7 Weird Weight-Loss Helpers

Chocolate may actually help you slim down.

ByABC News
June 5, 2014, 11:25 AM
Chocolate may actually help you slim down.
Chocolate may actually help you slim down.
Stepan Popov/Getty Images

June 5, 2014— -- intro: If you want to shed pounds, you know the best way to do it: healthy eating and exercise.

That being said, we’ve learned about some pretty interesting—and, well, seriously strange—weight-loss tricks via research over the past year.

Check them out.

quicklist: 1category: Weird Weight-Loss Helperstitle: Whiffs of Pepperminturl:text: Smelling peppermint on the regular may help lower hunger levels and calorie intake, per a study we reported on in December.

The Scent That Can Ward Off Hunger

quicklist: 2category: Weird Weight-Loss Helperstitle: Your Dishware—If It’s the Right Colorurl:text: A study published last month found that using red plates could help you eat less.

quicklist: 3category: Weird Weight-Loss Helperstitle: Cold Hard Cashurl:text: Paying with bills instead of a credit card may help you pick out healthier foods, according to research reported on in the fall.

quicklist: 4category: Weird Weight-Loss Helperstitle: Chocolateurl:text: Chowing down on the sweet stuff is associated with lower levels of abdominal fat, according to research we told you about in November. And while that’s clearly not causation, we’ll take it!

quicklist: 5category: Weird Weight-Loss Helperstitle: The Temp in Your Bedroomurl:text: Turning down your thermostat at night may give your weight-loss efforts a boost.

In a study we told you about last summer, participants who slept in a 66-degree room burned more than seven percent more calories while Zzzing than participants who slept in a 75-degree room.

How to Burn More Calories While You Sleep

quicklist: 6category: Weird Weight-Loss Helperstitle: Low-Cal Food Pornurl:text: Sticking pics of low-cal grub on your fridge—and having a look before you snack—may help you eat less while dieting, suggests results from a study we told you about in November.

quicklist: 7category: Weird Weight-Loss Helperstitle: The State of Your Deskurl:text: Spend time in a tidy workspace versus a messy one, and you’ll be more likely to choose a healthy snack, says a study we reported on last summer. One point for organization!

The Surprising Reason You Want to Eat Junk Food