Healthy Ways to Control Your Appetite

Most of us engage in a tricky relationship with food. We love to eat, but we start avoiding food like the plague once we see the pounds piling on. We go on crash diets and some might prove to be effective, but once we return to our normal eating habits, we end up gaining more weight than we lost. This can be very frustrating indeed, but fortunately, there are a number of healthy and effective ways that can help curb that bane we have to live with everyday - our tremendous appetites.

One proven way to manage our appetites is to drink plenty of water. Several studies have shown that sometimes, our brains can mistake thirst for hunger. By making sure that we consume eight to twelve glasses of water daily, we can keep our bodies constantly hydrated, making it easier to tell if we are truly hungry or just craving for liquids. Drinking a glass of water before every meal also helps us feel full faster, helping us control our food portions. And speaking of portions, another tip to try is to eat our meals on a smaller plate. A small plate filled with food tricks our brain into thinking that we are eating a lot when in fact we are eating less. Some psychologists also say that eating on a blue plate is even better. It is believed that colours have mind-altering effects and that blue is a good colour for suppressing the appetite. Finally, how many of us have experienced craving for a snack even when we just had lunch thirty minutes ago? In moments like this, experts advise that chewing on a mint-flavoured gum can actually help us forget our cravings. The minty flavour of the gum is also said to be effective in suppressing a sweet tooth.

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