From the title of the article, you may think that research has found stone and shake exteriors to be high in essential vitamins. However, a recent post by Reader’s Digest provides a much simpler solution for people who want to lose weight.

According to the article, researchers have found that people eat 33 percent less in a blue room. Apparently, the bluish light makes food seem less appealing. Of course, before you commit to a full-scale paint job, Reader’s Digest recommends using blue tablecloths, place mats and napkins. If you were planning on painting your dining room orange, yellow or red, you may want to reconsider. These colors have been found to stimulate appetite, which explains why the majority of fast food restaurants share similar color schemes.

If you’ve just installed new granite countertops and the thought of repainting makes you cringe, here are some other tips from Reader’s Digest:

• Go out and buy a vanilla-scented candle. While you may think that the aroma will just put you in the mood for dessert, it has actually been shown to reduce cravings for sweets.
• After you light that candle, put on some relaxing music. Soft music may encourage more leisurely chewing while preventing stress-related eating.
• Although the two previous tips may sound like you’re setting the mood for a romantic dinner, the third suggestion is to turn up the lights. The article claims that restaurants dim lights to lower eating inhibitions.

If you try any of these tips, let us know how they work out for you. Do you have any suggestions for unusual ways to lose weight?