Is Food Medicine?
In the article Science Compared Every Diet and the Winner Is Real Food, Dr. David Katz of the
Yale University Prevention Research Center states:
“A diet of minimally processed foods close to nature, predominantly plants,
is decisively associated with health promotion and disease prevention.”
This is great news for helping us stay healthy.
But, what if we are already ill.
Can food help heal us?
Let’s take a look.
The idea of using food as medicine first started gaining scientific credibility back in 2002 when the United States government released the results of a study that pitted a diet and exercise program against a drug treatment for Type 2 diabetes. This study compared people assigned to a diet low in saturated fat, sugar, and salt, that included lean protein and fresh fruits and vegetables, with people assigned to take metformin to lower blood sugar. Among the people at high risk of developing diabetes, those taking metformin lowered their risk of actually getting diabetes by 31% compared with those taking a placebo.
Those who modified their diet and exercised regularly,
lowered their risk by 58% compared with those who didn’t change their behaviors,
a near doubling in risk reduction. ¹
The body of research supporting food as medicine continued to grow throughout the years, and in 2010, Medicare reimbursed the first lifestyle-based program for treating heart disease, based on decades of work by University of California, San Francisco, heart expert Dr. Dean Ornish. ²
And, in the 2016 documentary Food As Medicine, This As That Productions followed the continuing and growing movement of using food as medicine. Dr. Terry Wahls, who appeared in the documentary, and who herself is using food as medicine to overcome multiple sclerosis, stated:
“The simple solution of a nutrient-dense diet filled with vegetables – [and] getting rid of the toxic stuff – is the simplest solution for nearly every chronic disease state. It may not cure you, but it will certainly reduce symptoms, reduce the need for medication, and often to the point – if you stay with it – you can get off medication, after medication.”
So what’s considered toxic?
Most foods found in the Standard American Diet because of their excess fats, added sugar, and salt. One example, though there are so many from which to choose, is a 2018 study published in the journal BMJ that linked increased cancer risk to all highly processed foods, not just processed meats. It found foods like:
soda, sugary snack cakes, dehydrated soups, biscuits, sauces,
and breakfast cereals corresponded with a 12% higher risk for cancer in general,
and an 11% increase for the risk of breast cancer.
Dr. Brenda Rea, of Loma Linda University School of Medicine, says:
“What people eat can be medicine or poison. As a physician, nutrition is one of the most powerful things you can change to reverse the effects of chronic disease.” ³
Dr. Jaewon Ryu, Interim President and CEO of Geisinger Health Systems, says:
“When you prioritize food and teach people how to prepare healthy meals,
lo and behold, it can end up being more impactful than medications themselves.” 4
Food As Medicine Works
And
It's Gaining Traction
The body of research that supports food as medicine to prevent, control, and even, reverse chronic diseases continues to grow.
Today, we are seeing more doctors, hospitals, insurers, and even employers, who are frustrated by the slow progress of drug treatments in reducing food-related diseases like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and even cancer, turning to food as a particular focus of healing. 5
We are also starting to see more medical institutions make a philosophical switch to becoming health organizations, not just health care organizations. The Therapeutic Food Pantry program at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital now offers patients several bags of food prescribed for their condition, along with intensive training in how to cook it. 6
And, in the US, a new Produce Prescription Program was passed in the 2018 Farm Bill.
But, using food as medicine is not only about helping those with illnesses get better.
Food as medicine is also about helping healthy people stay healthy.
Food is now being used in prevention-based medicine
In the aisles of Ralph’s Market in Huntington Beach, California, for example, several times a month, you can find a doctor roaming about, white coat and all, helping people learn about food. And, this trend is gaining traction across the country. 7
So, the next time you’re at your favorite grocery store, you might be able to ask:
“What’s up, doc, can you tell me where the turnips are?”
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REFERENCES:
Photo 1: Sara Bakhshi on Unsplash
Photo 2: Sebastian Garcia on Pixabay
1-7: Park, Alice, “Why Food Could Be the Best Medicine of All Time,” TIME, February 21, 2019, https://time.com/longform/food-best-medicine/, TIME, February 21, 2019; and
Gorn, David, “Food As Medicine: It’s Not Just A Fringe Idea Anymore,” NPR/WHYY PBS, January 17, 2017, https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/01/17/509520895/food-as-medicine-it-s-not-just-a-fringe-idea-anymore