Natural Health: Could my four daily cups of coffee be the cause of my headaches?

Megan Sheppard: "Since you are experiencing headaches without having made any changes in your diet or lifestyle, you may have developed a sensitivity to caffeine. One of the most common triggers for sudden dietary sensitivities is the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)."

I'm in my 30s and have started to get frequent headaches, usually throbbing ones that take hours to ease. My diet hasn't changed, and while my work can be stressful at times, nothing out of the ordinary has happened. I drink four cups of coffee a day. Could this be the culprit?

Coffee beans are rich in antioxidants, can boost short-term memory and increase reaction times, help with exercise and sports performance and recovery, and improve fat breakdown. 

Too much of a good thing can be harmful, though — more than four cups of coffee daily can lead to irritability, nervous tension, and anxiety.

Since you are experiencing headaches without having made any changes in your diet or lifestyle, you may have developed a sensitivity to caffeine. 

One of the most common triggers for sudden dietary sensitivities is the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

This spiral-shaped bacterium protects itself against the acidic environment of the stomach and burrows into the protective mucous lining.

Responsible for symptoms such as chronic irritation and inflammation, H. pylori can cause frequent headaches, along with blunt, gnawing, or sharp stomach pain, lower backache, discomfort when passing stools, choking sensations, and itching.

Mastic gum (Pistacia lentiscus) has been shown in laboratory tests to destroy at least seven strains of H. pylori. Mastika is a supplement containing 500mg of mastic gum. It can be purchased from health stores - 60  x 500mg capsules cost €30.25

If H. pylori is not the culprit, you might like to try Boswellia serrata, made from the gum of the Boswellia serrata tree. Boswellia is beneficial in treating headaches, menstrual cramping, rheumatism, osteoarthritis, and sporting injuries.

Studies show that it is effective at 100mg (up to three times daily) when you experience mild to moderate pain or 300mg (up to three times daily) to relieve stronger pain. Solgar’s standardised full potency Boswellia resin extract costs €35.50 for 60 x 100mg vege capsules. 

My eyes ache whenever I read for longer than 15 minutes. I booked an appointment with an optometrist, who said my eyesight was perfect. I'm 38 and in overall good health. What would you suggest?

A simple and relaxing exercise can help relieve aching and stress in the eye area. Sit at a desk or table and breathe deeply. 

Rest your elbows on the table and close your eyes. Gently place your palms over your eyes and cup your eye sockets for 30-60 seconds. Repeat as necessary.

Include plenty of berries and leafy greens in your diet to support eye health. Eggs and dark leafy greens are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin — two essential nutrients for protection against macular degeneration.  

Though your eyesight is not the issue, visiting an ophthalmologist to check the intraocular pressure is also important.