Beware of your workplace’s biscuit tin
You’ve had fruit for breakfast and a salad for lunch. But before you congratulate yourself, perhaps you should add those three chocolate biscuits and that blueberry muffin to the tally. The average female office worker consumes a third of her daily calorie allowance – around 650 calories – on snacks such as chocolate, a survey has revealed.
And this snacking isn’t due to hunger, it suggests, but simply boredom. Eighty-seven percent of those questioned confessed to snacking at their desks, with half admitting they ate up to 650 calories of treats a day. This is around a third of the recommended intake of 2000 calories a day for women. Some 49% said they ate mainly through boredom, while 11% claimed it was to be sociable.
What’s the difference? – allergy vs intolerance
Debunking health jargon with dietitian Juliette Kellow
● Many people think they’re “allergic” to some foods, but just one to two percent are.
● Allergies are caused by the immune system overreacting to a protein it doesn’t recognise as being safe. Possible symptoms include swollen lips, vomiting or even breathing difficulties.
● Common allergies include to cows’ milk and nuts.
● Food intolerance doesn’t usually involve the immune system and can be caused by an enzyme deficiency. Possible symptoms are stomach cramps or bloating.
● Allergies are easier to diagnose. See your GP.
Vitamin maths
The foods that add up to your recommended daily allowance Vitamin B6 is vital for healthy nerves and helps in the production of haemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the red blood cells to the tissues. The vitamin is also involved in the breakdown of proteins. High-protein diets increase the amount of vitamin B6 you need. Good sources of the vitamin include bananas, meat, nuts and baked beans.
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