migraine-brain has different brain anatomy with more connections among the sensory neurons,” she said. “Their sensory neurons are more active, communicate more, and thus use more sodium.”
But why is this important? It all boils down to sodium’s role in brain activity.
“The implications of this finding mean that testing whether increased sodium helps prevent migraines by simply consuming more salt is a good idea. I found that adding salt to water—not food—helped tremendously,” Ms. Stanton said.
She further elaborated on the potential causes of this sodium excretion.
“When glucose enters the cells, sodium efflux from the cell follows,” she said. “A reduced carbohydrate diet can thus reduce sodium loss, possibly explaining the excess sodium in the urine when carbs are consumed.”
Exploring the Sodium–Blood Pressure Link
Ms. Stanton contended that while conventional wisdom warns against high salt intake, drastically cutting salt could inadvertently trigger the body’s renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, causing blood volume to drop and blood pressure to rise. Conversely, she posited that increased salt intake might boost blood volume and potentially reduce blood pressure in individuals with healthy arteries, suggesting that blanket recommendations on salt reduction could be counterproductive for many.Ms. Stanton isn’t alone in challenging conventional thinking on salt intake. In a recent interview with The Epoch Times, James DiNicolantonio, a doctor of pharmacy and a cardiovascular research scientist, echoed similar sentiments.
“Don’t blame the salt for what the processed food diet (refined sugar) did,” he said.
A Simpler Approach for Migraineurs
In a society often quick to medicate, utilizing something as simple and natural as salt to counter migraines seems revolutionary. When asked about introducing salt as a mainstream solution, Ms. Stanton was pragmatic, highlighting societal misconceptions.“The problem with salt is that it’s seen as ‘evil,’ said to increase blood pressure, despite evidence to the contrary,” she said.
Yet the takeaway is clear. For migraine sufferers willing to try, a reduction in carbs and an increase in salt might be the path to relief.
Expanding on this, Mr. DiNicolantonio said, “While I no longer see patients, I have had many people state that their migraines are dramatically improved when they take more salt. It’s the No. 1 or No. 2 benefit that’s reported to me.”
While many experts champion the benefits of salt, particularly for migraine sufferers, there are different opinions on which kind is best. Ms. Stanton favors purified salts, such as Morton’s pickling or canning varieties, citing concerns over contaminants in evaporated sea salts and arguing that their trace minerals become negligible once consumed.
In contrast, Mr. DiNicolantonio believes that any salt can address sodium deficiency, but if magnesium or iodine shortages are also in play, specific salts might be advantageous. Other experts recommend Himalayan salt.
As Ms. Stanton candidly put it: “Just try it. Once it’s tried and it works, it must work. If they’re still interested after this, then I can explain how sodium is needed to create electricity in the brain and that migraineurs need more of it.”
For many, understanding the complex dynamics of migraines might remain elusive, but the potential solution may be at our fingertips—or on our dinner tables. Ms. Teasdale, among others, has found that sometimes, the best remedies are the simplest.
