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Scientists Unlock Secrets of the 'Placebo Effect'
A key brain center releases reward-linked chemical, study finds
By Krisha McCoy
THURSDAY, July 19 (HealthDay News) -- A new study reveals a brain region behind the placebo effect -- the phenomenon in which a person's belief in the effectiveness of a treatment boosts its effect.
With the placebo effect, your belief that a treatment will work actually causes you to feel the beneficial effects, even when you are only given a placebo (e.g., sugar pill).
In a study published in the July 19 issue of Neuron, researchers at the
Previous research has suggested that the NAC may be involved in the placebo effect.
The researchers told study participants that they were testing a new pain-killing drug and that the participants would receive either the drug or a placebo. But the researchers gave all of the participants a placebo injection of salt solution.
The participants rated their expectation of the pain-killing effects of the "drug," as well as the level of pain relief they felt with and without the "drug" from a moderately painful injection of salt solution in their jaw muscle.
For the first experiment, the researchers used positron emission spectroscopy to measure release from the NAC of the neurotransmitter dopamine -- a chemical trigger of the brain's reward response.
The greater the participants' expectation of the pain-killing benefit of the "drug," the greater the dopamine release from the NAC. In addition, the participants who reported more relief from the "drug" when they did experience pain showed greater NAC activity when they received the placebo before the pain.
In another experiment, the researchers told the subjects to expect monetary rewards of different amounts, while scanning their brains with functional magnetic resonance imaging. The participants who showed greater activation of the NAC during this reward processing also showed greater anticipation of the effectiveness of a placebo.
According to the study authors, the findings support the theory that the NAC system may need to be activated to allow the placebo effect to occur. This information may be used in the future to develop new therapies for a variety of conditions.
More information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more about the placebo effect.
SOURCE: Cell Press, news release, July 18, 2007
Copyright 2010 HealthDayNews, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright © 2010 ABC News Internet Ventures
Source : http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=4508003
Stabilizing Your Blood Sugar
Blood sugar (glucose) is the fuel for every single cell in your body. Stable blood sugar level helps prevent complications like diabetes, heart disease, memory problems and fertility problems. It is also key to feeling energized throughout the day as well as controlling hunger. Your blood sugar levels are linked to the type and amount of food you eat, and your body's ability to create and use insulin - a hormone which regulates the energy and glucose metabolism in your body.
Glucose levels or blood sugar concentration needs to be regulated as part of the metabolic homeostasis (balance) because it affects how the body distributes glucose. The normal blood glucose or sugar level for humans should be around 90 mg/100ml, or 5mM (mmol/l). Of course there are numerous medicines in the market which can help to lower blood sugar, but many of these have side effects like weight gain, hypoglycemia and gastrointestinal discomfort.
So here are some natural ways to stabilize blood sugar:
So here are some natural ways to stabilize blood sugar:
1. Have Cinnamon (dalchini): Cinnamon moderately lowers blood sugar by increasing insulin sensitivity. Cinnamon contains a natural water-soluble polyphenol compound called MHCP that mimics the effect of insulin, and works synergistically with insulin in cells. But the effect still remains a debate among researchers as several studies have shown this positive result while others have shown no significant effect. To include cinnamon in your diet, just sprinkle it over your coffee, cereral, and tea.
2. Eat often: In order to stabilize blood sugar you must eat small, frequent, and balanced meals/snacks every 2-3 hours. This will help avoid a blood sugar surge and a big release of insulin that results after a large meal, and will allow the blood sugar less time to drop between meals. The sizes of the meals should be reduced accordingly so that the total caloric intake doesn't change.
3. Eat high fiber food: Fiber is the undigested part of grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits. When high fiber (particularly soluble fiber found in beans, oats, apples, citrus fruits and barley) foods are eaten, the sugar/glucose is absorbed more slowly, thus preventing the sharp spikes and lows of blood sugar. A diet that includes insoluble fiber (found in wheat bran, nuts and whole wheat flour) has been associated with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
4. Stay away from bad carbs: Perhaps the single most influential food group to your blood glucose is carbohydrates, which causes the levels to rise. Stay away from foods comprising of bad carbohydrates like soft drinks, pastries, cookies, cakes, candy, pies, table sugar, jellies, and jams. These foods can cause your blood sugar levels to spike. On the other hand, good carbs are full of vitamins, minerals and fiber, causing minimal impact on your blood sugar levels.
5. Exercise: Physical activity helps the body control blood glucose as well. Here, regularity is also the key. According to a new study done by CDC, brisk walking on a regular basis can lengthen the lives of people with diabetes as walking makes cells more receptive to insulin, which leads to better control of blood sugar. Along with about an hour of aerobic exercise four to six times a week, lifting weights two to three times a week can dramatically improve blood sugar regulation. Muscles not only helps absorb sugar and lower blood sugar levels, but it also increases your metabolism and overall insulin sensitivity.
6. Have lemon juice: Lemons contain vitamin C, rutin and limonene that can lower the glycemic index of a meal considerably. Squeeze lemon juice over your food or have a glass of lemon juice after every meal. Avoid adding sugar in it.
7. Black Tea: According to a report in the Journal of Food Science, black tea contains a substance that mimics some of the type 2 diabetes drugs to reduce blood sugar. The researchers found that black tea contain polysaccharides that can inhibit an enzyme called alpha-glucosidase, which turns starch into glucose. Green or oolong tea also contain this polysaccharide compound, but black tea has more of this substance.
8. Don't miss Chromium: Chromium may help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar. Chromium is an active component of glucose tolerance factor (GTF), which helps insulin improve its action. Several studies report that chromium supplements may improve diabetes control. However, benefit of chromium for diabetes has been debated for several years and more studies are needed to know how well it really works. The best sources of chromium are eggs, beef and grains.
9. Laugh: A study conducted by Japanese researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes who watched a comedy show and laughed soon after eating had significantly lower blood sugar levels than those who attended a boring lecture.
By keeping your blood sugar levels in a healthy range you can slash your risk of developing complications and live a long and healthy life.
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