By Curtis Thill, M.D.

 

One thing that people pretty much share in common is this: everybody likes to eat.

You’ve probably heard sayings like “laughter is the brightest in the place where the food is” and “food is for memories.” In my experience, there is one saying that usually rings with a degree of truth: “you are what you eat.”

That particular saying reflects a strong current trend. Many medical professionals increasingly regard food as medicine, an important role in boosting health, warding off chronic disease, and enjoying a life of more energy and vitality. Sound nutrition comes alongside medical treatment, helping to address a full range of issues.

If you’ve been a patient at Southern Indiana Community Health Care, you’ve probably heard us talk about eating healthy and eating fresh foods. You’ve also probably seen or heard of our direct involvement in local community gardens.

A primary reason for all of that is that when people eat healthy, there is often a direct connection to good health. In our time-dominated world, where many are always in a hurry or are busy, our food intake can become one of mostly highly refined foods or meals served up at a fast-food outlet.

Once in a while that can be okay. But when most of our food and daily dietary needs come out of a box or a wrapper, we can inadvertently pack on empty calories and leave our bodies telling us that we’re still hungry.

Today, many medical providers look back to Hippocrates, the legendary founder of the medical profession, who said: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

This is happening for a good reason. The therapeutic properties of food are widely recognized as an important element of elevating and sustaining good health.

Take honey as an example. Raw honey naturally sweetens food and represents an unprocessed food that provides natural enzymes, nutrients, and antioxidants that can boost health. Studies have found that eating raw honey – especially honey found locally – can help treat and even prevent certain conditions, including sore throats and allergies. Small amounts of honey can reduce inflammation and strengthen your immune system.

How can you use honey? If you have no diabetic or related restrictions, you can add small amounts of honey to sweeten your coffee or tea, your morning cereal, or on top of pancakes or waffles instead of highly processed table syrups that include high-fructose corn syrup, food coloring chemicals, and preservatives.

This trend towards food as medicine has led to what are called therapeutic or medical meals. A medical professional or nutritionist might formally “prescribe” types of meals and diets, and various types of nutrition to help prevent, address, or treat medical conditions. These help address pre-diabetic and diabetic, cardiac, cancer, and other types of conditions.

Why is this important? Global studies have shown that if you eat a lot of highly refined foods or foods high in fat and sugar (typical fast food or food in a box) that can be a contributor to or even a cause of premature death.

The point? This is the season when fresh food and fruit is in abundance. Stock up now on fresh berries, apples, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, and other fruits and vegetables to get the benefits of natural phytochemicals and antioxidants. Try to eat a colorful diet – a rainbow of fruits and vegetables — from the palest white (bananas, onions) to bright orange (peaches, carrots and oranges) to deep purple and blue (blueberries, grapes, raisins). These all have natural anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

Regular breakfast with oatmeal helps prevent heart disease and can be loaded up with fresh fruit as sweeteners. Whole grains, beans and legumes pack their own nutritional punch, especially in helping manage blood sugars. Plant-based foods like broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts also can reduce cancer risks.

Make a difference for yourself. Eat healthy during this season and reap higher energy, lower possible disease risks, and boost your general health!

 

A board-certified physician in family medicine, Dr. Thill has practiced medicine in the Crawford County region for more than 30 years.