The Color Red Decreases Snack Food, Soda Binging

Back in January, researchers discovered that labeling foods with stop light colors (red for unhealthy, green for healthy) effectively deters people from unhealthy products.

Now, it seems like the color red itself can subconsciously affect eating habits.

A new study, published in the April issue of Appetite, found that "red elicits avoidance motivation across contexts." Research subjects drank less from a red-labeled cup than a blue-labeled cup, and even ate less from a red plate (in comparison to a blue or white plate).

The researchers served soft drinks and snack food, and the drinks even had a variety of flavors. Thus, the study authors propose that "red functions as a subtle stop signal that works outside of focused awareness and thereby reduces incidental food and drink intake." And here we were, thinking red was associated with hunger.