Mountains of scientific evidence support both the negative and positive effects of our eating habits on our health. Research shows that a healthy diet can help those suffering from chronic health conditions like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
This is where “food is medicine” comes in. Food is medicine, also known as “food as medicine” and “food prescriptions,” is a movement dedicated to providing healthy food – fruits, vegetables and sometimes healthy proteins – based on a clinician’s prescription in order to prevent, manage or treat specific clinical conditions.
kAm!C6D4C:3:?8 7@@5 E@ A2E:6?ED :D :?E6?565 E@ 4@?G6J E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ff^`ddhgafea_h`dcadQm7@@5 :D ;FDE 2D :>A@CE2?Ek^2m 2D >65:42E:@? 7@C 962=E9 2?5 H6==?6DD]k^Am
kAmpD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6ClB#y:_4_ppppyU2>Aj9=l6?QmC6D62C496CDk^2m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=:?<65:?]4@>^:?^?2E2=:6\>:?E@?\h`d__`bbaQmH9@D6 H@C<k^2m 7@4FD6D @? 7@@5 2446DD 2?5 962=E9 :? CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D[ H6 92G6 7:CDE92?5 6IA6C:6?46 CF??:?8 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 AC@8C2>D :? @FC =@42= 2C62 :? ?@CE96C? |:DD:DD:AA:] %9:D 6IA6C:6?46 92D D9@H? FD E96 36?67:ED 2?5 =:>:E2E:@?D @7 E96D6 AC@8C2>D :? @FC 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
k9amu:89E:?8 7@@5 :?D64FC:EJk^9am
kAmu@@5 :D >65:4:?6 AC@8C2>D 42? 36 56=:G6C65 E9C@F89 4FC2E65 7@@5 3@I6D[ 8C@46CJ G@F496CD 2?5 >65:42==J E2:=@C65 >62=D] |@DE AC@8C2>D 2C6 4@==23@C2E:@?D 36EH66? ?@?AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@?D[ 962=E9 4=:?:4D 2?5 962=E942C6 AC@G:56CD] %96 8@2= @7 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 :D E@ :>AC@G6 A2E:6?E 962=E9[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C E9@D6 H:E9 49C@?:4 4@?5:E:@?D[ H9:=6 C65F4:?8 962=E942C6 4@DED]k^Am
kAmx?4C62D:?8=J[ 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 AC@8C2>D 92G6 364@>6 =:76=:?6D 7@C A6@A=6 H:E9 7@@5 :?D64FC:EJ] x? a_ac[ >@C6 E92? cf >:==:@? p>6C:42?D[ :?4=F5:?8 f]b >:==:@? 49:=5C6?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6CD]FD52]8@G^E@A:4D^7@@5\?FEC:E:@?\2DD:DE2?46^7@@5\D64FC:EJ\:?\E96\FD^<6J\DE2E:DE:4D\8C2A9:4DQm=:G65 :? 7@@5\:?D64FC6 9@FD69@=5Dk^2m – >62?:?8 E96J H6C6 2E D@>6 A@:?E F?46CE2:? @7 92G:?8[ @C 5:5 ?@E 92G6[ 6?@F89 7@@5 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 :? E96 9@FD69@=5]k^Am
kAmx?E6C?2E:@?2==J[ E96 ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 6IA6C:6?4:?8 9F?86C C:D6D E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]F?]@C8^6?^8=@32=\:DDF6D^7@@5QmC@F89=J efb >:==:@?k^2m] #FC2= A@AF=2E:@?D 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 36 7@@5 :?D64FC6 5F6 E@ E96 =@DD @7 =@42= 8C@46CJ DE@C6D 2?5 5:DE2?46 7C@> FC32? 46?E6CD] &?=:<6 2 7@@5 32?<[ 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 AC@8C2>D AC@G:56 @?=J 962=E9J 7@@5D[ H9:49 2C6 @7E6? 4FC2E65 3J 2 5:6E:E:2?[ E@ @AE:>:K6 A2E:6?E 962=E9]k^Am
k9amu@CH2C5 >@>6?EF>k^9am
kAm%9@F89 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 :D?’E 7@C>2==J 4@??64E65 E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AC]@C8^a_ae^`_^ag^?I\D`\e_`gafa^7@@5\962=E9\ECF>A\H6==?6DD\>292\C7<\;CQm|2<6 p>6C:42? w62=E9J p82:? >@G6>6?Ek^2m[ &]$] w62=E9 2?5 wF>2? $6CG:46D $64C6E2CJ #@36CE u] z6??65J[ yC] 92D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E969:==]4@>^A@=:4J^962=E942C6^e`fbbfg\C7<\;C\9@DA:E2=\7@@5\A=6586^Qm3C@F89E ?6H 6?6C8J 2?5 2EE6?E:@?k^2m E@ E96 4@?46AE] x? y2?F2CJ a_ae[ E96 D64@?5 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? =2F?4965 2 42>A2:8? 6?4@FC28:?8 p>6C:42?D E@ “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C62=7@@5]8@G^Qmt2E #62= u@@5k^2m]”k^Am
kAmqFE E96 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 >@G6>6?E 24EF2==J 3682? >@C6 E92? e_ J62CD 28@] ~?6 @7 E96 62C=J AC@G:56CD H9@ AC6D4C:365 7@@5 2D >65:4:?6 H2D 4:G:= C:89ED 24E:G:DE 2?5 >F=E:A=6 }@36= !6246 !C:K6 H:??6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^a_a_^`a^ag^962=E9^9\;24<\86:86C\5625]9E>=QmsC] y24< v6:86Ck^2m] x? E96 `he_D[ 96 4@\7@F?565 4@>>F?:EJ 962=E9 46?E6CD :? $@FE9 q@DE@? 2?5 E96 |:DD:DD:AA: s6=E2]k^Am
kAm(96? 8@G6C?>6?E @77:4:2=D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``e`^rx#]____________``gaQm492DE:D65 9:> 7@C AC6D4C:3:?8 7@@5k^2m E@ A2E:6?ED :? E96 s6=E2[ v6:86C C6DA@?565[ “%96 =2DE E:>6 x =@@<65 2E >J E6IE3@@<D[ E96 >@DE DA64:7:4 E96C2AJ 7@C >2=?FEC:E:@? H2D 7@@5]”k^Am
kAm$:?46 E96?[ E9@FD2?5D @7 4@>>F?:EJ @C82?:K2E:@?D =:<6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D6CG:?8D]@C8^Qmr@>>F?:EJ $6CG:?8Dk^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@A6?92?5]@C8^Qm!C@;64E ~A6? w2?5k^2m 92G6 AC@G:565 962=E9J 7@@5 E@ GF=?6C23=6 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD]k^Am
kAmx? a_ab[ E96 AC6D:56?E @7 E96 p>6C:42? w62CE pDD@4:2E:@? 4@?G6?65 2? 25G:D@CJ 8C@FA @7 C6D62C496CD 2?5 A9JD:4:2?D E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``e`^rx#]____________``gaQmC6G:6H 4FCC6?E 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 C6D62C49k^2m 2?5 DF886DE ?6IE DE6AD 7@C H@C< :? E9:D 2C62] %9:D 25G:D@CJ 92D DF886DE65 E92E E96D6 AC@8C2>D 4@F=5 96=A AC6G6?E @C >2?286 49C@?:4 4@?5:E:@?D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``e`^rx#]____________``gaQmD2G:?8 E96 &]$] 962=E942C6 DJDE6> 2? 6DE:>2E65 &$Sc]b EC:==:@? 2??F2==Jk^2m]k^Am
kAmu@@5 :D >65:4:?6 92D 2=D@ DE2CE65 E@ 82:? :?E6C?2E:@?2= >@>6?EF>] x? a_ad[ E96 #@4<676==6C u@F?52E:@? DFAA@CE65 2 >66E:?8 @7 :?E6C?2E:@?2= D49@=2CD[ A@=:4J 6IA6CED 2?5 AC24E:E:@?6CD E92E 6DE23=:D965 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7:>8=@32=2==:2?46]@C8^23@FEQmu@@5 xD |65:4:?6 v=@32= p==:2?46k^2m] %9:D @C82?:K2E:@? A=2?D E@ 96=A :?E68C2E6[ DFDE2:?23=J 7:?2?46 2?5 C@FE:?6=J 56=:G6C 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 AC@8C2>D H@C=5H:56 3J a_b_] $@ 72C[ :E 92D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7:>8=@32=2==:2?46]@C8^?6HD\2?5\6G6?EDQmC6=62D65 D6G6C2= C6A@CEDk^2m 9:89=:89E:?8 E96 4FCC6?E 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 >256 C6D@FC46D 2G2:=23=6 E@ AC@G:56CD =@@<:?8 E@ DE2CE E96:C @H? AC@8C2>D]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQ688A=2?ED[ 8@FC5D[ DH66E A@E2E@6D 2?5 @E96C G686E23=6D @? 2 E23=6Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^ff`ach^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae````\ec\G9gH37]y!vn:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AU2>AjHlfc_Q ^mk7:842AE:@?m~?6 A2E:6?E’D AC6D4C:AE:@? :? @?6 @7 E96 2FE9@CD’ =@42= 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 AC@8C2>D :? E96 |:DD:DD:AA: s6=E2] }2E2=:6 |:?E@?k^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9amu@@5 :D >65:4:?6 :? @FC =@42= 4@>>F?:EJk^9am
kAmu@@5 :D >65:4:?6 AC@8C2>D 42? FD6 7@@5 7C@> =@42= 72C>D @C 8C@46CJ DE@C6D[ 2?5 E96 >62?D @7 86EE:?8 E96 7@@5 E@ A2E:6?ED G2C:6D] %96 7@FC AC@;64ED H6 92G6 CF? E@ 52E6 92G6 366? C6=2E:G6=J D>2== 2?5 =@42=]k^Am
kAm~?6 H2D 2 7@@5 3@I A:4<FA AC@8C2> E92E DFAA=6>6?E65 7CF:ED 2?5 G686E23=6D 7@C dd 9@FD69@=5D H9@D6 >6>36CD 56>@?DEC2E65 7@@5 :?D64FC:EJ] (6 7@==@H65 E96 A2CE:4:A2?ED 7@C EH@ J62CD 2?5 7@F?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ff^afdadbd)ac`b_`gcfQmDE2E:DE:42==J D:8?:7:42?E C65F4E:@?D :? H6:89Ek^2m[ H2:DE 4:C4F>76C6?46 2?5 EC:8=J46C:56 =6G6=D :? E96 AC:>2CJ 25F=E A2CE:4:A2?ED]k^Am
kAmu@C EH@ @7 @FC @E96C AC@8C2>D[ :?4=F5:?8 @?6 E92E :D @?8@:?8[ H6 A2CE?6C65 H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9692AAJ7@@5DAC@;64E]@C8^Qm=@42= 72C>6CDk^2m] ~?6 H2D 2 A:=@E E6DE @7 2 7@@5 3@I 56=:G6CJ AC@8C2> 7@C 9@FD63@F?5 A6@A=6] q@E9 E96 C64:A:6?ED @7 E96 7@@5 2?5 E96 72C>6CD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]db_c^;27D45]a_ae]`db]_`eQmC6A@CE65 9:89 D2E:D724E:@?k^2m H:E9 E96 AC@8C2>’D 56=:G6CJ 2?5 76=E E96 AC@8C2> DEC6?8E96?65 4@>>F?:EJ 4@??64E:@?D H9:=6 2=D@ DFAA@CE:?8 =@42= 28C:4F=EFC2= =:G6=:9@@5D]k^Am
k9am(92E @E96C C6D62C496CD 92G6 7@F?5k^9am
kAm~?6 C646?E =2C86\D42=6 =:E6C2EFC6 C6G:6H :56?E:7:65 `c EC:2=D @7 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 :?E6CG6?E:@?D 2?5 7@F?5 E92E E96D6 2AAC@2496D @7E6? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``e`^rx#]____________`bcbQmA@D:E:G6=J :?7=F6?465 5:6E BF2=:EJ 2?5 7@@5 D64FC:EJk^2m]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C C6G:6H @7 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 AC@8C2>D 7@C A6@A=6 H:E9 5:236E6D 7@F?5 D:8?:7:42?E :?4C62D6D :? 7CF:E 2?5 G686E23=6 :?E2<6 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;];4;5]a_aa]``]__`QmC65F4E:@?D :? 3=@@5 DF82C =6G6=Dk^2m] %9:D 52E2 DFAA@CED @FC @H? AC6G:@FD 7:?5:?8D]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ E96 67764E @7 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 AC@8C2>D @? =@?8\E6C> 962=E9 @FE4@>6D 92D 366? :?4@?D:DE6?E[ :? A2CE 3642FD6 >2?J EC:2=D 92G6 366? E@@ D>2== @C ?@E C:8@C@FD 6?@F89 E@ 56E6C>:?6 42FD2E:@?] x? D@>6 42D6D[ E96 “5@D6” – E92E :D[ E96 2>@F?E @7 7@@5 AC@G:565 – :D =:>:E65 3J 8C2?E 7F?5:?8] ~FC 7@@5 3@I A:4<FA AC@;64E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_g_^`hba_acg]a_ac]abagbccQmDFAA=6>6?E65 @?=J 7@FC E@ 7:G6 >62=D 6249 H66<k^2m[ H9:49 >2J 92G6 366? :?DF77:4:6?E E@ D:8?:7:42?E=J :>AC@G6 2== 962=E9 @FE4@>6D]k^Am
kAm|@C6@G6C[ :E H:== 36 :>A@CE2?E 7@C C6D62C496CD E@ 4@?D:56C E96 =@8:DE:4D @7 >2<:?8 E96D6 AC@8C2>D H@C< :? G2C:@FD =@42= 7@@5 6?G:C@?>6?ED] v=@32= 724E@CD =:<6 492?8:?8 H62E96C A2EE6C?D 2?5[ >@C6 C646?E=J[ 56=2JD :? 7F6= 2?5 DFAA=:6D 7C@> E96 $EC2:E @7 w@C>FK 92G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:62]@C8^4@>>6?E2C:6D^6?6C8J\4C:D:D\E9C62E6?D\H@C=5D\>@DE\GF=?6C23=6\2D\4@@<:?8\7F6=\D9@CE286D\8C@HQm:?4C62D65 AC:46D @7 DE2A=6 7@@5 AC@5F4EDk^2m =:<6 46C62=D 2?5 G686E23=6 @:= 2?5 =65 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]72@]@C8^H@C=57@@5D:EF2E:@?^u@@5!C:46Dx?56I^6?^QmD9@CE286D @7 4@@<:?8 @:=k^2m :? D@>6 4@F?EC:6D]k^Am
kAmu@@5 :D >65:4:?6 42? 36 2AA62=:?8 3642FD6 :E >2<6D :?EF:E:G6 D6?D6] qFE 8@:?8 7@CH2C5[ =2C86C[ 9:89\BF2=:EJ DEF5:6D 2C6 ?66565 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``e`^rx#]____________`bcbQm256BF2E6=J EC24< 4=:?:42= @FE4@>6Dk^2m 7C@> E96 G2C:@FD EJA6D @7 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 AC@8C2>>:?8] x7 DEF5:6D D9@H 7@@5 :D >65:4:?6 :D 36?67:4:2=[ :E 4@F=5 =625 E@ 2 D9:7E :? 9@H 962=E942C6 AC24E:E:@?6CD 2AAC@249 5:6E 7@C A2E:6?ED H:E9 49C@?:4 :==?6DD] p446DD E@ 962=E9J 7@@5 H@F=5 36 4@?D:56C65 2D 6DD6?E:2= 2D >65:42E:@?D 7@C A2E:6?ED H:E9 49C@?:4 :==?6DD]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbb`aQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji kDA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^>6286?\C@D6?E92=\`_c`becnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbb`aQm|6286? #@D6?E92=k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\>:DD:DD:AA:\ac__nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbb`aQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:DD:DD:AA:k^2mk^6>m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^?2E2=:6\>:?E@?\afegddanFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbb`aQm}2E2=:6 |:?E@?k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\>:DD:DD:AA:\ac__nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbb`aQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:DD:DD:AA:k^2mk^6>mk^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7@@5\:D\>65:4:?6\9@H\FD\A@=:4J\:D\D9:7E:?8\E@H2C5\?FEC:E:@?\7@C\36EE6C\962=E9\`_fed_nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbb`aQmu@@5 :D >65:4:?6i w@H &$ A@=:4J :D D9:7E:?8 E@H2C5 ?FEC:E:@? 7@C 36EE6C 962=E9k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^E96\D4:6?46\2?5\A@=:E:4D\369:?5\E96\A2?:4\@G6C\F=EC2AC@46DD65\7@@5D\ahaee`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbb`aQm%96 D4:6?46 2?5 A@=:E:4D 369:?5 E96 A2?:4 @G6C F=EC2AC@46DD65 7@@5Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?7FD65\3J\E96\?6H\5:6E2CJ\8F:56=:?6D\7@4FD\@?\E96D6\D:>A=6\6G:56?46\32D65\D9:7ED\E@\=@H6C\J@FC\49C@?:4\5:D62D6\C:D<\afbf_`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahbb`aQmr@?7FD65 3J E96 ?6H 5:6E2CJ 8F:56=:?6Dn u@4FD @? E96D6 D:>A=6[ 6G:56?46‑32D65 D9:7ED E@ =@H6C J@FC 49C@?:4 5:D62D6 C:D<k^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m|6286? #@D6?E92= C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 $E2E6 @7 |:DD:DD:AA: 2?5 E96 &$ s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC6]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m}2E2=:6 |:?E@? C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC6VD $@FE96C? $FDE2:?23:=:EJ 2?5 t5F42E:@? #6D62C49]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^ahbb`a^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am