A new study has found that Irish adults speed eat during their meals.
The Irish research, conducted by Rennie, found that women were more likely to “speed feed” than men, despite the fact that they’re more likely to be aware of the negative effects of eating at a fast pace.
According to the study, 81% of young people are spending less than 20 minutes eating a main meal with more than a quarter eating in less than 10 minutes.
“Work, anxiety and stress combined with a hectic hurried pace of life are all having a detrimental impact upon people’s stomachs,”said Allison Keating, a Behavioural Psychologist.
“While your brain may push you to meet a deadline, your digestive system has its own needs and won’t always go along with this frantic pace, without giving you the physical symptoms that all isn’t as it should be.”
Keating offers advice for reducing stress while eating:
- Eat together – It is important to have a family connection at meal time as it acts as a buffer from the external world and all of its demands.
- Eat slowly – It takes your brain 20 minutes to register that it has consumed food. By slowing down your food intake you’re allowing your mind to play catch up.
- Avoid skipping breakfast – Set yourself up right for the day and give your body the energy it requires after a night of rest and repair.
- Don’t be a desktop diner! – Distractions are unavoidable in the work environment and they won’t allow for you to digest your meal physically or mentally.
- Make meal time an enjoyable occasion – Slow the pace, come together, sit down, talk, breath and enjoy meal time – it’ll ensure a much happier tummy.
