Do You Smell That? It's Sensa

On January 26th, svelte TV host Dayna Devon is bringing a new diet product the pantheon of impulse shopping: HSN. In case you've never dealt with insomnia, that's the Home Shopping Network's hip moniker.

The new diet product? Sensa - aka the Sprinkle Diet

Don't get too excited, it's not the little candy dealies that decorate your ice cream binge (if only those could make me thin). It's a chemical that convinces your brain that you're full. According to the Sensa website, the "Tastants" enhances the smell of food in order to trigger the "satiety center" of the brain (which, coincidentally, is close to the chocolate covered cortex) to make you stop eating. Just sprinkle on some of this magic dust - available in Salty or Sweet varieties - on at every meal.

It's supposed to help you train your brain to recognize portions. But, I liken it more to Flavor Tripping, where you pop an African berry (or gum or pill containing the active enzyme) in your mouth and suddenly everything is sweet and delicious. Your sense of taste, sweet taste specifically, become heightened. You could, without exaggeration, eat a lemon straight up and enjoy every second. However, the opposite tends to happen - you eat everything.

But Sensa, honestly, kinda freaks me out. I mean, it seems like a good idea, but it's a little Jetson-esque. The idea of sprinkling a compound on my foods kind of rubs me the wrong way (especially if said food is natural/organic/expensive). But more worrisome, is the lack of long term testing. Sure, there's a good amount of success stories, and studies to back it up. I'm a big believer of finding a diet that works for you. But, in the long run, what are the effects?

Sensa is pretty pricey - or I would've tried it before doing a write up (I still might try...ya know, for research). It's been available prior to the HSN launch tonight. It's about $60 for a month's supply, and $235 for 6 months worth. The Sensa website claims that the "average" test subject lost 30.5 pounds.

It's worth a look - again, if it works for you and you can stick to it, that's the diet you should go with. Success will not happen if you're feeling a struggle. Some dieters have really liked the product, and have found success.

For more info, check out trysensa.com or check out their own diet blog.