How to learn to eat less – this question occupies not only those who are trying to follow the figure, but also scientists. In this regard, what they just do not explore: cutlery, the size and color of dishes, photographs of food, companions … What else did the experts pay attention to in search of an answer and what conclusions did they come to?
Mirror in the kitchen
A mirror is a good helper in the fight against bad eating habits, according to a study conducted by psychologists from the University of Central Florida. The participants in the experiment were offered a choice of fruit salad or chocolate cake, as well as a room for eating – with or without mirrors.
Everyone without exception liked the salad, which cannot be said about the cake: those who ate it, looking at their reflection, it seemed not as tasty as their “partners” in the room without mirrors.
The mirror indicates to lovers of junk food that their behavior does not meet the standards of a healthy lifestyle
Author and study leader Ata Jami commented on the results: “Reflection does more than just let people know what they look like. It also allows them to objectively look at themselves and evaluate their actions in the same way that they evaluate the actions of others.
In his opinion, the mirror indicates to lovers of junk food that their behavior does not meet the standards of a healthy lifestyle and causes a feeling of discomfort. And it, in turn, does not allow you to fully enjoy, for example, the same cakes and seems to distort their taste.
Silence and awareness
A calm atmosphere could save us from overeating, according to Brigham Young University. The thing is that when we dine with loud music or TV, these sounds drown out our chewing, champing, swallowing, crunching – and as a result, we eat more. Everything changes when we just hear or even think about the sounds we make while eating.
Professor Ryan Elder notes: “In this way you deprive yourself of one of the senses, distort the perception of food, and this can lead to the fact that you eat more than usual. The difference may not seem like a big difference — like just one less crunchy pretzel a night — but it can be noticeable in a week, a month, or a year.”
Cleanliness around
In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, cleanliness also plays an important role in calorie intake. One of the authors of the study, Lenny Vartanian, is convinced of this: “Being in a chaotic environment is harmful for those who follow a diet. It makes them think, “Things are out of control, so why should I hold back?” I guess this applies to men as well.
The experiment was carried out on women: some were left for ten minutes in a clean and quiet kitchen, while others were left untidy and with a continuously ringing phone. On both occasions, the participants were treated to crackers, sweet biscuits, and carrots. The second group ate an average of 65 calories more. So for those who want to keep fit, Australian researchers urge to keep the kitchen clean.