For what it's worth, the placebo effect is such a strong effect, sugar or no, that the immediate reaction of most skeptics is to attribute most things to it. HN

For what it's worth, the placebo effect is such a strong effect, sugar or no, that the immediate reaction of most skeptics is to attribute most things to it. HN is full of skeptics. I feel you've done a fine job defending you position though. My take on food and mental health is that we are omnivores, and as such we need a wide veriety of foods to be healthy. I have noticed time and again that certain foods smell and taste absolutely heavenly to me one week, and I can't be bothered to eat a spoonful a month later. This is most common for me with high nutrient low calorie foods like salads and soups (though if you pay attention it's there with various sweets as well). All of which makes me very suspicious that it has to do with my body trying to regulate it's nutrient balance. And god forbid you fall out of normal working parameters for certain nutrients, you can end up in a positive feedback loop. There was a study I saw some years ago linking anorexia and a lack of some common metal (zinc or magnesium I think). Not being hungry means you're not likely to get this metal, means you're not hungry...