SUBSCRIBE
Nutrition

Food as medicine: A debated concept

adminBy No Comments6 Mins Read

The fact that diet can affect an individual’s health is well recognized by healthcare providers around the world. People with adequate nutrition are more immune, safer in pregnancy and childbirth, have a lower risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and are more likely to live longer.

The reasons for this are myriad, complex, and not yet well understood.Some studies have shown that a diet rich in sugars, saturated fats, trans fats, and excess sodium can be induced. Chronic inflammation — A fundamental risk factor in the development of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, poor bowel health, and other chronic illnesses.

Similarly, American Heart Association Recently, dietary and lifestyle recommendations have been made to support cardiovascular health, including diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, low-fat dairy products, plant-based or lean animal proteins. it was done.

Experts believe that this diet supports health through its potential to reduce harmful risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including inflammation. cholesterolHigh blood pressure, and poor sleep..

The World Health Organization (WHO) also links nutritional status to immune health.

In addition, studies have shown that dietary carotenoids (an antioxidant naturally found in some vegetables and fruits) Liver disease..

Decades of scientific discoveries Health careDon’t say the least.

According to 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for AmericansThe core of a healthy diet is based on the high intake of a variety of nutritious foods and beverages, including:

  • fruit
  • vegetable
  • Whole grains
  • Low-fat and non-fat dairy products
  • Lean protein
  • Healthy fats and oils.

For your health, you need to limit your intake of sugar, salt, saturated fats, and alcohol.

Several diet For those that may bring health benefits, Mediterranean dietDiet to stop high blood pressure (dash), And the USDA’s My Plate approach to a healthy diet.

“”Food as a medicineIs a practice built on the knowledge that food and diet play an important role in the prevention and control of illness.

There is no single definition of the concept of “food as a medicine”, but it generally prioritizes food and diet in an individual’s health plan for the purpose of either preventing, alleviating, or reversing the condition. Point to.

It focuses on increasing consumption of various minimally processed plant-based foods and limiting the intake of highly processed foods with added sugar, oil and salt.

Proponents claim that foods are medicinal because they often assume high levels of certain micronutrients or biomolecules. Functional food — People who think of food as a medicine are particularly interested.

These include a variety of herbs and spices, legumes, nuts and seeds, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

The “food as medicine” approach to health care challenges the construction of traditional medicine that relies primarily on technological advances to manage health and illness with medicines.

It is worth noting that traditional Western medicine prescribes diet and lifestyle changes as a first-line treatment for some conditions, especially some conditions. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

However, the focus is on the balance of major nutrients in the diet, and as outlined in the paper published in, it is still largely unclear what it should look like in humans. Nature..

There are several advantages of the “food as a medicine” healthcare approach.

Disease management

Medical nutrition therapy Is part of evidence-based health habits that use diet and food to support the treatment of illness and underscores the role that diet and food play in the management of chronic illness.

For example, increased dietary fiber support It lowers blood sugar levels in people with pre-diabetes or diabetes and reduces the incidence of nerve and blood vessel damage associated with high blood sugar levels.

Improving dietary quality can also reduce the symptoms of illness and improve quality of life.

One study It has been suggested that changing the Mediterranean diet can reduce pain, malaise, and discomfort in people with liposarcoma, a condition with abnormal fat accumulation in the lower extremities.

Similarly, observational studies have shown that a healthy diet during breast cancer treatment reduce Negative symptoms caused by cancer treatment, such as nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

Cost-effectiveness

The prevalence of chronic diseases is increasing worldwide with associated medical costs.

Estimated in 2010 86% — Over $ 400 Billion — One of the medical costs in the United States alone was from treating patients with at least one chronic illness. These costs are shared between public funds and the patient’s out-of-pocket costs.

The use of “food as a medicine” may reduce medical costs by potentially reducing the severity of the disease with better laboratory work, less dosing, and less hospitalization.

But with food apartheid access Health food initiatives in low-income communities across the United States to help improve health and reduce health care costs need to be continually addressed.

However, “food as a medicine” is not a flawless approach. There are some restrictions here.

It’s not a panacea

“Food as a medicine” is not an independent cure for all health conditions.

Exposure Environmental toxins,

Therefore, “food as a medicine” may support disease management by improving symptoms and slowing the progression of some diseases, but should not be used as a single treatment. Combined with appropriate medical treatment.

Fanned by incorrect information

Social media It can be an effective source of health promotion among health professionals and organizations.

However, it can also lead to the sharing of erroneous and unverifiable information, especially when “food as a drug” or alternative medicine is involved.

Outlined in Food is not medicine According to nutritionist Dr. Joshua Walrich, blame for individual foods can lead to unhealthy eating behavior.

Interaction between drugs and nutrients

It is also important to consider how food interacts with medicines. this is, Drug nutrients Interaction. This can increase or interrupt the effectiveness of the medicine in the body.

A common example is grapefruit juice. This is what doctors often advise. Avoidance While taking some medications, some studies show that it may be Strengthen The effect of cholesterol-lowering statins.

The interaction of drugs and nutrients must be considered for a seamless relationship between “food as a drug” and appropriate medical intervention for the best interests of patient care.

“Food as a medicine” may be a new concept in Western countries, but many cultures around the world have long recognized the role of diet in health.

A variety of healthy diets high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products reduce the risk associated with developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. I can.

However, “food as a medicine” does not treat everyone and should be used in combination with appropriate treatment.

Related Posts

Leave A Reply