The ‘comfort eating gene’ debate

Researchers have found an "anxiety gene" which when activated not only causes stress but increases our craving for comfort food. They believe that the gene could be the reason for the phenomenon of "comfort eating".

These findings correlate with a Rescue survey that found eating is the UK’s biggest stress reliever beating talking, alcohol and exercise. However, it is well known that stress is not the only emotion to cause comfort eating. A Bach survey found that that boredom is actually more likely to cause Brits to reach for the biscuit tin or sweetie jar than stress. This suggests that our habits and daily routine have just as much impact on our comfort eating behaviour as our DNA make up.

Whatever the cause of comfort eating there is a Bach product to suit everyone:

Bach Emotional Eating Kit is a set of three 10ml flower essences to give a helping hand with diet and healthy living regimes. It is the first product available in the UK to help with emotional eating. You can create your own individual combination and adapt it to suit your changing moods. The essences are alcohol and additive free and suitable for the whole family.

Bach Emotional Eating Kit includes the essences:

• Crab Apple – When you feel unclean or dislike something about yourself, Crab Apple can help you accept yourself and your imperfections. Self acceptance means you will be less likely to rely on food to make you feel good.

• Cherry Plum – When you fear you might lose control of your diet, Cherry Plum can help you to think and act rationally.

• Chestnut Bud – When you find yourself repeating the same dieting mistakes, Chestnut Bud can help you gain knowledge from your experience. This means you are less likely to fall into your old bad habits, for example reaching for food when things get tough.

Rescue Pastilles contain the famous combination of five flower essences in a tasty soothing fruit pastille.

The Bach Emotional Eating Kit is priced at £9.95 and Rescue Pastilles at £5.15.

Both are available from Boots, Holland & Barrett, Lloydspharmacy, independent pharmacies and health food stores as well as grocery stores nationwide.

For more information visit: nelsonsnaturalworld.com