Food as Medicine: Food therapy is the new change

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Have you ever come across an elder suggesting you eat certain food in order to use food as medicine?

Well, in this article we will talk about the notion of food therapy.

There is a rise in dangerously rare diseases. People have developed an unhealthy lifestyles and have adopted ruinous eating choices. Hence average lifespan has also declined in recent times.

It is quite fortunate for us that the whole paradigm of our world is shifting towards organic eating habits. Although it may seem at a snail’s pace we have to be optimistic at all costs.

 

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What is food therapy?

The concept of food therapy is something that is not alien to us. Therapy is any treatment you get to get better from any disease or injury and as the name suggests “Food therapy”, means eating the right food at right time. However, keep in mind that food should not be taken as a substitution for medicine rather it is more likely a form of therapy in the long run. Eating right would serve to prevent diseases and boost your immune system. It provides you with the chance of enjoying life with full zealousness. What isn’t therapy all about? To take you to your better self.

Food As Medicine & Being Healthy!

“Food as Medicine” generally refers to a food supplement or meal that helps people who have a disease or some illness and treat it by prioritizing food over medicines.

If we talk about healthy eating or a healthy diet, there are already so many myths and misconceptions. Healthy eating does not mean starving yourself to your thinnest self or strict restrictions. It definitely does not require you to give up all your favorite food. Being healthy is not about your size or shape but rather how energetic you feel about yourself, the strength you carry, improved health, and an ideal weight according to your body type.

According to World Health Organization (WHO),

Consuming a healthy diet throughout the life course helps to prevent malnutrition in all its forms as well as a range of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and conditions. However, increased production of processed foods, rapid urbanization, and changing lifestyles have led to a shift in dietary patterns. People are now consuming more foods high in energy, fats, free sugars, and salt/sodium, and many people do not eat enough fruit, vegetables, and other dietary fiber such as whole grains.

WHO (World Health Organization)

In the wake of global health crises, officials have started to take measures to bring about changes in dietary patterns. For example,

WHO Members State have agreed to reduce the global population’s intake of salt by 30% by 2025; they have also agreed to halt the rise in diabetes and obesity in adults and adolescents as well as in childhood overweight by 2025

The basics of healthy eating:

By learning classifications of food thoroughly, we can amplify our nutrient-rich diet on daily basis. As it is in fact that what you choose to eat has a direct and profound effect on your health. These nutrients in food flourish improve health and act as strong prevention against various diseases. Supplements are also available these days but they can never replace whole, nutritious food. Nutrients provide energy on the whole which can be achieved by having a balanced diet. Using Food as medicine can have very good results.

Classification of nutrients:

There is a major classification of nutrients including carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, all of which are equally essential in a balanced amount to sustain healthy eating.

Carbohydrates:

They are one of your body’s primary wellsprings of energy. In any case, most should come from intricate, crude carbs (vegetables, whole grains, natural products) as opposed to sugars and refined carbs. Scaling back white bread, cakes, starches, and sugar can forestall fast spikes in glucose, vacillations in mindset and energy, and the development of fat, particularly around your waistline.

Protein:

Gives you the energy to get moving—and continue onward—while additionally supporting disposition and intellectual capacity. An excess of protein can be destructive to individuals with a kidney infection, however, the most recent examination recommends that a significant number of us need all the more top-notch protein, particularly as we age. That doesn’t mean you need to eat more animal items—a wide range of plant-based sources of protein every day can guarantee your body gets all the fundamental protein it needs.

Fat:

Not all fat is something very similar. While awful fats can wreck your eating regimen and increment your danger of specific infections, great fats ensure your mind and heart. Indeed, solid fats, for example, omega-3s—are indispensable to your physical and enthusiastic well-being. Counting more sound fat in your eating regimen can help improve your state of mind, support your prosperity, and surprisingly trim your waistline.

Fiber:

Eating food varieties high in dietary fiber (grains, organic products, vegetables, nuts, and beans) can help you stay normal and lower your danger of coronary illness, stroke, and diabetes. It can likewise improve your skin and even assist you with getting in shape.

Vitamins:

Vitamins are substances that your body needs to develop a lot ordinarily. You can as a rule get every one of your vitamins from the food sources you eat. Your body can likewise make nutrients D and K. Individuals who eat a vegan diet may have to take a nutrient B12 supplement.

Every vitamin has explicit positions. In the event that you have low levels of specific vitamins, you may get medical issues. For instance, in the event that you don’t get sufficient vitamin C, you could get anemic. A few vitamins may help forestall clinical issues. Vitamin A forestalls blindness.

Minerals:

In the context of nutrition, a mineral is a chemical element required as an essential nutrient by organisms to perform functions necessary for life. Minerals are those elements on the earth and in foods that our bodies need to develop and function normally. Those essential for health include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, chromium, copper, fluoride, molybdenum, manganese, and selenium.

Conclusion

To conclude food therapy is all about eating healthy. Taking balanced nutrition will eventually lead you to turn your food as medicine. There are numerous diets being followed and recommended in various cultures and civilizations all around the world solely based on the ideas like food therapy for instance ayurvedic food. Hence there should be happy eating hand in hand with healthy eating