29 May 2018

How quiet classical music can help your waistline

From Upbeat, 2:22 pm on 29 May 2018

 

Listening to quiet classical music can benefit your waistline.

Research done at the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business in Tampa, and printed in Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, has found playing music at a low volume led to people choosing healthier food options.

individual chocolate souffle

Photo: Martiapunts / Fotolia

Researchers now think quiet classical music can induce relaxation and help influence positive decision making.

Originally researchers played classical, jazz and death metal at either 55 decibels (approximately the level of normal conversation) or 70 decibels (approximately the level of a vacuum cleaner) in a café to patrons.

They discovered when the café played quieter music people chose healthier options, like salads, 10 percent more often.

Then researchers put 71 students through a test either listening to classical music at 50 or 70 decibels, or to silence.

They then asked them if they would choose fruit salad or chocolate cake.

44 percent of those listening to loud music chose chocolate cake, while only 14 percent of those who’d were listening to quiet music chose the cake.

Those subjected to silence chose the chocolate cake 50 percent of the time.

It was also discovered those who listened to quiet heavy metal made healthy choices 92 percent of the time.

But life is too short to listen to soft music right?

Maybe you could enjoy a gluten-free death by chocolate cake by Upbeat’s Zoë George while enjoying these classical tunes turned up loud.

Adams’ ‘Short Ride in a Fast Machine’

Performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Edo de Waart and recorded by RNZ Concert in August 2017.

This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

 

Wagner’s ‘Ride of the Valkyries’

Turn this one right up!

 

Tchaikovsky’s ‘1812 Overture’

It might start softly, but you can’t get much louder than cannons.