An easy way to lose weight: just smell it! Discover the secret!
The scent of one's hometown meadows, the unforgettable delicacies of childhood—all these remain in our memories in the form of aromas. But the allure of smell extends beyond memory; new research has revealed that scents can comprehensively impact physical and mental health. Making good use of scents might just make a big difference in your life.
"Generally speaking, the aromas of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs in daily life can all affect health," experts say. Among them, people have studied the aromas of flowers and fruits most thoroughly, especially the aromatherapy popular in the West, which can regulate mood or cure various psychological and physiological diseases.
Suppressing appetite: Smell bananas and apples. A study by American neuroscientists from the Chicago-based Foundation for the Study of Smell and Taste in obese individuals, involving smelling bananas and apples when craving food, showed that participants who smelled these scents lost more weight. The principle behind this is that these scents suppress appetite. Smelling them before dinner can also help reduce food intake. Eating too much at dinner increases the digestive burden, leading to a decrease in the secretion of the sleep hormone melatonin. Melatonin lowers body temperature and physical activity levels, and promotes sleep. Furthermore, another study from Welling University in the United States showed that smelling peppermint every two hours can reduce daily calorie intake by 350 kcal, equivalent to about 100 grams of rice.
Add some lemon for a more refreshing boost. A study from Ohio State University in the United States shows that lemon flavor is more energizing because it can increase the concentration of adrenaline and maintain a peak level. Work fatigue is most likely to occur around 3 pm, and a glass of lemon water at this time can have a refreshing effect.
Lavender, a sweet companion to lull you to sleep. Research from the University of Southampton in the UK shows that sleeping in a room with lavender essential oil aromatherapy can improve sleep quality by 20%. A simple trick is to put a drop of lavender essential oil on the corner of your pillow; one drop is enough, as more can actually disrupt sleep.
To relieve headaches and anxiety, try peppermint. Research from Welling University in the United States indicates that peppermint has a soothing effect on headaches. Experts suggest that regularly smelling the aroma of peppermint at work can reduce anxiety, fatigue, and feelings of frustration, and can also enhance judgment. A simple method is to put a drop of peppermint essential oil on a tissue and smell it when feeling down.
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