FOOD AS MEDICINE
FOOD is any substance containing nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fat
that can be eaten by a living organism and absorbed into energy and body tissue.
-Collins English Dictionary 12th ed 2014.
Another source further describes it as, “that which an organism uses for energy,
growth and maintaining the processes of life”-American Heritage Dictionary of the
English Language, 2016
Materials, especially carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, that an organism uses for
energy, growth, and maintaining the processes of life. (American Heritage® Dictionary
of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016)
In summary therefore, food is that which nourishes our body for wellbeing, growth,
and sustenance. They can come in various forms like-Vegetables – Bitter Leaf, Spinach
etc.
Carbohydrates- Yam, Rice, Potatoes, Cassava, Corn etc. Protein, – Beef, Chicken,
Fish, Beans, Bread Fruit, Odudu etc. Fruits- Mango, Pawpaw, Oranges, Pineapple
Banana, Avocado Pear etc.
Food as medicine concept propounds that food, dietary choice and lifestyles influence
our general wellbeing, that whereas consumption of certain food types may cause or
worsen some diseases conditions, others might improve health and may even induce
complete cure of some types of diseases.
According to Krystal Register, MS, RDN, LDN, Director, Health & Well-being, FMI, “The
concept of “Food as Medicine” is based on the science of connecting food to improved
health”. He further posits that, “At a time when we know there is growing consumer
interest in eating better to strengthen immunity and prevent disease, it is appropriate
to talk about the role of food in the context of medicine as food can be used to
prevent disease and promote health, manage chronic conditions and simply nourish.
Food can fit responsibly into a more proactive and holistic approach to healthcare
that starts at the grocery store”.
Though there is no consistent definition for “Food as Medicine” recognized by the
public, healthcare professionals or the food industry, experts still agree that the
concept of Food as Medicine must focus on the following areas to help achieve
optimal health through diet and nutrition:
- Promote health and well-being.
- Manage chronic disease (along with prescribed pharmaceuticals).
- Improve food and nutrition security.
However, it appears that the above ideal remains a farfetched dream as a cursory look
at the prevailing lifestyles and food choices of many homes, will convince the reader
that there has been a gradual, steady but unconscious shift from the consumption of
natural food types to that of processed and de-natured ones.
Statistics reveal that in most advanced countries, over 50 percent of their food is
processed with only 5%” being plant-based food.
Both doctors and nutritionist agree that sugar and processed foods are big
contributors to the rising rate of diabetes and other related illnesses among children
in these countries.
According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of deaths, heart disease and
stroke are caused by high blood pressure, excess use of tobacco, elevated cholesterol
and low consumption of organic fruits and vegetables.
People in this part of the globe are not left out, ours might even be worse because
there are no known figures to draw conclusions to the contrary.
Consequently, to make food as medicine real for our homes, the mantra should be- go
back to nature and try to reverse our food choices to more of plant based
It is said that you are what you eat, this saying is a truism of all times! If you plant
corn, you harvest corn, okro, you harvest okro, pumpkin, you will harvest pumpkin!
Same principle applies with food. If you eat healthy, you will be healthy, but if you
abuse your body by eating all the wrong things, you will definitely fall sick. Take for
example a fellow takes more of denatured /processed food with little or no physical
exertion – what do you think his health status will be?
Eating Is not just about satisfying hunger, we eat to achieve general wellness of the
body and mind, therefore eating means partnering with nature to make a better you!
So, as part of her God given role to nourish her family with food and wellbeing, every
mother must be mindful of what she is cooking at every point in time.
She must not just slap ingredients together, heat up and serve. She must consciously
make the right choices from the array and abundance of food that Nature graciously
made available everywhere around us- Our back yards, our little bushes around the
village, our compounds, you name them.
So, decide today to cook and eat natural healthy food so that you and your family can
enjoy good health
The good news is that we do not have to spend an arm and a leg to eat natural
healthy food because nature has endowed us with a lot of ingredients from her
garden. The colour mix, the arrangements, geographical and seasonal distribution of
these bounties in such accurate and faultless manner is simply AWESOME. One
wonders what a genius of an artist and designer our MOTHER nature is!
And who says Manna has stopped falling from heaven!? It still does, but differently! It
is now teamwork, we must till the earth, and nature does the rest unlike the biblical
days when God’s people just had to go get the Manna as it falls.
Remember, one of the ways to maximize this plenteousness of nature is to eat more of
what grows where you live. It is healthier, fresher, and more affordable! Of course,
you can test your liberties at times with foreign foods but trust me all those western
food items have our local healthy alternatives.
Have you wondered why we have Udara growing here (African star apple) and not
apple? Why we have tiger nuts and not Brazilian nuts, why we have paw-paw,
mangoes, coconuts, Bambara nuts, garden eggs, debino (date palm) etc., and not the
other fancy ones we see in grocery shops ? Why we have Ugu (flouted pumpkin) water
leaf, utazi,( bush buck leaf) Uziza- Piper guineense), Basil (saint leaf), bitter leaf,
etc. and not the other exotic foreign alternatives? Simple, because nature knows
what is good for you based on your DNA, other body chemistry, climatic and regional
considerations, etc., so she goes ahead to make available that which YOU NEED NOT
WHAT YOU WANT
Remember what they say about when you are in Rome? Yes, whenever you are in one
of those places, eat their local food, but when you are here, it is advisable to eat
what we have here, believe me you will be the better for it.
FOOD TYPE BENEFITS’ TABLE AT A GLANCE
The catch is to try replacing processed, denatured foods with healthier natural/local
options as exemplified in the table below
NOTE. Protein is a very essential food type that gives us energy to keep going, boosts immune system. Vital to children’s growth and development, helps curb diabetes and heart diseases, helps us
think clearly and can improve memory.
ALL TYPES OF BEANS,UKWA(bread fruit),OIL BEAN, NUTS & SEEDS CAN BE GOOD SOURCES
