Food is any substance, which after getting consumed by any organism provide nutrients and produce energy to the body. Every food item that is known has some benefits to provide, the basic food consumed by us are fruits, vegetables, seeds, oils are rich in minerals, vitamins and nutrient. Food has always been helpful in the prevention and cure of various diseases. Over the years these food items and their properties have been recognized and taken into public view and is now being used at a much larger level. Its importance has been identified.
The FAM community
The Food as Medicine (FAM) is a community based pilot study based upon the new techniques involved in the food industry with the goal to improve the nutrient quality to check their effectiveness towards chronic diseases like, pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, elevated total blood cholesterol levels, obesity or a combination of these disorders. The idea emerges in 1980s when HIV epidemic began and public health advocates launched nutrition programs against AIDS. Originally, food was able to be the cure of almost all the diseases, before the discovery of drugs and medicines for relief humans used nature’s gifts to stay healthy as well as to find cures for all possible diseases. The concept of food as medicine has been around for millennia. In traditional cultures food and medicine were strongly interwoven.
When we are hungry, our body needs nutrient, not calories, a fact each one of us fails to understand today and is a major cause of the diseases we struggle with. The cravings towards junk food have become the prime reason for a major condition, obesity. The data shows a significant rise in obesity, in USA every 3rd person suffers from it. Apart from it every other disease is related to the lifestyle we own.
The type of food we eat ornaments us from inside and the unhealthier we eat we uglier it gets. Heart attacks, cardiac arrests, increased blood pressure, decreased blood pressure, high cholesterol, hemorrhoids, skin allergies and what not is all related to the food. So, if food is the problem, it is also the solution. Food as medicine needs to be given more attention to prevent diseases at an early age. As one gets aged, body becomes vulnerable and immunity decreases. It gives way to attacking diseases to enter the body, but what’s worse is that nowadays people struggle with these diseases way sooner than later. This explains the reduced life expectancy rate.
Indian households using food as medicine
A wide range of food items are known to have extraordinary properties that help humans to live a healthy and safe life, these food items have been treasured and passed down from generation to generation. Cultural practices relating to food as medicine around the world have been of significant importance in the history.
For example, Buckwheat honey is said to cure cough and is considered better than the cough syrup. Similarly, Ginger has properties to bring relief in menstrual cramps among women, turmeric is highly recommended in arthritis. One can also add Black Pepper in turmeric to increase its effects. Chia Seeds are used to control high cholesterol and Hibiscus Tea is used to control high blood pressure. Fruits such as figs, pomegranates ad quinces are considered very healthy. Okra, used in Indian cooking is said to assist in diabetes, mushrooms are used for its anti- hypertensive properties, liver protection, anti-viral and anti-microbial properties. Cinnamon is known to manage blood sugar levels, clove is used to alleviate toothache, vomiting, gas etc.
Conclusion
Food is very powerful. It is scientifically proven that it is able to cure even chronic diseases; it would be foolish not to alter our diets to our benefit to prevent the illness. Pharmaceutical drugs may be helpful in curing a disease immediately but they are dangerous. The drugs leave a short term effect on the illness but a long term consequence on the body. They have side effects and after a while body becomes habitual to them and might stop responding to them as well. While some chronic diseases require their assistance, the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs must be managed. In every scenario food as medicine should be adopted at an early age by everyone.