DO YOU KNOW THE TRIGGERS FOR YOUR HEALTH?

Do you know your triggers?

Health hassles can arise from the smallest things. Look out and fight back.

Too much coffee
What it triggers: Stomachaches Caffeine boosts production of acid that irritates your stomach.
Solution: Eat food with your joe to absorb acid. Or switch to decaf (or a dark roast).

Sodium lauryl sulfate
What it triggers: Canker sores SLS is a common cleaning agent in many toothpastes, but it can alter the bacterial coating in your mouth, which irritates the tissue and leads to a sore.
Solution: Switch to an SLS-free paste. Ask your pharmacist, instead of bothering your busy dentist-they're easily available. Also, cut back on acidic fruits, like pineapple that can irritate your mouth.

Cheese, hot dogs
What they trigger: Headaches Cheese has an amino acid called tyramine. Hot dogs have nitrites. Both can cause changes in cranial blood flow, causing pain as brain vessels narrow and dilate.
Solution: Avoid foods high in tyramine-nuts, smoked meats, pickles, sauerkraut, overripe fruit, wine and beer. And eat hot dogs that aren't chemically preserved.

Slushies, sugarless gum
What they trigger: Diarrhoea Slushies are full of fructose. Sugarless gum is sweetened with sorbitol and mannitol, both of which your body can't absorb easily. An excess draws more water in your intestines, producing soft stools.
Solution: Cut out sugary foods

Narrow shoes
What they trigger: Foot cramps Muscles are designed for con tracting and relaxing. When trapped in narrow footwear for too long, they cramp up.
Solution: Roll a tennis ball under each sole to boost circulation and loosen the muscles.

Hot showers
What they trigger: Dry skin Hot water and soaps slough off cells that trap moisture and wash away oils.
Solution: Take quick, lukewarm showers and use an emollient-rich cleanser, such as Cetaphil or Dove. Leave a few droplets for your skin to absorb and apply a moisturiser.

After-dinner mints
What they trigger: Heartburn After a large meal, pressure builds in your stomach. Mint is a muscle relaxant and may induce acid reflux by flipping open the sphincter between your stomach and oesophagus.
Solution: Slim down your portions, eat slowly and avoid heartburn aggravators: Fried foods, chocolate, alcohol, caffeine and acidic foods.