Comfort of savings

End junk food craving...just sniff it

PEOPLE who struggle to fight a craving for junk food should sniff it for at least two minutes, researchers claimed yesterday.

Experts said an extended smell of unhealthy, fatty food is enough to put people off eating it.

While a whiff of fried food may entice people to order a high-calorie meal, researchers claim breathing it for longer than two minutes can tempt them towards a healthier alternative.

A study published in the Journal of Marketing Research found ambient food scent can directly satisfy the belly because the brain does not differentiate the source of sensory pleasure.

Lead author Dr Dipayan Biswas, of the University of South Florida, said: “Ambient scent can be a powerful tool to resist cravings for indulgent foods. Subtle sensory stimuli like scents can be more effective in influencing children’s and adults’ food choices than restrictive policies.”

Dr Biswas conducted a series of tests using the scent of food items, such strawberries, apples, pizza and biscuits. RESEARCHERS who asked what made you financially comfortable were told number one was savings, followed by having no debt.

Also listed was being savvy about money, plus two holidays a year, not looking at price tags and owning more than one property.

However, in the poll of 2,000 adults by Skipton Building Society, fewer than half said they felt financially comfortable.

Skipton’s Kris Brewster said feeling good about money is “about making sensible decisions”.