Curbing Hunger with Peppermint

You may be able to get some extra willpower against the munchies by following your nose.

In a study, inhaling the scent of peppermint every couple of hours helped people eat less overall -- and eat better.

The Nose Knows
By the end of the 2-week study, the people who had sniffed peppermint every couple of hours during the day had also consumed fewer calories and eaten less fat, less saturated fat, and less sugar than the nonsniffers did. Bonus: Peppermint also reduces feelings of hunger. Here's another scent that may help curb your appetite.

The Weight Is Over
A healthy weight and trim waist keep blood pressure down and lower your risk of lots of things you don't want -- like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer. And although there are plenty of tips and tricks for helping you eat less, a calorie-controlled diet and regular exercise remain the mainstays of weight control. But when you need a shrink-my-waist boost, try some of these ideas on for size as well:

• Ask yourself why. Most behavioral psychologists agree, finding out why you eat is key. Take this "why" test to find out your motivation for overeating.
• Try pen and ink. Studies prove that food diaries really do work. Find out how much more weight people lose with a food diary.
• Put money on it. Or some other reward. Discover how much more weight people lost when they were paid to do it.

Reading these can help you lose weight, too.