Personalized Vitamin Formulations Can Address Headache Issues

Many consumers do not realize that they could help their headache issues with the right blend of vitamins. The problem is that the industry does not help navigate the consumer to the optimal solution. The advent of personalized vitamin technology is a step in the right direction with digital assessments that generate a customized recommendation. To relieve tension headaches and many other types of headaches, hydration is essential. One commonly overlooked element when it comes to hydration is the importance of electrolytes. When we see patients and suggest lack of hydration is contributing to a condition, they often pull out their trusty water bottle and say, “I drink all day long.” While water is of course essential, “free water” (meaning water without any electrolytes) is often not enough to stay hydrated. The body uses electrolytes in the bloodstream to actually hold onto the water (if you think way back to high school chemistry and osmosis, you may recall that water goes where the ions are). Therefore, essential electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and chloride, are important for staying hydrated. Magnesium is also important since it is involved in how your kidneys balance all the others. 

For this reason, we advise our patients not to drink only water. Electrolyte replacement via either food sources or beverages is important. This is particularly true when discussing headaches. Many people report worse headaches when their “blood sugar is low.” These cases are actually rarely due to a true low blood sugar (this only happens in people who take medication for diabetes or have a rare form of pancreatic tumor), but in fact are due to drops in many of the other vital ingredients that come from eating and drinking enough. Some people are particularly sensitive to not eating regularly and should work hard to keep hydrated and consume sufficient electrolytes by eating frequent small meals and taking in electrolyte-rich fluids. These can be in the form of juices or sports drinks (mixing them with water can cut down on the excess sugar while still providing the essential electrolytes.). Thus the “low blood sugar” sensation is actually a real feeling that is telling you that you are missing important nutrients. These can be electrolytes or just plain energy, which can also be obtained from good protein or fat sources.

A normal person’s blood sugar can drop to a low normal value just from eating the typical American breakfast of cereal with milk, orange juice, and toast. The high carb and sugar load leads blood sugars to plummet midmorning after digestion is completed. Adding some fats and protein to complex carbs, via eggs or peanut butter with your whole wheat toast for instance, can help sustain you for longer.

During the day, it never hurts to have a quick snack. A jar of peanut butter in your desk is useful to have on hand. Yogurt, low-fat cheese, or nuts are other healthful snacks. At Vous Vitamin®, we created our Power Up Situational Supplement™ expressly for the purpose of replenishing lost electrolytes. It provides essential electrolytes and B vitamins in tablet form. It is recommended to be taken with a large glass of water several times daily when you are exercising or having an intense day. It helps keep your body going by providing these nutrients that we often lose when we sweat or work hard. Power Up™ does not have any calories, sugar, or caffeine. Beware of other “energy” products that do and can cause a “high” sensation followed by a “crash,” leaving your energy feeling more depleted than before. And don’t forget your personalized multivitamin as a critical starting point for your day.