Smelling Apples or Bananas: The Surprising Weight Loss Hack
Are you sick and tired of crash diets, counting calories, and sweating it out at the gym to lose weight? A simple way to do that without all the effort is to sniff an apple or banana. Although this sounds unbelievable, science backs this claim up.
Let’s first explore how our sense of smell affects appetite and cravings. The olfactory system, responsible for our understanding of smell, is closely tied to the brain’s pleasure and reward centers; when we smell something enjoyable, it may release dopamine – a feel-good hormone – while unpleasant scents may trigger an opposite response and leave us queasy or turned off.
Now how does this relate to weight loss?
Well, studies have revealed that just the smell of food can significantly decrease our appetite and cravings. One such study published by the Journal of Neurological and Orthopedic Medicine and Surgery demonstrated this by finding that obese patients who sniffed green apples before meals lost more weight than those who didn’t due to its scent stimulating physiological receptors and making them feel satisfied by smaller portions.
Studies from France’s University of Bourgogne Franche-Comte demonstrated that participants who inhaled banana fragrance for 30 seconds before each meal reduced their calorie consumption by an average of 200. Researchers speculated that smelling a banana fragrance may mislead our minds into believing we have already consumed more food than is the case.
Apples or bananas won’t magically cause you to shed pounds if you consistently eat more calories than you burn
Smelling apples or bananas may be an effective tool in your weight-loss arsenal. Try sniffing some fruit before meals to curb appetite, diffuse apple or banana essential oils around the home, office, or wherever else possible, or carry around a small sachet containing dried peels and slices from dried fruit when feeling the urge for snacks like potato chips and inhale its aroma whenever it appears.
Finally, consider other advantages of inhaling fruit aromas besides weight loss. First and foremost, inhaling pleasant scents can improve your mood and decrease stress, invoking feelings of calmness, contentment, and relaxation. Furthermore, fruits like apples and bananas contain phytochemicals and antioxidants, which may protect you against disease while strengthening immunity.
Refrain from discounting the power of scent regarding weight loss. Smelling apples or bananas can be an easy yet effective way to curb appetite, decrease calorie intake and enhance mood and health. Next time you go and reach for chips or candy bars, try inhaling some fruit and watch how this impacts cravings! Here’s to a healthier, happier you!
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for a daily dose of positivity!