Over 3 million people suffer from the debilitating pain of a migraine headache.
Anyone who has ever experienced one, or knows someone who has, knows that migraines are not only painful, but they often keep the sufferer from enjoying life and taking part in regular activities.
But what if a common food supplement was able to stop a migraine before it starts?
In a 2018 study, it was discovered that the coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) was shown to significantly reduce the frequency, severity, and duration of migraine headaches.
Most drug treatments for migraines only mask the symptoms and often cause fatigue.
Migraine sufferers often withdrawal to quiet, dark places to ride out their headaches, which in turn causes them to feel withdrawn from normal life.
Migraines often include other symptoms such as:
- nausea
- pain behind one eye or ear
- pain in the temples
- seeing spots or flashing lights
- sensitivity to light and/or sound
- temporary vision loss
- vomiting
When compared to tension or other types of headache, migraine pain can be moderate to severe.
Some people may experience pain so severe that they seek emergency care.
Migraine headaches typically affect only one side of the head.
However, it is possible to have a migraine that affects both sides. A migraine can also cause intense throbbing, making daily tasks very difficult.
Migraine headaches are typically divided into two categories: migraine with aura and migraine without aura.
This “aura” refers to the sensations a person will experience 10 to 30 minutes before an attack.
Some studies have shown evidence that CoQ10 supplements may help prevent migraines.
The coenzyme Q10 is produced naturally inside the body’s cells and is key to the functioning of the mitochondria, the powerhouse inside the cell that produces the energy the cell needs.
Coenzyme Q10 also has antioxidant properties which reduce damage to cells caused by the environment and other factors.
Coenzyme Q10 is available as a nutritional supplement, known as CoQ10 and is considered a natural remedy or nutraceutical. It is also found in several food sources, including:
- Soybean oil
- Canola oil
- Chicken
- Herring
- Mackerel
- Rainbow Trout
- Beef
- Roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, pistachio nuts
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Boiled egg
Because the coenzyme Q10 is fat-soluble, it is best absorbed when taken with a meal.
