What role does smell play in the taste of food?
Can you change your eating habits simply by altering the smell of your food?
You've probably heard about diet programs that are based on sprinkling scented crystals on your food or sniffing scented inhalers. These diets have become popular, largely because they offer the promise of "effortless" weight loss. But, do they actually work? Can simply changing the way your food smells make a difference in the amount you eat? The short answer is, we don't really know, but it's unlikely.
Like all good "stories," there is a kernel of truth at the core of these programs. This makes them seem believable at first, but when you dig a bit deeper, there's not much research to back up the claims.
First, let's understand what flavor is. What we think of as simple "flavor" is really a complex process that involves taste, smell and texture. Our tongue senses the basic taste of a food - whether the food is sweet, sour, bitter, salty, umami, or a combination. But that's not all. Our nose also smells the aroma of the food, and our mouth feels the food's texture. Some researchers even think the other 2 senses (sight and hearing) also play roles. They believe that how a food looks and the sounds it makes as you chew it can also affect what you perceive as the food's "flavor."
So, the sense of smell does play a role, but how much of a role is not fully known. More importantly, it is unknown if the sense of smell can be "separated" from the other senses in order to alter a person's taste significantly.
With that background, let's look at our question - do these aroma-based diet programs work? Though some research has been done in this area, nothing conclusive has been determined. All of the studies to date have been sponsored by companies that manufacture or sell products designed to alter your eating habits based on smell. In other words, they have a vested interest in the study result "proving" that their products work. This doesn't mean that they are purposely deceiving us, but it does mean that their studies may be biased.
Further, the success of these programs is largely based on anecdotal evidence, not scientific research. This doesn't mean that these programs don't work at all. It just means that there is no scientific data that shows they work consistently.
Is there a better way to lose weight? Research shows that you are much better off eating a healthy, balanced diet that focuses on eating a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, and that minimizes processed foods, fat and added sugar. Couple this balanced diet with increased exercise and you have a much better approach than trying to "trick" your body into thinking that it's full!
Michael McCauley is a Certified Personal Fitness Chef and Nutrition Specialist, author and speaker. Read his blog at http://www.HealthyFamilyFuture.com/blog. His company, Vitaerobics, and its signature approach, The P.O.W.E.R. Path to a Healthy Future, have helped more than 750,000 people create their own healthy family future, and it can help you too. Author of several books, his FREE eBook "Do You Wish Your Kids Ate Better" will get you started on your own path to creating a healthy future for yourself and those you love. Get your copy today, along with 6 of his most popular tip sheets, at: http://www.HealthyFamilyFuture.com/GiftForYou
