We all know good smells can make us hungry. Just think what happens when you walk into a kitchen where chocolate chip cookies are baking. Or think about how your stomach growls when someone pops popcorn in your office!
Though smells can set off appetite, there’s a real question as to whether they can do the opposite.
Can aromatherapy help someone lose weight? Researchers behind a new study say yes.
TweetTests run by the Niigata University School of Medicine in Japan found that the smell of grapefruit and lavender help the body burn fat. (1)
They also help to stop our hunger in its tracks. Beyond this, there’s evidence that aromatherapy can help with some of the other issues that make us turn to food. (2) Let’s look at how scents can help us lose weight.
How to Use an Aromatherapy Inhaler
Whether you want to crush cravings or beat depression, there’s more to aromatherapy than a quick sniff.
To use an inhaler, open the bottle and take three long, slow breaths in. Breathe normally for 15 seconds, then repeat with another three breaths. You should repeat this process three times.
Make sure you take a deep smell through both nostrils and do it for at least five minutes.
Stopping Hunger
Did you know that smells can make you feel full? It’s true.
Inhaling an essential oil sends tiny molecules into the part of the brain that tells you you’ve eaten enough. It happens much faster than your stomach can send the same message.
The best oil for suppressing hunger is grapefruit, but these are good too:
- Ginger
- Cumin
- Dill
- Lemon
- Peppermint
- Sandalwood
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
Stopping Emotional Eating
It’s not news that one of the biggest obstacles to weight loss is emotional eating. When we feel sad, bored, anxious, or frustrated, we tend to eat.
Worse, when we eat because of stress, we’re rarely eating health food.
Essential oils can trigger the parts of your brain that give you a feeling of safety and comfort. They dispel anxiety and depression and stop your urge to eat comfort foods.
Choose from these scents:
- Vanilla
- Cocoa
How to Make Your Own Essential Oils
Instead of buying an expensive essential oil inhaler, try making your own. All you need is the oils of your choice, some coarse sea salt, and a small, dark glass or plastic bottle.
3 weight loss blend recipes
1. Fruity Weight Loss Blend
Put a teaspoon of salt in the bottle. Add 25 drops of grapefruit essential oil. Add 5 drops of lemon essential oil and 1 drop of vanilla essential oil.
2. Icy Fresh Weight Loss Blend
Put a teaspoon of salt in the bottle. Add 15 drops peppermint oil and 5 drops spearmint oil. Add 5 drops vanilla oil and 10 drops of bergamot oil.
3. Garden Fresh Weight Loss Blend
Put a teaspoon of salt in the bottle. Add 15 drops oregano essential oil and 5 drops basil oil. Add 5 drops thyme oil and 10 drops marjoram oil.
Aromatherapy and essential oils can offer tons of health benefits, and aiding in weight loss is just one of them.
You might also like:
The Truth About Essential Oils
8 Ways Eucalyptus Oil Heals Your Body
The Fat-Burning “Sniff Trick”: How Mint, Banana, and Apple Scents Boost Fat Loss
Yours in health and happiness,
Danette
P.S. Please share this with a friend who might not know about the incredible power of scents and essential oils in weight loss! Comment below…which of the weight loss blends above sounds the best to you?
