Strong Medicine Quotes

“If you find yourself mired in continual and ongoing rumination, be aware that this will have a devastating impact on your mental and physical health over time. Rumination is in some ways “stress over nothing.” Rumination is created in the mind, and in the same way, the mind can kill rumination by not engaging in it, or silencing rumination before it has an opportunity to fester and grow. We want to avoid reliving stressful situations over and over in the mind, since this prolongs activation of the HPA-axis. The ruminator is creating “stress from within” when there is no real stress currently present in the environment.”
― Dr. Chris Hardy, Strong Medicine: How to Conquer Chronic Disease and Achieve Your Full Athletic Potential

“Mental challenges cause an “adaptive response” to take place in the brain, just like a muscle. Challenges build axon-dendrite “transmitter-receiver” connections. Passive activities such as watching “reality” television do not stimulate or build these connections. We need to be actively involved with our activities, instead of being passive observers. Making and unmaking nerve cell connections (neuroplasticity) dictates how well the brain can handle stress.”
― Dr. Chris Hardy, Strong Medicine: How to Conquer Chronic Disease and Achieve Your Full Athletic Potential

“Since we are not missing anything nutritionally by eliminating these products, why do people cling to their grain-based foods? You never hear anyone say, “I won’t give up my broccoli!” A few scientists have looked at this phenomenon and have shown that some pieces of the gluten protein may mimic the effects of opiates (morphine-like compounds) in the brain. We have all heard of endorphins—our naturally produced feel-good substances. Some scientists are now referring the specific pieces of gluten proteins as “exorphins,” and think these molecules may be responsible for the craving some people have for gluten-containing grain products.”
― Dr. Chris Hardy, Strong Medicine: How to Conquer Chronic Disease and Achieve Your Full Athletic Potential

“Recent science supports the idea that although you may have the genetics predisposing you to getting autoimmune diseases, if your gut immune system does not come into contact with the environmental trigger, you will remain free of disease.”
― Dr. Chris Hardy, Strong Medicine: How to Conquer Chronic Disease and Achieve Your Full Athletic Potential

“One cause of NAFLD is thought to be high fructose intake—with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) being a major contributor since it is an ingredient in most processed foods. Soda and other flavored drinks with high amounts of HFCS are thought to be a major factor in the development of NAFLD in kids. NAFLD in children was unheard of until the early 1980’s. To be clear, the problem is the huge amount of fructose in the diet from processed foods and drinks. The amounts of fructose found in fruits and vegetables is easily handled by the liver, as long as processed food is avoided.”
― Dr. Chris Hardy, Strong Medicine: How to Conquer Chronic Disease and Achieve Your Full Athletic Potential

“Prednisone is the pharmaceutical equivalent of cortisol and works using the same mechanisms in the body. Prednisone is used in modern medicine to control inflammation in many different diseases such as severe asthma and autoimmune diseases. Well-known side effects of chronic prednisone (and other similar medications) use is fat gain, muscle wasting, bone weakening, and psychological side effects such as agitation. High levels of cortisol from chronic stress/threat activation can result in the same side effects as daily prednisone use.”
― Dr. Chris Hardy, Strong Medicine: How to Conquer Chronic Disease and Achieve Your Full Athletic Potential