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No doubt you’ve heard of the placebo effect. But if you think it stops with sugar pills you don’t know the half of it. On two occasions psychologist and researcher Alia Crum and her team conducted a “mind over milkshake” experiment. Participants were given a 300 calorie milkshake. However they were told it was either a 620 calorie indulgent treat or a 140 calorie sensible shake. The participants who thought they got the high-calorie treat experienced an increase in their hunger-inducing hormones that regulate metabolism. The sensible shake folks didn’t. Their bodies responded not to the shake itself, but to what their minds had been told. This research gives a whole new dimension to the statement “it’s all in your mind.”
Psychologist Ellen Langer’s book, The Mindful Body, challenges the idea that our health and cognitive abilities inevitably decline over time. In fact, her work, like Crum’s, proves the point that it’s often our limiting beliefs that keep us from living our entire lives with full vitality. By simply holding a belief, we can create physical changes in our body.
Examples
In another study Langer found that when hotel housekeepers were told their work was physically beneficial (comparable to exercise), they began to lose weight and show improvements in their health—even though their workload hadn’t changed. This research suggests that what we believe about our health and our bodies can create a tangible impact on our well-being.
Another well-known study by Langer is the “counterclockwise study.” It involved elderly men who were placed in an environment designed to mimic their youth in the 1950s. After just one week of living in this environment, the men showed measurable improvements in physical strength, flexibility, vision, and even cognitive abilities. The study suggests that by mentally reconnecting with their youth, they were able to experience rejuvenation physically.
Even surgeons have done studies involving placebo or sham surgery. In this situation the patient is told they will have surgery and put under anesthesia. The surgeon makes an appropriate incision, then stitches it up, or it is an endoscopic procedure. Either way the patient is told they have had successful surgery and then given time to heal. This has been found to be effective in the treatment of a variety of conditions including knee osteoarthritis, obesity, reflux disease, and has reduced Parkinson’s symptoms.
Everyday Placebos
While these examples might sound extreme, you actually can and probably are harnessing this power of belief in your everyday life. Cultivating positive emotions can also influence health. Feelings such as gratitude, optimism, and joy have been shown to reduce stress levels and improve immune function. Studies indicate that individuals who maintain a positive outlook on life experience lower rates of chronic illness, recover more quickly from injuries, and have longer lifespans.
Mindfulness is another everyday placebo that has been linked to better physical health. This involves three things. First, staying present. Second, paying attention to your thoughts and feelings without judgment. Lastly, cultivating awareness of your body and environment. Research has shown that mindfulness practices can lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, improve sleep, help manage inflammation, and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Not Genetics
Beyond external medical interventions, it’s important to realize the implications of these studies. We all hold a significant amount of control over our health. Living your 100 Year Lifestyle® means that you are prioritizing the health of your spine and nervous system. It also means that you are exercising, eating properly, sleeping enough, and maintaining healthy relationships. You are dealing with all the aspects of life that lead to a joyous, long, healthy life. And you also know that it is your lifestyle and the decisions you make every day that are the strongest contributors to that joyous, long, healthy life—not your genetics.
Now, being aware of Langer’s work, you can fully utilize the power of maintaining good mental habits and a healthy mindset. Know that your mind holds incredible power over your health, shaping everything from how you experience illness to how quickly you heal. The way you think about your health—and your capacity to change—can create profound physical benefits. This definitely questions the extent of the power of that genetic predisposition, and your tools in dealing with it.
The Path
Do you really want to harness the full power of your mind and body and experience a lifetime of health and vitality? Then commit to supporting your body’s innate intelligence with lifestyle chiropractic care. Your 100 Year Lifestyle provider can put you on the path to healthy longevity, and help you stay there. Don’t have a provider? Find one near you!
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