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).