Recognizing Food As Medicine, First Principles

 

Asian and other traditional systems of medicine have long recognized the importance of our food intakes in both preventing illness, when used properly, and their potential to cause mysterious and hard to treat illnesses, when used improperly.
The latter cases involve contemporary illnesses, endemic to industrial and industrializing societies,  linked together under the heading of Metabolic Syndromes, conditions like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hyper- or dys- lipidemia syndromes. 

For example,current estimates of per capita intakes of simple sugars range from 120-130 pounds per year.  Since many of us do not reach this level of sugar intake, others are consuming more than their body weight in sugars every year, from sources like sucrose and corn syrup containing foods.
It is easy to consume half a pound of sugars per day.  For example, two 6 oz containers of Yoplait yogurt contain 30 grams of added sugar.

Other sources of diet induced multi organ damage are the highly oxidized oils found in chips and other deep fried foods like fries, onion rings, and other batter coated items.

Since medical doctors (MDs) are neither scientists nor social activists, we should not expect them to rock the boat of endless revenue, est. $500K annual compensation according to a recent (2023) Medscape survey, from the repeat drug business associated with claiming to manage metabolic syndromes.  They call for more drugs, each with adverse consequences, rather than promote health literacy, i.e., proper food intakes.

They dare not speak about the importance of proper nutrition because that would lead The People to take care of themselves without the daily consumption of handfuls of expensive prescribed drugs.  Likewise, our Health and Human Services (HHS) agency and its pendant organizations charged with protecting public health, like the CDC(P), have turned a blind eye to educational options for promoting public welfare at modest cost.

 

Become empowered, i.e., health literate, and recognize Food as the First Medicine

First, recognize that the wisdom of whole foods can be found in all traditional cultures, around the world. Food is part of culture.

Unfortunately, in industrialized societies, “fast” food or eating out has become a dysfunctional emblem of our food cultures, manifest in hard to treat metabolic syndromes.  Gone also are the abilities to cook food and savor the aromas associated with their preparation.

We can recover from these changes, associated with industrialization related societal transformations, if we want. Personal effort will be required. Many excellent sources of information can be found in our communities and on the web.

Before industrial food enterprises trained our flavor palettes and became an economic powerhouse, generating hundreds of billions of dollars in annual revenues, people around the world ate primarily whole foods and were healthier.

Their nutritional intakes were built on whole grain cereals, legumes, fruits, vegetables and herbs, eggs, dairy, and meat.

Whole foods provide daily fiber, a fermentable source of short chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, and butyrate anions), which are important energy sources that promote colon health. Dietary fiber is being marketed as expensive prebiotic supplements.

Locally prepared and naturally fermented foods, like cheese, kimchi, sauerkraut (cabbage), and yogurt are important contributors to gastrointestinal (GI) health.  These “prepared” foods stabilize the GI microbiome by providing regular inputs of protective probiotic organisms like the lactobacilli.  Current science suggests that regular intakes of fermented foods are likely to be more effective, both in terms of better long term health and lower cost, than “convenience” products sold in expensive (pill) forms.

 

The People’s Choice: Whole foods or Supplement pills?   Choose wisely.

Macronutrients & Micronutrients

The macronutrients, which supply the majority of food derived energy, are carbohydrates, fats/lipids, and proteins.

Balancing macronutrients with the seasons to satisfy one’s constitution, i.e., energetic and physiological drifts along our life trajectory, is an important component of daily habits for maintaining lifelong health and wellness, without drugs.

Paying attention to Energy Intake – e.g., foods, alcohol and other sweetened beverages, vs. Energy Output –  e.g., work, exercise / daily physical activity, can help us avoid over- or under- eating, and also recognize stress related eating habits.

Carbohydrate sources include whole grain cereals, fruits, vegetables, herbs.
Fats/lipids sources include dairy, vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, eggs and meats.
Protein sources include dairy, whole grain cereals, seeds and nuts, eggs and meats.

Micronutrients include vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.
Well balanced meals contain most of the micronutrients we need.
A daily multivitamin and mineral supplement, which costs less than 5 cents per pill, can be used as insurance to supplement erratic or irregular food intakes.
Current science does not support the value (cost) of higher priced options like liposomal formulations and gummies.
Each person can choose whatever suits their tastes and pocketbooks.