Placebo effect is the term applied by medical science to the therapeutical and healing effects of inert medicines and/or ritualistic or faith healing practices. When referring to medicines, placebo is a preparation which is pharmacologically inert but which may have a therapeutical effect based solely on the power of suggestion. It may be administered in any of the ways in which pharmaceutical products are administered.Sometimes known as non-specific effects or subject-expectancy effects, a so-called placebo effect (or its counterpart, the nocebo effect), occurs when a patient's symptoms are altered in some way (i.e., alleviated or exacerbated) by an otherwise inert treatment, due to the individual expecting or believing that it will work.The placebo effect occurs when a patient takes an inert substance (sometimes called a "sugar pill") in conjunction with the suggestion from an authority figure or from acquired information that the pill will aid in healing and the patient’s condition improves. This effect has been known for years.The word "placebo" has been used in many somewhat varying meanings; see below.

The following article contains a solid list of essential foods that you should incorporate into your diet to maintain a healthy heart. If you have some alternative suggestions for heart healthy foods by all means please submit your suggestions at the end with a few comments.

Author is starting the review of different diet progams. And asking for comments. Any takers? Also has a Maxine cartoon.

I have been thinking about dieting recently after a friend made a comment about my weight in comparison to Russel Crowe. The over indulgence over christmas is obviously starting to show. Interesting how important water is in relation to dieting...

This site is completely free, and is simply a collection of recipes, success stories, and articles centered around MUFAs (Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acids) in foods. Studies have shown MUFAs to be excellent for losing weight without feeling unsatisfied after eating. Anyone can post, read, and comment on recipes and stories on the site.

I'm a serious diabetic. I know that rice isn't "everything" in your diet, but avoiding carbs has been my goal. Your diet, with rice and fruits in what seem to me to be large amounts, scares me! Comments?