Getting a headache during weight loss is not uncommon. You’ll need to cut calories if you want to lose weight, but low-calorie diets can lead to headaches, fatigue and sleep problems. These pesky problems are caused by not eating enough and by not eating enough of the right foods.

To avoid headaches when you’re on a low-calorie diet, you want to make sure you’re staying mindful of all of your body’s needs.

Hangry Headaches

When you consume insufficient calories you may experience electrolyte imbalance in the body. This means inappropriate levels of sodium and potassium which leads to headaches more often.Though you may want to skip breakfast or lunch when you start dieting, it’s not a good idea to skip entire meals if you’re prone to headaches. Instead, eat several small meals throughout the day and include vitamin rich foods and snacks into your daily routine.

Protein Power

Protein is a weight-loss staple for a number of reasons. The nutrient promotes feeling full for a long period of time and also has the ability to act as long-lasting fuel for your body helping stave off calorie deficit headaches.

Hydrating Correctly

Be aware of some of the other factors that could be contributing to headaches on your low-calorie diet like not drinking enough water which can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Also, cutting out sugar and caffeine in a diet may also contribute to headaches, so be prepared to wean yourself off certain foods slowly to allow your body to adjust.

Adjustment Period

If you tend to develop diet headaches, try to ease your way into the diet to allow your body to adjust rather than going cold turkey immediately. Intermittent fasting is commonly practiced these days for weight loss usually involving fasting for 12-14 hours. But this diet plan is not suitable for everyone as each body has its own requirements. Sometimes due to long hours of fasting blood pressure numbers fall and contribute to headaches as well.