Nutritious and Healthy Foods as Medicine

Many people in the poor and developed countries of the world can’t get access to affordable, nutritious and healthy foods which can support our good health. As for example, many Americans, particularly in under-resourced communities, encounter these problems resulting in a $1.1 trillion healthcare bill for diet-related diseases. This expense is equal to all the money they currently spend on food itself (Ref. The Rockefeller Foundation).

Preparing medically tailored meals and using food-based interventions can help prevent, manage, and treat diet-related diseases and chronic diseases. Everybody should have consistent access to diet- and nutrition to lower their diet-related diseases.

The government department of health and national medical association or board can integrate nutrition into healthcare system of every country, which would enable doctors to prescribe healthy foods. They should develop and implement a realistic strategy to reduce nutrition-related chronic diseases and food insecurity to improve health and well-being of the people. Thus, the government and doctors can reduce the need for invasive health services and lower the healthcare costs of the patients.

The whole and nutritious foods contain a lot of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, protein, and fat, all of which promote healthy bodily function. A nutritious and healthy diet can increase longevity, protect against disease, provide strong disease-fighting benefits and improve the overall quality of life. But it is important to remember that the diet should not be considered a replacement for conventional medicine.

Reference:

1. Food is Medicine. Link: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/initiative/food-is-medicine/. Accessed on 22/06/2024.

2. Food is Medicine: A Project to Unify and Advance Collective Action. https://health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/food-medicine. Accessed on 22/06/2024.

3. Can Food Act as Medicine? All You Need to Know. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/food-as-medicine. Accessed on 22/06/2024.