Colours that affect your appetite

COLOURS can evoke powerful emotions and memories. They can have a profound effect on your mood, your wellbeing and your behaviour.

In fact, colours have such an impact on human psychology that people have even made a living out of being colour consultants.

I might even go as far as saying that colours are a universally understood non-verbal language. How so? Well, ask yourself – when you envision the colour RED in association with relationships, which emotions come to mind? If you were thinking about LOVE and PASSION, it proves the thought that colours speak its own language.

Recently, several image, trend and style consultants spoke about the correlation between the colour of your tie and the impact and messaging it sends out in the business world. For example, purple was associated with confidence.

So, if colours can evoke such strong emotions and behaviour and send out such silent but impactful messages in relationships and even careers, why shouldn’t colours play a role in shaping our appetites?

Here are some fun facts on how the colour of your food (pic), kitchen, dining area or even plates may help increase or suppress your appetite:

Increase appetite

White – the colour that is associated with innocence and purity is said to discourage your brain from caring, causing over-eating and mindless snacking. Not so innocent a colour after all!

Green – fresh and natural, most people associate this colour with healthy eating (think salads). As such, the colour green can help increase one’s appetite because of its association with guilt-free, healthy food.

Red – a very intense colour. Red can increase one’s blood pressure, heart rate and energy, subsequently leading to a more voracious appetite.

Suppress appetite

Blue – supposedly the best colour to help suppress appetites. Evoking images of blue skies and oceans, the calming nature of this colour is said to soothe the body and slow down metabolism, thus curbing one’s appetite.

Brown, Grey and Black – all these colours are associated with a diminished appetite. This could be due to the fact that grey and black food items conjure up images of mold and decay, while brown is associated with overdone or burnt goods. What a turn off!

The next time you step into a restaurant, note the colour of their walls, the plates or even the chairs! How did you feel? Ravenously hungry or not at all?

Did those feelings and the colours of the restaurant match up with the colour guide above?

Author’s note: Not all of these colours may have the same effect on everyone. Therefore, it is not to be used as a hard and fast guide. Those embarking on a new dietary plan are advised to consult their healthcare provider or nutritionist while those who are thinking of redecorating their restaurant or kitchen can choose to consult with their interior decorators.

Payal Sadhwani is a PR consultant who has a passion for food and writing.