Give your self-confidence a boost with a healthy diet

The nation’s quarterly Self-Confidence Index, by Pomegreat, the pomegranate experts, has highlighted that an overwhelming majority of us (83.3%), agree that self-confidence is strongly linked to our health.

It also concludes that women are more than 1.5 times more likely than men to eat healthily when their confidence levels are higher (43.3% vs 27.9%). Focusing on our health has a massive implication therefore on how we feel about ourselves and diet is especially key to this.

The index also reveals that (63.2%), have the same levels of self-confidence if not less than when compared to three months ago. A number of factors appear to be responsible for this, but certainly the recession has impacted most greatly on the older generation, suggesting that 20% of “bread winners”, (those aged 45-54), are feeling the need to rein in their spending.

Diet and fitness expert Simon Lovell said: “It is no surprise that many of us turn to convenience food when we are feeling low, but it comes a negative cycle, the more unhealthy food we consume the less good we feel about ourselves. It’s important to break the cycle and feed the body healthy food to feed the soul. Eating and drinking right could be the first steps someone needs to start feeling better about themselves.”

The results of the second Pomegreat quarterly index of 1,812 people showed that, against an overall mean level of 59%, women’s level of self-confidence has dropped by four points to an average of 56% and is still lower than that of men, who saw a greater drop of five points to 63%.

Of all those surveyed, the majority experiencing a dip in self-confidence tended to be those in senior management posts (73%). Interestingly, the greatest difference between the sexes is felt in a change of appearance with women more than twice as likely to see this as a factor for affecting change (9.6% of women vs 3.9% of men).

The index also highlighted the following results when people have self-confidence issues:
- One in three of us will hide-away, avoiding seeing family and friends (30.2%)
- Only 14.3% actually turn to friends and family for support during times of low confidence
- 17% say low self-confidence affects our performance at work (this is more true of men than women (19.2% vs 15.9%)
- Women are twice as more likely to find solace in a movie or shopping spree than men (21% vs 10%)

More than half of us agree (55%) that the best thing about having self-confidence is a more positive outlook on life.

Finally, this quarter’s confidence champion was cited as Cheryl Cole, who only marginally pipped Freddie Flintoff to the post. However, as a show of loyalty, women are more likely to back their female champion, Cheryl, whereas men are more likely to back Freddie. In third place, was the doyen of conservative party politics, David Cameron.

For more self-confidence tips visit pomegreat.com.