Desperate cravings for food can be sated as easily asking the person affected to imagine the smell of eucalyptus, Australian research shows.

The findings could have implications for drug and alcohol addiction and help in treating eating disorders such as bulimia.

In the latest issue of current directions in physcological sciences, psychology researcher Dr Eva Kemps and colleague Dr Marika Tiggeman examine the psychology of food cravings.

Kemps, who is from Adelaide’s flinders university says food cravings have been documented as far back as the late 17th century.

She says while most people will experience a food craving on occasion, these are not necessarily pathological.

“However, like cravings for cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine or drugs they can pose significant health risks for some individuals,” she says.

“Food cravings have been shown to trigger binge-eating episodes, which in turn contribute to both obesity and disordered eating, especially bulimia nervosa.”

Kemps says a craving is notable for the specificity of the desire.

“It’s more than just a desire for chocolate,” she says. “It is very, very specific … it might be one particular type of chocolate.”

“People who have problematic cravings, find these cravings very debilitating in their day to day functioning.”

Courtesy by abc.net.au