Researchers from the University of Texas found that when you think a food is good for you, you eat more of it. Scientists gave two groups of people popcorn, but told one group that the snack was “healthy” and the other that it was “unhealthy.” The people who thought they were eating diet popcorn chowed down 2.33 cups compared to 1 cup.
The reason: Your brain tricks you into feeling less full when you eat a food that you think is healthy, says study author Jacob Suher. This phenomenon was confirmed in another study: The scientists gave people either a “healthy” or “unhealthy” cookie. The subjects who ate the supposedly virtuous treats reported that they were hungrier afterwards.
You may unconsciously think that healthy foods are light - as in, not filling, says Suher. That belief is drilled into your brain every time you eat a quarter pounder with cheese and feel stuffed afterwards, or opt for a garden salad and feel famished 30 minutes later.
Over time, your body becomes conditioned to feel dissatisfied when you eat things you consider “healthy”- even if the food contains plenty of calories, protein, fat, and fibre that should fill you up.
Of course, it’s fine to gorge on something like fresh vegetables. But be careful with your portion sizes when eating high-calorie foods that are advertised as good for you, Suher says. Think: “All-natural” gluten-free pizza, or cookies in wholesome-looking packaging. These foods still contain lots of calories, and overeating them can spell bad news for your belly.
