Brits are turning to some nasty eating habits to help them cope with stress.
Brits Turning To Junk Food & Alcohol To Deal With Stress
A new study by the British Acupuncture Council showed that more and more of us are risking our health by turning to sugary food, takeaways, and alcohol as a way of coping with the stresses of the modern world.
A third of the 5,000 adults surveyed in the new study said they turn to food and comfort eat when stressed, while a quarter revealed that they drink alcohol as a means of coping.
It seems that the level of stress is rising in the UK with 705 of those surveyed saying that they have prolonged periods of stress. And while many realise that stress can have a huge impact on their health, they are simply putting up with it and turning to unhealthy habits to cope.
Some of the top reasons for stress were a lack of time (41%), wanting to have it all (25%) and difficulty switching off from work (24%). This is resulting in a huge number of Brits facing major burnout because of the stress in their work and home life.
Tamzin Freeman, a qualified member of the British Acupuncture Council comments: "Stress can make it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle but reaching for your favourite foods or treating yourself to that bottle of wine after a hectic day may make you feel better in the short term but it won't tackle the root cause of the problem.
"Traditional acupuncture is an effective, evidence based therapy that can be a positive step for anyone wanting to get their stress levels back under control."
Acupuncture is one of the healthier ways of dealing with and reliving stress. And while the health benefits of acupuncture are well known, only 4% have tried it as a way of coping with the stress in their everyday lives.
A further 63% revealed that they didn't know the therapy could help to release endorphins, the body's feel good hormones.
Freeman continues: "Although the research shows 1 in 10 of us think stress isn't serious enough to seek help, it's common to feel exhausted, overwhelmed and even depressed so finding support is vital. A course of traditional acupuncture helps to target the root cause of the problem as treatment is unique for each individual.
"Typically the cause could be a deficiency in the body exacerbated by overwork, working long hours, burning the candle at both ends or a lack of proper rest and nourishing food. Together with a specific treatment plan, which addresses diet, exercise, and lifestyle, many of my patients find traditional acupuncture to be a wonderfully relaxing experience.
"When looking for a practitioner, make sure you find a qualified acupuncturist registered with the British Acupuncture Council to ensure a high standard of care and safety."