When you feel a headache coming on, you don't have pain medication on hand. You should be alright as long as you're near a well-stocked kitchen. Most individuals are unaware that there are a plethora of natural headache cures right in their own kitchen. That's correct! The healthiest meals for headaches can help prevent headaches from occurring in the first place.

Here, we look at the foods that have been shown to help prevent and treat headache discomfort. After you've looked through this list, save it to your favorites so you'll always have the knowledge you need if you're suffering from a severe headache.

Russet Potato
Strange but true: a terrible headache is caused by a dry mouth. Yes, dehydration is one of the most common causes of headaches. When your body needs water, it frequently also requires electrolytes such as potassium. The pain will most likely go away if you feed your body the nourishment it needs. 

So, the next time you get a headache, roast a russet potato and eat it with the skin on! The potassium content of a large potato is more than three times that of a banana (which is often thought of as the most potent source). And, because a potato is roughly 75% water, it's also quite hydrating!

Cucumber
The giant cucumber, which is made up of 97 percent water, is another vegetable that helps keep you hydrated and headache-free. Slice some up and serve with hummus, or make a simple summer salad with tomatoes, red onion, olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, and black pepper.

Cherries
If you suffer from headaches at a given time of day or after a certain activity (such as excessive computer use), eat some cherries to relieve the pain. The red, vivid fruit not only gives your body some H2O to keep dehydration at bay, but it also contains components that convert to nitric oxide in the blood, a naturally occurring gas that may help prevent tension headaches and migraines. Beets, as well as beet juice, have the same effect.

Fortified Whole Grain Cereal
According to the US National Library of Medicine, getting enough riboflavin (also known as vitamin B2) will help prevent migraines. Fortunately, most cereals are fortified with the nutrient, making it simple to include it in your daily diet. 

Hot Peppers
If frequent headaches keep you up for hours, you might want to try eating some spicy foods to speed up the healing process—at least if the discomfort is caused by congestion. If you have a headache caused by nasal congestion, spicy meals can help relieve the pressure and open the airways, reducing the pain.

Pumpkin Seeds
Magnesium, which can be found in large amounts in pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, and almonds, can help to relieve headaches by relaxing blood vessels. (A half cup of pumpkin seeds supplies virtually all of your daily magnesium requirements.) Here are some more fun facts about this important nutrient: Magnesium is involved in about 300 metabolic events in the body, including the operation of the brain and muscles. 

You won't only get headaches if you ignore your body's demand for it. Muscle pains and weariness are other signs that you're not getting enough of the substance.

Oatmeal and Brown Rice
While headaches are common after starting a low-carb diet, having them every day is a clue you may have gone too far. Carbs do not require any further processing to produce glucose, hence they effectively maintain blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels might drop and induce headaches if you don't eat enough carbs.

Small Coffee or Tea
Caffeine withdrawal is the most common cause of headaches if you can't conceive going a day without stopping at Starbucks. Physical dependence develops when you ingest the stimulant on a regular basis. If you skip a dose, the effect will most likely be a pounding headache. While the exact reason for this is unknown, some medical professionals believe that caffeine relaxes blood vessels, causing them to contract and create pain when it's been a while since your previous cup. Get yourself a tiny cup of coffee or tea to help you cope with the pain—emphasis on the word small.

Sesame Seeds
You're losing out on one of the best migraine-busting foods around if you only eat sesame seeds when you order a bagel or sesame chicken. The tiny seed is high in vitamin E, a substance that helps to regulate estrogen levels and prevent headaches caused by menstruation. It's also high in L-arginine, a precursor of nitric oxide, the same naturally occurring gas found in cherries, which may protect men and women from tension headaches and migraines.