[Rain]

I keep wanting to ask this, does anyone know what a "smell" really is?

I read that smell is a molecule that triggered chemical response in your olfactory system. If so, and you keep sniffing smells like frying bacons, eggs, and BBQ steak, why wouldn't the molecules go into you and sate appetite, just like normal food?

Why does it do the exact opposite? I mean, right now someone is frying bacon and it smells delicious, and I'm getting hungrier and hungrier instead of more full with every breath inhaled.

[nickf]

Rain, on Nov 8 2006, 05:37 AM, said:

I keep wanting to ask this, does anyone know what a "smell" really is?

I read that smell is a molecule that triggered chemical response in your olfactory system. If so, and you keep sniffing smells like frying bacons, eggs, and BBQ steak, why wouldn't the molecules go into you and sate appetite, just like normal food?

Why does it do the exact opposite? I mean, right now someone is frying bacon and it smells delicious, and I'm getting hungrier and hungrier instead of more full with every breath inhaled.

mmm, frying bacons, eggs, and BBQ steak.

nickf
sydney

[Al_U_Card]

Like its hard to fathom what a "billion" represents, one molecule is so tiny, it takes 600,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 of them to make up a mouthful or so.....therefore no danger of getting fat on the "smell".

Think of your olfactory bulb as a set of locks and each "molecule" (as tiny as it may be) as a key that when it "fits" into the lock causes an impulse to go to your brain that allows you to recognize it. The salivary reaction is totally involuntary and depends on your "appreciation" of the smell and your state of hunger....

[CanadaGrl]

Only you, Rainy Why I love ya lol

[hrothgar]

For me, the problem is that the smelling inevitably leads to eating, so I really don't worry much if the calories are coming from the smells or not...

[macaw]

It's not the smells, it just thinking about food that does it

[Gerben42]

Smells don't make you fat. They DO make you start buying food you didn't think of buying though, and then eating it.

[akhare]

A significant portion of our sense of taste is derived from smell and it has a powerful impact on our appetites as well. It's interesting as to note how cultural background and upbringing influences what smells are deemed as appetizing/revolting.

For instance, the smells of most of the foods mentioned in this thread (bacon, steak) would likely make me feel like throwing up. By the same token, I know someone who finds the smell of cilantro obnoxious and I wouldn't be suprised if the spices I adore have a similar effect on other people ....

[mr1303]

Try smelling something vegan. It might do you good.

Mark, who has never met a fat vegan.

[keylime]

Extra crispy bacon....cookies 'n cream ice cream....biscuits with sausage gravy....damn, this head cold is really a b****.

[akhare]

mr1303, on Nov 8 2006, 07:06 PM, said:

Try smelling something vegan. It might do you good.

Mark, who has never met a fat vegan.

Yum -- being vegan myself, I agree w/ the first paragraph .

However, weight is just a function of "calories in" vs. "calories expended" and if being vegan becomes more mainstream, I am sure you will bump into some fat ones sooner or later ...