People buy roughly 30 percent more when they shop with big grocery carts, says Sunday's Parade magazine. The bigger the cart, the more likely we are to stuff it full of stuff we probably don't need.

Why can't we just get what we need, regardless of cart size, without filling it to the brim. It all comes down to psychology. Consumers become self-conscious if their big shopping cart contains only a few things. It's as though we expect other shoppers to frown upon us. Why? I'm not sure. Also, when our carts are large, the dopamine levels in our brains increase, causing us to fill every square inch of space. Dopamine is an addictive brain chemical -- it increases in anticipation of any kind of reward. Give it a big cart, then, and watch out.

Next time you're at the grocery store, forget the cart. Grab one of those small shopping baskets with handles or use one of your reusable bags. Only need two or three things? Hold them in your hands and take them directly to your friendly cashier. And don't be temped by the check-out aisle. It's as problematic as that big cart.

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A common recommendation for people who are trying to lose weight is to take more time while eating -- put your fork down in between each bite, chew slowly, and really taste and enjoy your food. It looks like that recommendation was spot on.

Recent research has found that many overweight people find fatty or sugary food less enjoyable than thin people do. Subsequently, those overweight people may eat more of those less-than-healthy foods in order to satisfy themselves. Women who had fewer dopamine receptors in the "pleasure center" of their brain seemed to eat more in order to trigger a pleasurable response, whereas women with more dopamine receptors could experience the pleasure with less food.

Food is meant to be enjoyed, but not to the point that it goes beyond your body's needs for energy and sustenance. Take your time with your food. Relish each bite and enjoy it. When you give your body more time to experience the taste, you'll find you eat less overall.

[via FitSugar]

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Need a healthy snack you won't find addicting? Then peanuts should be your pick. Why? Because they don't cause a direct release of the pleasure neurotransmitter dopamine, like some foods do -- foods like sugary cereals, which release dopamine, make you feel great, and then cause you to crash and reach for more of the item that made you feel so good. Not the case with peanuts.

Peanuts satisfy without a roller-coaster effect. They're also good for your heart, full of healthy fats, and powered with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory goods. Just an ounce of peanuts per day will do you good, minus the major cravings.

More articles on the merits of nuts here.

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If you're one of the 21 percent of the American public that still smokes, it's possible that you're also part of the large percentage (70 percent) that would like to quit, but for some reason can't. Fortunately, there may be good news for you on the horizon.

A new vaccine, designed to curb the urge to smoke, may be available in the U.S. Administered by injection, this new vaccine will stimulate antibodies, reducing the amount of nicotine that makes it to the brain and releases dopamine. In trials, conducted by the University of California San Francisco, 16 percent of smokers who received this anti-smoking shot put out their cigarettes for good in a year, as opposed to only 6 percent of smokers who were given placebos.

Look for the vaccine, which is tentatively being called NicVax, to be on the market by around 2012.

According to new research, people who habitually overeat may be able to lay part of the blame on their genes -- and their dopamine levels. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in our brains that largely affects our behaviour, and up to 50% of the population may have a gene variation that alters their levels of dopamine and subsequently causes us to get more pleasure from eating.

This conclusion was the result of testing that monitored how willing to work for food people were compared with whether or not they had a certain gene variation that affected their dopamine levels.

So does this mean that regulating Dopamine through drugs will help curb obesity? Perhaps, but don't hold your breath -- nothing's available yet. And remember -- there's no magic pill that can duplicate the benefits of a moderation and exercise.

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You no longer have to feel guilty about indulging yourself in that massage. Scientific studies make it official -- getting a massage may improve your health.

Multiple studies have shown that massage reduces the amount of the stress hormone cortisol circulating in your body, and also raises the levels of "happy" hormones serotonin and dopamine. Those hormonal changes block pain receptors in your brain, bringing relief to those who suffer from such conditions as lower back pain, fibromyalgia, and other painful conditions. Not only that, because cortisol destroys your natural "killer cells," reducing the amounts of it in your body boosts your immune system and helps you ward off infections. Massage has also been found to fight insomnia, make you feel more alert, and ease the symptoms of PMS.

So go for that massage and know that you're not just indulging yourself with a little luxury, but doing your body good as well.

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Many women suffer from the baby blues after giving birth, not to mention the sleep deprivation blues and the will I ever be alone with my husband again blues, as well as the the baby is out so why do I still look five months pregnant blues. But in all seriousness, many also suffer from the very real and often debilitating disorder that is postpartum depression.

Hopeful researchers this week announced, however, that they may have found the missing link in treating the condition. Early research suggests that women who suffer from postpartum depression have higher levels of copper circulating in their bloodstream than women who are not depressed or who have non-pregnancy related depression. During pregnancy, copper levels double and in most women regulate after birth. The theory is that a genetic flaw prevents the regulation of copper in some women. Because the metal can wreak havoc with mood-regulating chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine, researchers theorize that this excess of copper might be the problem.

More definitive research is needed, but one researcher in the study has had success treating patients with supplements that bring their copper levels back to normal. This is hopeful news, for sure.

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Soda has a pretty bad reputation. It's been blamed for the obesity epidemic, not to mention a number of health problems. So do your ever wonder what happens to your body when your drink a can of coke? Weight-loss motivator Julia Havey has the answer. Did you know, for instance, that a can of coke has about 10 tablespoons of sugar? Can you imagine eating 10 spoonfuls of sugar in one sitting? yech! The sugar in coke, when it can't be used by your body, is converted in to fat, and the caffeine that gives you that rush also depletes your body of important nutrients like calcium. Also, coke increases your dopamine production, just like another controversial substance: heroine. You'll experience a major sugar rush, followed by a major crash about an hour later. Yikes.

If you're a soda drinker, this might make you consider quitting. If I drank soda, it would sure give me something to think about!

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