Unless you have been living under a rock, you will have heard that the gut-friendly bacteria in probiotics can do wonders for your digestion, mood and overall health and wellbeing. And now a new study has further bolstered probiotics' reputation as a health essential, proving probiotics can give relief to migraine sufferers. Migraine is one of the world’s most debilitating illnesses and 750,000 people in Ireland suffer with migraine.

You may have heard of the gut-brain axis, a proven connection between the two organs. Earlier evidence has suggested that a disturbance in the intestinal microflora can lead to neurological disorders. This study was carried out in Tehran University of Medical Sciences in the Middle East, and involved patients who had chronic migraines (over 15 a month) and episodic migraines (less than 15 a month). This was the largest ever double blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial of 100 patients with migraine system over 8-10 weeks. It was found that a 14 strain probiotic can dramatically reduce the frequency and severity of migraines in adults.

The probiotic was proven to reduce migraines by 45% for chronic migraine sufferers and by 40% for episodic migraine sufferers.

The intensity of headaches was also dramatically reduced, by 29% for episodic migraine sufferers and and 31% for chronic migraine sufferers.

Try Bio-Kult Advanced Multi-Strain probiotic, €10.99, from Boots.ie.

It is currently National Brain Awareness Week, which you can find out more about at loveyourbrain.ie.

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