Jacki recently wrote about trigger foods -- those certain items that, once we eat a little bit, send us into a flurry of overeating. According to Weight Watchers, the most common triggers are sugary/fatty foods such as ice cream and/or salty/fatty foods such as chips.

It's important to know your trigger foods, as they can really send your eating out of control. Weight Watchers recommends avoiding your trigger foods altogether for a while, then trying a small portion once you have control of your eating habits. If the food still causes you to binge, then you need to shelve it for a while longer.


Trigger foods may have a negative impact on your eating, but there's one activity that can have a positive impact on your physical activity.

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I always blame my headaches on food -- not enough food or too much of a certain food usually. Sugar definitely brings them on for me -- it's the reason I gave up sweets more than a year ago -- and sometimes, a snack full of protein helps them fade away. I've never given much thought to these three headache triggers, however. Real Simple magazine thinks they're worthy of a warning, though, so here they are.

• Ice Cream. Yep, I guess this makes sense. I just haven't ever had this type of headache last for very long. That's because it only lasts for about one minute, say the Real Simple folks. "Brain freeze" is caused when cold food touches the roof of your mouth and alters the blood flow in the brain or causes pain on a major nerve.
  
  
• Sex. It's not very common, but it's possible that sexual activity can trigger severe head pain. Usually nothing to worry about, you should see a doctor if the pain recurs.
  
  
• Secondary headaches. Also rare, these headaches are caused by a tumor or aneurysm. If your headaches worsen over time, see a doctor.
  
  

So, these three are possibilities. Think they're responsible for your headaches?

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Serious headaches can come from any angle. Whether you're used to them or not, targeting the cause isn't always easy. Here's a no-frills article about seven of the most common triggers that you can blame migraines on. Even though these might not apply to everyone, the solution may be simpler than you think!

For example, one of the causes points to a person's diet. Most foods out there are highly processed and include a host of added chemicals. But natural foods can trigger migraines too. The article recalls a patient who suffered a headache each morning, having no idea why it happened. It turns out he had a glass of milk each night before going to bed -- once he stopped, so did the migraines.

The weather can also have something to do with it. Dr. Lawrence Newman, who is director of the Headache Institute in New York, says that 70 percent of people who experience migraines do so under climate changes. That can include moving from a humid environment to a dry one. Ever experience a headache right before a big rain? Air pressure is the culprit as well. These are just a couple triggers, so check out the full article to learn more.

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Stress seems to be an inevitable aspect of our lives these days -- we expect to be stressed and we plan for it. And the holidays, though usually a wonderful and joyous time, are notorious for causing yet more stress. Courtesy of eDiets, here are the top stress triggers this holiday season and some tips for how to relax:

• Finances. When you're expected to spend money of everyone close to you, it can put a real strain on the bank account. The solution? It's a bit late this year, but put some cash aside next year for the holidays, and start early (like, as soon as you're done paying off this year's bills.)
• Health. Every ache and pain can be a sign of something bigger to a worrisome person. The solution? Write your concerns, plus any stressful events, in a journal for a few weeks. After a while, you may notice patterns in your health concerns, and it arms you to better discuss things with your doctor.
  
• Family. The holidays bring family close together, and it's not always a good thing. The solution? Take a walk -- by yourself.
  
• Weather. The weather can be a big bummer if you live in a winter climate. The solution? Yoga and meditation can help you foster positive spirits.
  
• The Holidays. Running around, trying to get presents together is stressful. The solution? Plan ahead so you can spend time enjoying the season.
  
• Loneliness. If you don't have anyone to spend it with, the holidays can be the most depressing time of year. The solution? Call up an old friend. Join a choir. Volunteer. You might feel alone but there are people out there who are just as lonely as you -- reach out to them.
  

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Oooooooh, the evil "trigger" foods...we all have them and we all love to hate them. They're the foods that are usually found in your diet somewhere right before, or right during, a fall off the dieting and healthy eating bandwagon. Either that, or they take a sneakier role and fool you into thinking you're eating healthy (the baked potato is famous for this move) when you're really not. We all have our own particular triggers but there's no denying that some trigger foods are common to the majority of people:

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Asthma is a condition that affects hundreds of thousands of people out there. And though the symptoms are largely the same, the disease varies from patient to patient, each one having different triggers for attacks. This helpful video from Everyday Health helps explain asthma and its triggers, which can include:

• Exposure to cigarette smoke
  
• Allergens, particularly seasonal one
• Dust
• Plants, grass and other vegetation
• Mold
• Cardiovascular exercise
• Pets and animals
• Cold air

When you're suffering from asthma, it's important to talk to your doctor about your condition -- although the triggers might not be obvious to you, your doctor can usually determine what your triggers are through tests or even just dialogue.

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There has been so much news lately about migraines, some of it good and some of it bad, that those who suffer from the mind-numbing headaches are probably thinking enough already! Just tell us how to treat them! Unfortunately there is no single thing that works to relieve migraines for everybody, but some things do work more often than other things for more people.

It seems most helpful for people to determine their personal triggers if they can, whether it's food or something else. Once you know what to avoid obviously it gets easier to have some control. Also some medications, both for taking during an attack and those for daily preventative use, have also proven helpful in many people. Pay attention to your daily activities, possibly through a diary or journal, and keep in close contact with your doctor.

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