By Catherine Poslusny | January 31, 2019
You’ve probably heard the adage “You are what you eat” within the context of weight-loss strategies. But the food you put into your body affects so much more than the number on the scale. A 2017 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that a poor diet was associated with almost half of all deaths from heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. The good news? Making the right dietary choices can impact your health just as much as making the wrong ones. Learn why a growing number of doctors are recommending nutrition over prescriptions.
The power of food as medicine
More than 8 million people in California – nearly one-third of the adult population (PDF, 1.7MB) – are living with one or more of the most common forms of cardiovascular disease. When it comes to diabetes, the percentage is even higher. An estimated 55% of California’s population has prediabetes or diabetes, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, according to a 2016 study from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
With such a significant portion of our population dealing with these health issues, more doctors and patients are turning to a new form of treatment – food as medicine. Scientific research is overwhelmingly in favor of the power of food to help prevent and treat a variety of health conditions. According to a 2016 report from the World Heart Federation, a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish, and other heart-healthy foods can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by about a third. Additionally, for most people, type 2 diabetes is preventable with the right food choices.
With such a significant portion of our population dealing with these health issues, more doctors and patients are turning to a new form of treatment – food as medicine. Scientific research is overwhelmingly in favor of the power of food to help prevent and treat a variety of health conditions. According to a 2016 report from the World Heart Federation, a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish, and other heart-healthy foods can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by about a third. Additionally, for most people, type 2 diabetes is preventable with the right food choices.
California leads the nation in prescribing nutrition
California is setting an example for the entire country with a new statewide study aimed at measuring the benefits of medically tailored meals (MTMs) and using them to lower overall medical costs and hospital readmission rates. The study will include patients in Los Angeles, San Diego, Oakland, and San Francisco who need to follow specific nutritional guidelines to manage their medical conditions.
“We applaud our California lawmakers who had the vision and understanding that food truly does have the power to heal,” said Paul Hepfer, vice president of programs for The Health Trust, in a 2017 press release. The six California nonprofits involved in the program are Project Open Hand, Ceres Community Project, Food for Thought, Mama’s Kitchen, The Health Trust, and Project Angel Food.