We are back for the second article that will address the topic of Food as medicine. The first was designed to stir you up a bit. I know I was while writing it, and I am by means a card-carrying, passionate, animal-loving, strict vegan. I would describe my diet as the conscious diet. I am conscious that food is medicine and that there are consequences to whatever I put in my body. I sometimes eat for pleasure but by and large I try to do my best most of the time. Now that we have dispensed with the emotional aspect of it let us get down to the meat of the matter.
The Oxford dictionary defined medicine as a compound or preparation used for the treatment or prevention of disease, especially a drug or drugs taken by mouth. Food is defined by the same dictionary as any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink or that plants absorb in order to maintain life and growth. If we were to put them together one can define food as medicine as any nutritious substance ingested by people that prevents disease or treats disease or maintains life and growth. In short, food acts as medicine by maintaining health, preventing and/or treating disease. To be truthful, food is the real deal while medicine is a counterfeit.
The CME course that started me on my journey back to health was sponsored by Dr. T. Colin Campbell. He and his son Thomas M Campbell authored a book call the China Study in which he published an analysis of the most comprehensive study about the relationship to diet and the risk of developing chronic diseases. They summarized their finding in Eight Principles of Food and health. They are worth listing here:
- Nutrition represents the combined activities of countless food substances. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
- Solely taking vitamin supplements is not the way to good health.
- There are virtually no nutrients in animal-based foods that are not better provided by plants.
- Genes do not determine diseases on their own. Genes function only by being activated or expressed, and nutrition plays a critical role in determining which genes, good and bad, are expressed.
- Nutrition can substantially control the adverse effects of noxious chemicals.
- The same nutrition that prevents disease in its early stages (before diagnosis) can also halt or reverse disease in later stages (after diagnosis).
- Nutrition that is truly beneficial for one chronic disease will support health across the board.
- Good nutrition creates health in all areas of our existence. All parts are interconnected[1].
Please take a moment to meditate on these findings. I strongly encourage you to explore some of the links at the bottom of this article. My goal in this weblog, in general, and this article in particular, is not to re-invent the wheel but rather to shift your thinking and to point you in the right direction. There is a lot to explore and chew on. Partake of the real Happy Meal.
References and Important Links
- 1. ^ Summary of China Study, Thursday April 9th https://www.wellandgood.com/good-food/china-study-cheat-sheet-10-things-you-need-to-know/
- https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/what-should-i-eat-my-specific-condition
- Food as medicine – TedTalk
- Healing through Medicine – TedTalk
Disclaimer
The contents of article are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This article does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.