ALC - foodrescue

In this month’s Digestible Bites, we find an abundance of nutrition-related documentaries available and a number of reasons and ways we need to do more to successfully implement food as medicine.

By Mari Jackson, Food Rescue US – Fairfield County Volunteer

In a country where millions go hungry every day and vast amounts of food are needlessly discarded, food recovery presents a pragmatic and compassionate solution. Yet, amidst the discussion surrounding food waste and food insecurity, the potential of food recovery remains largely unknown to much of the US, and therein lies a powerful opportunity. 

Each month, we cull through all of the “food as medicine” news to highlight the most recent and exciting developments in the field for Digestible Bites. This month, we’re highlighting standout local organizations and people who promote food as medicine in our community.

Each month, we cull through all of the “food as medicine” news to highlight the most recent and exciting developments in the field for Digestible Bites. Periodically, we highlight standout local organizations and/or people who promote food as medicine in our community.

The shorter version:

• “You are What You Eat” four episode series tracks four sets of twins on two strict diets (one vegan and one “healthy” omnivore) with outlined exercise regimes. The finale reveals the twins’ before and after biometrics! Spoiler: food is medicine! 
• The World Economic Forum believes, “Right now, food as medicine is having a moment. But for that moment to turn into a global movement, we need to do more to make sure everyone, everywhere, has access to nutritious food and the tools to support their health through nutrition.” They have four recommendations (below).
• MIT released a study showing only a very modest impact of food as medicine to treat diabetes. Drat. 

The longer version:

• Netflix is food as medicine crazy! In addition to Dan Buettner’s Blue Zone series we mentioned in our last newsletter, now there’s an equally intriguing “You are What You Eat” four episode series that tracks four sets of twins on two strict diet and exercise regimes and reveals their before and after biometrics! Spoiler: food is medicine! The series is based on this Stanford study if you want to learn more.
• The World Economic Forum believes, “Right now, food as medicine is having a moment. But for that moment to turn into a global movement, we need to do more to make sure everyone, everywhere, has access to nutritious food and the tools to support their health through nutrition. That’s how we’ll make food the medicine of the future – and help more people worldwide lead healthier lives.” They have four recommendations:
  • Data: To be truly accessible, food as medicine needs to be covered by public and private insurance or government programmes. And the only way that will happen is if we have conclusive evidence that these programmes both improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
  • Tools: While technology allows doctors to prescribe a diet – and patients to fill that prescription with nutritious food – we need to make the process even easier. And the private sector should lead the way.
  • Access: Too often, people and communities who would benefit significantly from nutritious food either don’t have access to it or can’t afford it.
  • Collaboration: We need even more cross-sector collaboration.
• MIT just released a study suggesting we need to keep examining how nutrition can combat a pervasive disease. “A new health care program attempting to treat diabetes by means of improved nutrition shows a very modest impact, according to the first fully randomized clinical trial on the subject.” 

Thanks,

The Rob Mathes Holiday Concert, a holiday tradition for so many, is celebrating an amazing 30 years of performing its annual holiday extravaganza this year with three concerts at The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College. Concerts are Friday, December 15, and Saturday, December 16, at 8:00 p.m., and a special matinee performance on Sunday, December 17, at 3:00 p.m. You can support Food Rescue US – Fairfield County by purchasing a VIP ticket!