Ace of Hearts - Let Food Be Thy Medicine
An increasing global epidemic of diet-related chronic disease is leading to a heightened experimentation with the use of what may be termed “food is medicine” interventions to prevent, manage, and treat illness (Downer et al., 2020). Food is medicine interventions include medically targeted meals, medically tailored groceries/healthy food prescriptions and produce prescriptions. (Downer et al., 2020) These interventions are typically directed by clinicians through the healthcare system and funding (Downer et al., 2020).
How to do it?
Before making any major changes in your diet, ensure you first consult with a qualified nutritionist, dietitian, or physician. Adopt healthy habits with food! Adding fruits, nuts, vegetables, and whole grains along with reducing intake of overly processed foods. You can feel healthier and more energetic whilst also decreasing the overall risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.
Why do it?
Research suggests that such interventions delivered in the healthcare system are associated with improved health outcomes, and reduced healthcare burden – quality foods do play a positive role in the prevention, management, treatment, and possibly even reversal of disease (Downer et al., 2020).
What’s the science behind it?
In a clinical research setting “food as medicine” has been tested in three different ways with three types of interventions. The first type of treatment is medically tailored meals. These meals are customised by a nutritionist to meet a person’s specific health needs. Medically tailored meals show effectiveness in the treatment of patients with diabetes, heart failure and chronic liver disease. Medically tailored meals have also been shown to reduce visits to the emergency department and to reduce medical expenditures (Natural Medicine 2023).
The second type of intervention is called medically tailored groceries. Individuals receive nutritional counselling to help them shop more critically for food. An example is a randomised clinical trial, conducted in grocery stores, which provided nutritional counselling to help participants adhere to the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet was shown to lower blood pressure (Natural Medicine 2023).
A third intervention for providing healthful food choices is called produce prescriptions. Individuals who have chronic conditions or lack adequate access to nutritious food are provided healthful fruits and vegetables. Rising levels of obesity and diabetes in children will require programmes such as produce prescription to expand access to and consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables (Natural Medicine 2023).
Do you want to know more?
References
Downer S., Berkowitz S. A., Harlan T. S., Olstad D. L., Mozaffarian D. (2020) Food is medicine: actions to integrate food and nutrition into healthcare. BMJ 369: m2482 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m2482
Food as medicine: translating the evidence. Natural Medicine, 29, 753–754 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02330-7
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