Over the years I’ve been told of many things that supposedly help suppress your appetite, but today I’m going to tell you about eight of them that have actually been proven to work, and aren’t just an old-wives tale that we get roped into believing. Here are 8 things to help suppress your appetite, helpful if you’re trying to diet!

1. Drink Plenty Of Water

You would be amazed at how often people eat (myself included!) when they are actually thirsty. It’s quite common for the brain to give off the signal for “I’m hungry” when really you have quite a full stomach, and are actually thirsty. It also helps prevent boredom snacking, and anxiety eating. If you are about to eat something for any reason other than being genuinely hungry, have a glass or two of water first, it might satisfy you just as well and without all the extra calories.

2. Take A Multivitamin

The human body is pretty amazing in that it can tell what nutrients it needs to function properly, and which ones you aren’t getting. For example, as a vegetarian there are times when I can an intense craving for food, even though my stomach is full and I’m not actually hungry, that it is really telling me is that I haven’t eaten enough protein, and after a multivitamin and a small serve of protein-rich foods (such as beans and legumes) I feel fine. It’s not actually hunger, it’s nutrient cravings. So have a multivitamin and see how you feel after that, it could be that you only need one mineral, not an entire meal!

3. Eat Regularly and Chew Slowly

The ideal amount of food to eat daily varies with different people and their needs, but no matter how much food you eat, the best thing you can do to suppress hunger and get the most out of a meal is to make them small and frequent. Eating 5 small meals daily with lots of healthy snacks (like seeds, nuts and raw vegetables) will keep your metabolism going and give you lots of energy. When you do eat, make sure you chew slowly. It takes approximately 20 minutes for your brain to register that the stomach is full, so by chewing slowly you are more likely to realise you are full rather than have a full stomach and still feel hungry, and end up stuffing yourself!