Amanda Hamilton's top tips on Office Unhealthy Habits

Office Culture Breeds Unhealthy Habits
• One in two workers don't leave the office all day
• 27 per cent snack on unhealthy foods at least one a day
• TV nutritionist Amanda Hamilton offers workers her top tips
Research released today by Dole Live Right suggests that work is making us unhealthy, with work environment (28 per cent), stress (25 per cent) and colleagues (25 per cent) being the biggest culprits causing Brits to develop bad lifestyle habits. These include snacking on unhealthy foods (47 per cent), not drinking enough water (59 per cent) and standing on the escalators or using a lift instead of the stairs (22 per cent). Half of Brits (50 per cent) also admitted that they never left the office during the day for fresh air.
The Dole Live Right study also discovered that one in four people (27 per cent) snack on biscuits and chocolate bars at least once a day and we drink an average of three cups of tea or coffee a day. In spite of what they would like to do it seems some of us are simply too busy (or too lazy!) to leave our desks as 41 per cent don't go to the toilet when they really need it, and 47 per cent claim they haven't gotten a drink when they are thirsty as they simply can't be bothered.
TV nutritionist Amanda Hamilton visits bustling Soho to delve into the drawers of a couple of busy office workers to discover their bad snacking habits.
Leading TV nutritionist and author Amanda Hamilton said: "We have the best intentions to save time by eating at our desks so we can focus on our work, but the foods that we snack on, along with the other bad habits are actually causing people to be less productive which can mean that simple tasks are taking longer than they should. It's important to do small things to keep your brain - and ideally your body - active.
"Eating healthier snacks is a simple step that pays dividends. Fruit or nut based snacks such as Dole Live Right are ideal for balancing protein and carbohydrate and ensuring consumption of hard-to-get nutrients such as selenium and zinc. Getting fresh air and drinking plenty of water are well-known ways to support productivity that are often forgotten in a stressful day."
ends -
Notes to editors:
Survey of 2,000 female workers via OnePoll March 2013
Amanda Hamilton's top tips
• Try to sip water throughout the day. Staying hydrated helps you concentrate and can even help keep wrinkles at bay! Keep a bottle of water close at hand to remind you
• The mind works best with good fuel and regular breaks. Try to take a brisk walk for five or ten minutes every few hours
• Make the most of your lunch hour. Short bursts of high intensity exercise are great for burning calories and getting lean
• Coffee and tea are fine in moderation but be careful not to become dependent. Two-three cups per day is a healthy limit for most people; ideally stop consuming caffeine after four o'clock so you can wind down properly in the evening
• Keep healthy snacks in your desk drawer or handbag for mid-morning or mid-afternoon munchies! Being prepared can dramatically cut down on your intake of calories, sugar and unhealthy fats; all typical of takeaway or vending machine options
• Keep food real! If you can't pronounce what it says on the label you probably shouldn't be eating it. If you eat foods containing real ingredients, such as Dole Live Right, you'll feel fuller for longer too
About Dole
The DOLE name is known and trusted by millions of people around the world for product quality, taste and goodness, contributing to your health and wellbeing. Dole Live Right is available from April in the healthy snacking aisle of Tesco.
For more information, visit www.dole.co.uk