Food As Medicine – Supports Long-Term Health

Using food as medicine isn’t a new concept. Over two thousand years ago, the famous Greek physician Hippocrates said, “Let your food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be your food.” This is still good advice today. While food cannot replace medical care when needed, it can play a powerful role in supporting overall health and wellness.  After all, one of the primary ways you can maintain good health is through nutrition. Some health concerns may be influenced by deficiencies in important nutrients and phytochemicals found in food.

Why Food Matters

All plants, including medicinal herbs, contain nutrients including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Many healing herbs and foods also contain phytochemicals, such as tannins, essential oils, mucilaginous fibers, alkaloids, saponins, and glycosides. Food as medicine uses foods for their nutrients and overall health benefits.

All foods contain these types of phytochemicals; even a fairly simple food, like a potato, which is primarily used as a source of carbohydrates, has over 150 identified phytochemicals, including solanine alkaloids, oxalic acid, tannins, and nitrates. Food provides your body with nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber that are essential for it to function at its best. Without proper nutrients, your gut health and overall health wouldn’t have what they need to flourish.

Foods That Support Health

Focusing on diet and nutrition as part of treating and preventing many chronic diseases is mainstream. There is evidence that focusing on nutrient-dense foods can help reduce, reverse, and prevent many common chronic diseases today. These include heart disease, stroke, obesity, type II diabetes, and lung cancer. Whole foods are the best foods as medicine and are foods found in their natural form. Below are some of them.

Culinary Herbs as Food and Wellness Support

These herbs not only make your food taste better but also offer health benefits.

• Garlic is full of manganese, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. It contains allicin, which is a potent antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant that supports your immune system and cardiovascular health.
• Parsley is much more than decoration. It is full of nutrition and antioxidants that help the body fight inflammation, support bone density, boost your immune system, and promote heart and kidney health.
• Basil is rich in antioxidants and helps support gut health, fight inflammation, and reduce damage to our cells. It has Vitamin K for bone health and clotting, and contains essential oils helping to reduce stress.
• Rosemary is a very aromatic Mediterranean herb that is full of antioxidants and is very anti-inflammatory. It boosts brain health, promotes circulation, supports hair growth, and aids in digestion.
• Oregano is full of antioxidants and has science-backed health benefits, helping fight bacteria, with antiviral properties and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Ginger is a root herb that helps with nausea, soothes digestion, reduces inflammation, and is a great analgesic.
• Turmeric, which contains curcumin, is a super spice that helps ease joint discomfort, supports heart health, and boosts your immune system.

Food, Gut Health, and Inflammation

Food either helps heal your body or creates havoc, and nothing depends on eating good foods more than your gut. The foods you eat help balance the beneficial microbes in your gut, helping them to maintain diversity. Fiber-rich foods act as fuel for beneficial gut bacteria, helping them produce compounds that support digestion, immune function, and the balance of inflammation.

Healthy Habits Matter Too

We are more than what we eat. Our lifestyle habits impact our health as well. It is important to move your body daily, get high-quality sleep, manage your stress, and stay hydrated with clean water.

If you are currently trying to manage a concern or prevent it, it’s time to learn more about what you can do. Healthy living and healthy eating can make a difference in how you feel and your quality of life. Grab a copy of my book, the Healthy Habits Challenge, and start creating 8 simple habits that promote wellness. You can also view one of our wellness programs.