The Power of Belief: Food Labels Affect Our Bodies

The following is the conclusion of a study performed in 2011: “The effect of food consumption on ghrelin may be psychologically mediated, and mindset meaningfully affects physiological responses to food.”

Ghrelin is a peptide and hormone that stimulates hunger (among several other functions). When ghrelin levels rise, we feel hungry, and when they fall, we feel satiated. The study found that ghrelin levels dropped steeply after the subjects consumed shakes they thought were 620 calories, while ghrelin levels stayed relatively steady after the subjects consumed shakes they thought were 140 calories, even though all of the shakes were 380 calories.

That means the subjects were all consuming the exact same types and amounts of nutrients and calories, but their bodies’ responses differed depending on how they perceived the shakes. Those who thought they were drinking an indulgent, high-calorie shake experienced satiety, and those who thought they were drinking a healthy, low-calorie shake were not as satiated.

It’s great when science can strengthen our belief in the power of belief.

Ghrelin also affects our metabolism. When ghrelin levels are high (we feel hungry), metabolism slows to conserve energy. When ghrelin levels drop (we feel full), our metabolism speeds up to aid with digestion. Since our beliefs affect our ghrelin levels, and ghrelin levels affect our metabolism, it would seem that our beliefs can affect our metabolism. It’s certainly not an unwarranted leap based on the study’s conclusion.

After all, since individuals with dissociative identity disorder can change their eye color and their allergies by switching beliefs, the door to less drastic, belief-influenced physiological changes is wide open.

Of course, the trick is being able to make ourselves adopt and nurture beneficial beliefs, which can be difficult. That’s part of the reason this website exists.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21574706
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghrelin
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19896496