Exercise and Diet in the Control of Inflammation and Pain
Lifestyle choices, such as exercise and diet, can play significant roles in mediating inflammation and consequently, pain. Functional medicine is an emerging medical specialty that focuses on lifestyle influences, genetics, and the environment to determine what is causing disease or chronic conditions such as chronic pain. The foundation of functional medicine is the use of food as a first-line therapy. The right nutrition, combined with the right lifestyle and behavioral interventions, will help individuals take charge of their health. Healthy diets are enriched with omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, such as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). These are precursors of specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs) which are known to potently inhibit pain in various animal models of inflammation. Exercise can profoundly change immune cell phenotypes and promote the resolution of inflammation and pain. In particular, a combination of exercise and a healthy diet can facilitate the biosynthesis of SPMs from DHA and EPA, generating synergistic health benefits.
