The global rise of chronic diseases linked to poor diets has reached alarming levels. A stark reminder of this comes from a 2020 report in The BMJ, stating that suboptimal diets contribute to more deaths worldwide than any other risk factor, including smoking. This crisis has sparked significant interest in integrating Food As Medicine approaches into healthcare systems. These innovative interventions aim to leverage the power of nutrition to prevent, manage, and even treat various illnesses.
Food as medicine represents a paradigm shift, placing nutrition at the forefront of healthcare strategies. This evolving field encompasses a range of programs, from medically tailored meals designed for specific health conditions to produce prescription initiatives that increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Recognizing the growing importance of this area, ASN Journals are dedicated to publishing cutting-edge research on food as medicine. These publications serve as crucial resources for dietitians, clinicians, and healthcare providers seeking evidence-based guidance on implementing effective food-based interventions, identifying patient populations that benefit most, and optimizing program delivery.
Nutrition education enhances dietary habits and health knowledge, empowering individuals to make healthier choices.
The potential of food as medicine is increasingly supported by scientific evidence. A study published in Current Developments in Nutrition explored the impact of a community-based food as medicine program on improving health outcomes among African Americans in Washington, D.C., a population disproportionately affected by chronic diseases. The program, detailed in “A ‘Food as Medicine’ Program and Its Effects on Healthy Eating and Cooking Confidence,” involved 54 participants attending five culturally-tailored nutrition education classes led by nutritionists over three months. The classes focused on boosting diet and health literacy. The research team, led by ASN member DeAnna Nara, concluded that the program yielded significant positive changes. Participants not only adopted healthier eating patterns but also gained confidence in their cooking abilities and increased the frequency of home-cooked meals.
Participants in a nutrition education class learning about healthy eating.
Prescribing produce boosts fruit and vegetable intake and improves key health markers like BMI and blood sugar levels.
Further solidifying the evidence base for food as medicine, a comprehensive review published in Advances in Nutrition examined the effectiveness of healthy food prescription programs. This systematic review, titled “Healthy Food Prescription Programs and Their Impact on Dietary Behavior and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” analyzed 13 intervention studies. These programs typically provided financial assistance or direct access to fruits and vegetables for patients facing food insecurity and cardiometabolic diseases. Saiuj Bhat and colleagues found compelling evidence that produce prescription programs led to increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, these programs were associated with reductions in Body Mass Index (BMI) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a key marker for blood sugar control. However, the authors also cautioned that these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to variations in study designs and the need for more robust research. They emphasized the importance of conducting “well-designed, large, randomized controlled trials” to further validate the benefits of healthy food prescription programs on dietary quality and cardiometabolic health across diverse populations and settings.
Rigorous research methodologies are crucial for future food as medicine studies to accurately assess program effectiveness.
Another insightful review published in The Journal of Nutrition highlights the growing interest among healthcare organizations in implementing food as medicine initiatives. The review, “A Systematic Scoping Review of How Healthcare Organizations Are Facilitating Access to Fruits and Vegetables in Their Patient Populations,” analyzed the landscape of food prescription programs and similar interventions aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable intake among patient populations. ASN member Susan Veldheer and her team observed a significant surge in research on this topic since 2018, indicating a strong momentum in the field. While the overall findings suggest that food as medicine programs hold considerable “promise,” the researchers also stressed the need for methodological improvements in future studies. They pointed out limitations in existing research, such as the lack of control groups, potential selection bias, and incomplete data reporting. To draw more definitive conclusions about the impact of these interventions on health outcomes, the authors advocate for “rigorous study designs and validated data collection tools, particularly related to dietary intake.”
Therapeutic DASH diet meals show promise in improving dietary adherence for individuals with cardiovascular disease risk factors.
The positive impact of tailored nutrition extends beyond produce prescriptions and education. A randomized controlled trial published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition investigated the effects of home-delivered therapeutic meals based on the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. The DASH diet is a well-established dietary pattern known for its heart-health benefits. In this year-long study, “The Effect of Home-Delivered Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Meals on the Diets of Older Adults with Cardiovascular Disease,” Jennifer L. Troyer and colleagues provided 50% of 298 participants with hyperlipidemia or hypertension with seven DASH-aligned meals per week for twelve months. The study results indicated that these therapeutic meals significantly increased the likelihood that participants would adopt a diet that was at least moderately aligned with DASH dietary recommendations, suggesting a practical approach to improving dietary habits in individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease.
As the evidence base for food as medicine continues to grow, it is clear that nutrition is moving from a supporting role to a central pillar in healthcare. For researchers and clinicians dedicated to advancing this field, ASN Journals offer a valuable platform to share their findings and contribute to the global effort to harness the power of food to improve health and well-being. By publishing original research and insightful reviews, ASN Journals play a vital role in disseminating knowledge and fostering the development and implementation of effective food as medicine programs worldwide.
