It is the beginning of a new year which means that you or someone you know is probably trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
A big part of that tends to be eating healthily but we have to say that some of the tips we’ve come across are a little weird.
From smelling green apples to eating off a blue plate, we’ve gathered seven strange weight loss tips which we may or may not have tried…
Get your smell on
A number of studies have found that smelling certain foods can make you feel less hungry, leading to weight loss. US neurologist Dr Alan R. Hirsch quoted peppermint, green apples and bananas as the most effective products for this.
Eat a bigger breakfast
Traditionally, breakfast is smaller than dinner. However researchers found that those who eat bigger earlier in the day and smaller later in the day (despite eating the same foods) lose weight. It could be to do with the fact that you have the rest of the day to work off those cals!
Light it up
According to Reader’s Digest, vanilla is said to be an aroma that curbs your appetite, especially for sweet things. In another study, volunteers lost weight by wearing vanilla-scented patches. Think we’ll just stick to lighting our vanilla Yankee Candle after dinner.
It can never be too blue
Research has found that certain colours discourage people from eating. A blue room or plate is said to make food look less appealing thus making you consume less. Colours that apparently encourage overindulgence include yellow and red. (Sneeky McDonald’s.)
Eat chocolate
It might sound contradictory but a book called Eat Chocolate, Lose Weight (sounds like our kind of book) once claimed that eating chocolate either 20 minutes before or five minutes after a meal can reduce your appetite. Hey, we’re willing to give anything a try!
Stay cool
This is a hotly debated tip but one that we think is worth mentioning purely because a number of surveys have found a link between obesity and warmer climates. It is believed that keeping cool, especially when you sleep, helps you to burn more calories.
Take it slow
Eating quickly is bad for your waistline and metabolism. That’s because by the time you realise you are full, you’ve probably already overeaten. It is also recommended that you cut your food into smaller pieces and chew 30 times before you swallow. Quite frankly, we have no time for this one!
