Mya Nelson
Can’t stop eating? Food scientists are on the case.
According to a paper published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists may soon be developing a new generation of foods that release hunger-sating aromas. The goal is that these foods will prevent people from overeating by releasing fullness-inducing scents during chewing.
The future of foods may include releasing anti-hunger aromas during chewing.
Previously, scientists have worked to develop tasty foods that trigger a feeling of fullness, but their effect only went into action after they were swallowed. The paper’s authors found that aromas released during chewing contribute to the feeling of fullness and possibly to the decision to stop eating. Molecules that make up a food’s aroma apparently do so by activating areas of the brain that signal fullness.
This field of research is still preliminary, note the authors, and right now there’s no real food products.
But luckily, there are plenty of eating habits you can try now to help you feel full without feeling hungry. One way is to follow the New American Plate way of eating, filling up your plate with at least two-thirds fruits, vegetables, and grains. The fiber and water in plant foods gives a feeling of fullness without supplying a lot of calories.
Do you have any strategies to stop eating and/or feel full? Share.
