Researchers from the Nestle Research Center in Switzerland used electrical neuroimaging to map out whether images of high- or low-calorie food affected the brain differently. When study participants viewed high calorie food images such as pizza and pastries, they reported the taste of what they were eating to be more pleasant, compared to when they looked at pictures of low-calorie foods, like melon and beans—even though they were eating the same thing.
In other words, looking at mouthwatering images of bacon-loaded French fries and ooey-gooey mac and cheese might actually make your salad taste better. This isn’t the first time research has shown that they way we think about food can affect our taste buds. A 2010 study found that people who imagined eating decadent foods, like an entire bag of M&Ms;, actually ended up having fewer cravings for those indulgent snacks. Bottom line: Go ahead and indulge in some Cupcake Wars without worrying about your waistline. Also see: 6 Ways To Stop Overeating, Food Flips For Weight Loss, 10 Tricks To Reboot Your Brain
