
Craving junk food? Just take a whiff of it and save up on the calories
Just a whiff of fried food may entice you to order a high-calorie meal, but a new study says ambient food scent can directly satisfy the belly.
According to the study published in the journal, Marketing Research this is possible because the brain doesn’t necessarily differentiate the source of sensory pleasure.
“Ambient scent can be a powerful tool to resist cravings for indulgent foods,” said lead author Dipayan Biswas, PhD, a marketing professor at the University of South Florida College of Business.
“In fact, subtle sensory stimuli like scents can be more effective in influencing children’s and adults’ food choices than restrictive policies,” added Biswas.
He discovered a direct connection between the length of exposure time and whether or not one will indulge. He conducted a series of tests using an inconspicuous nebuliser, that separately gave off the scent of healthy and unhealthy food items. (cookies vs. strawberries, pizza vs. apples)
ALSO READ: Eat this, not that: 7 easy food swaps to aid weight loss
He found participants exposed to the smell of cookies for less than 30-seconds were more likely to want a cookie. But those exposed for longer than two minutes didn’t find that cookie desirable and picked strawberries instead. He had the same results when the scent of pizza and apples were tested.
Since non-indulgent foods don’t give off much of an ambient scent, they’re typically not connected with reward; therefore have little influence on what we order.
(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter

Trouble down there? Dr Cuterus has you covered

How pandemic redefined happiness

Code Pink: Why do lakes change colour?

India from the front seat: A project to record lockdown tales

Planning a quiz? Here’s how to pop the questions

All right, I’m in! Our favourite on-screen hackers, programmers and techies

The microprocessor is 50 years old. But what makes it so special?

Meet the men stirring up a storm with regional khana in NYC

Domestic travel sector optimistic with improving Covid situation: Official

Lincoln Center to emerge from pandemic with outdoor shows

Emporio Armani nods to 1980s in fall line at Milan Fashion Week
_1614343175511_1614343193555.jpg)
Bipasha Basu oozes oomph in barely buttoned shirt dress over bikini at Maldives
- Bipasha Basu floods the Internet with sultry pictures straight from the Maldives beach in a black bikini layered with a barely buttoned-down cinnamon blue and ivory striped silk shirt dress which is a closet must-have for a summer or fall day | Check pictures and fashion cues inside

Study reveals not all 'good' cholesterol is healthy

Malayalam poet Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri passes away
_1614340640930_1614340654736.jpg)