The short answer: YES. 

We greatly misunderstand what illness is. The current healthcare system, unfortunately, takes a reductionist approach to illness. If you have acne, it’s a skin issue, so you’ll be referred to a dermatologist. But could gut issues or nutrient deficiencies be the cause? 

The American Academy of Dermatology association states that a low-glycemic diet or milk may increase acne breakouts, but also explains that more research is needed (despite the abundance of scientific evidence on this subject).[1] While some dermatologists or healthcare professionals may understand that nutrition can play a role in skin problems, the current medical acne guidelines do not recommend diet changes as a solution. [2]

Let’s look at an allergic reaction. Someone eats peanuts (a “healthy” food), then develops a rash all over their body. A specific food created a reaction on the skin. Understanding such allergic reactions, it should be evident that foods can lead to different types of topical or skin reactions. This also reinforces the understanding that our bodies are an ecosystem—that everything is connected, and that we can’t perceive organs as entities separate from one another (including the skin, the brain, and so on). 

Food impacts everything. Food is energy, and we eat to survive. Humans rarely feel the same on a daily basis. We eat different things daily, interact with others daily, do different things every day, and the list goes on. How can we expect to feel the same when everything else constantly changes? 

We feel down for days or weeks, then we assume it’s a mental illness, disregarding all the significant factors impacting our states of mind. 

The reductionist view of humans and illness, and the lack of understanding, has led to a society that labels people with diseases, that assumes something is wrong with them. This is not about invalidating someone’s state of mind or physical energy levels. In fact, it validates those feelings. They are guidance saying healing can occur. Your state of being, mental or physical is not all there is. There can be healing. 

If you have read many of my blog posts, you now know that I don’t have the same definition of “healthy foods” as major mainstream media and even the majority of healthcare providers. Blueberries could be healthy or not; it depends on your body. 

While it seems trivial to understand that an allergic reaction can be triggered by something we eat, the reality that food can also lead to illnesses and other manifestations within the body is not yet widely accepted. The inconsistency of beliefs and the general lack of understanding lead to a lack of healing. 

Does this mean we have to understand it all? No. It means we need to have an open mind regarding healing.

A depressed mood may be your body is asking you to change things within. An outburst of anger is a signal that something is wrong. 

Food is not energy. The right food for you is energy. Dare to look for information. Trust yourself. The reality is we are all born perfect. It’s all the rest that makes us unperfect throughout life. 

With gratitude,

Dr. Stephanie El-Chakieh, Pharm.D., M.Sc.

Reference:

[1] Can the right diet get rid of acne? (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/causes/diet

[2] Acne clinical guideline. (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.aad.org/member/clinical-quality/guidelines/acne