Hippocrates had it right when he said, “Let food be thy medicine”.  The definition of a drug is, “a medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body”.  When we eat sugar, our bodies produce insulin.  When we eat protein, our bodies start a process called protein synthesis.  Your intestines release chemicals to break down fats.  These are all physiological responses to something ingested.  So by definition food is a drug.  All drugs aren’t the same; they create different effects in the body.  Food is no different.  Each source of food that we consume creates a different physiological effect.  So if you want to reach a healthy weight, it's helpful to stop thinking in terms of eating the fewest calories and instead try to create the best chemical responses. 

 

There are molecules in the body produced by the immune system called cytokines.  Research has shown that certain cytokines are over abundant in obese bodies.  That’s why obesity is considered an inflammatory condition.  The immune system views obesity as an injury and goes to work releasing inflammatory chemicals to solve the problem.  Research has shown an abundance of the same cytokines in patients who are suffering from chronic pain.  Losing weight may not cure chronic pain, but what studies tell us is that addressing widespread inflammation in the body may dramatically improve our ability to manage chronic pain. 

 

To create the best chemical responses and reduce total body inflammation, we at The Doleys Clinic recommend an anti-inflammatory diet that is high in protein, vegetables, fiber, and fats, and low in sugary carbohydrates.