Bad diet affects sex life

Bad diets and stressful lifestyles are wreaking havoc with the sex lives of 15 million Brits.

A third of us have flopped in the bedroom due to exhaustion from gruelling days in the office or digestive problems caused by eating the wrong foods at the wrong times.

Tiredness is the main reason for poor performance between the sheets but stomach aches, cramps, indigestion or headaches were also named as contributory factors.

As many as one in four people readily admitted that health issues - often brought on by stress - have caused difficulties in their relationship.

The stats emerged in a study of 3,000 people by Lactofree which commissioned the research to coincide with their Digestive Health report.

Six out of ten adults blamed problems like feeling bloated or unfulfilled on eating unhealthy food too late at night.

Just under half of the people polled on their dietary habits said they knowingly ate food which was going to cause them digestive problems of some sort.

Fourteen per cent said they had been left feeling 'unwanted' because of their lack of interest in the bedroom.

Pressures of modern life and financial worries were also cited as reasons for health problems.

David Cherrie, Lactofree Brand Manager, said: ''Bloating and generally feeling uncomfortable are common symptoms of digestive health problems, often brought on by intolerances to certain foods.

''With the hectic lives we lead today, many of us are reaching for convenient foods, which we are often intolerant to, causing symptoms we'd rather live without.''

The poll also revealed 64 per cent think poorer diets is the main reason for digestive problems being on the increase, followed by cheaper/processed foods (51 per cent) and poor knowledge of food (28 per cent).

And this has brought on symptoms including stomach ache and cramps (54 per cent), indigestion (40 per cent), tiredness (34 per cent), heartburn (31 per cent) and headaches (24 per cent).

However, forty per cent struggle to talk about their intimate health issues with their partner, friends or doctor which means many problems are left untreated and silent.

The research also shows Brits are most susceptible to wheat, caffeine and dairy intolerances, yet over a third of respondents think they suffer from intolerances they're not aware of.

Thirty per cent have missed events (such as nights out, meetings and birthdays) suffering from constipation, diarrhoea or stomach cramps.

It also emerged that a third feel 'passed off' by the health service - with limited advice and time given, and digestive problems deemed less serious than other illnesses.

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