Prescribing fruits and vegetables to diabetics has been found to significantly lower blood sugar levels. And hypertensive adults have seen their blood pressure drop.
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Ryan J Lane/Getty Images
Prescribing fruits and vegetables to diabetics has been found to significantly lower blood sugar levels. And hypertensive adults have seen their blood pressure drop.
Ryan J Lane/Getty Images
The idea that food is medicine dates back to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. new research This further supports the evidence that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help improve heart health. The study was conducted during an epidemic of diet-related illnesses competing with smoking as a leading cause of death.
Researchers evaluated the impact of “farm formulas” that provide free fruits and vegetables to people with diet-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension. The study involved about 4,000 people in 12 states who are struggling to get a healthy diet. They received vouchers averaging $63 per month for up to 10 months, which they could redeem for produce at retail stores and farmers markets depending on their location.
Health care providers tracked changes in participants’ weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. “We were thrilled to see the improvement,” study authors say Kurt HagerLecturer at Massachan Medical College.
“We found that systolic blood pressure was reduced by 8 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure was reduced by approximately 5 mm Hg in hypertensive adults, which may have a meaningful impact on health outcomes. says Hager.
People with uncontrolled diabetes also had significantly lower A1C levels, an average of 2-3 months of blood glucose levels, of about 0.6%. “The reduction in blood sugar levels we observed was about half that of commonly prescribed medications, which is really reassuring just by changing your diet,” Hager said.
“It felt great,” said Joan Erickson, 60, who participated in the prescription crop pilot at the Sacramento County Health Center in Sacramento, California. healthy waveis a non-profit organization that is at the forefront of efforts aimed at making healthy food more affordable and accessible. About 85% of participants reported that their health improved as a result of participating in the program.
“As a chef and father of two sons living with diabetes, I am not surprised,” says Wholesome Wave. Co-founder Michel Nishan. “Our dietary strategy involved significantly increasing Chris and Ethan’s intake of fruits and vegetables,” he said, resulting in lower A-1Cs in their sons and increased insulin levels. He pointed out that the usage of “We knew we needed evidence to argue for policy change,” he says.
“I felt like a millionaire because I could buy healthy food,” Eriksson says. She loaded her cart with strawberries, blueberries, cherries, salad greens, and other items she wouldn’t normally buy. “It was a big euphoria for me,” she says. After her six months on the program, doctors were able to lower her blood pressure medication. Blood sugar has also dropped. “There was more energy,” Erickson says.
“Anything that lowers hemoglobin A1C and improves blood pressure control is beneficial,” he says. Dr. Dalish MozaffarianHe is a cardiologist and professor at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition, where the study was conducted. His challenge is to maintain those cuts. “Improved blood sugar levels can greatly reduce the risk of diseases such as eye disease, kidney disease, and neurological disease, which are common in people with uncontrolled diabetes,” he said.
A year ago, after the White House conference on hunger, nutrition and health, the Biden administration announced: national strategy It aims to improve healthy eating habits and integrate nutrition into healthcare. This has created momentum to strengthen the evidence as more health care providers connect the dots between diet and disease. “I think our research really provides a strong rationale for next steps in investing,” Hager said. It’s time to expand beyond the pilot program and “invest more in large trials with comparison groups,” Hager said.
As evidence continues to accumulate, “it’s important to simultaneously invest in the infrastructure needed to deliver food and drug prescriptions at scale,” he says. Holly Freistadtdirector of feeding changes Efforts of the Milken Institute.her team outlined market solution This could help support implementations such as SNAP (food stamps) and technology-enabled systems to assist patient participation in food assistance programs, including these new approaches.
“We can’t afford the growing burden of chronic diet-related illnesses in the United States. [to] “We must find ways to make it easier for individuals to know their entitlements, track their benefits, and understand where and how they spend those benefits. says Freistadt.
At this time, the Agricultural Formulary Program only provides short-term assistance. With Joan Erickson’s produce vouchers ending, her monthly SNAP benefit has also been significantly reduced. Now again she can’t afford healthy food. “After stopping the program, we noticed her blood pressure was elevated,” she says. “I would say there is a direct correlation,” Eriksson says.
for food is medicine Clearly, people need long-term support for this strategy to work.
“We need to get to a point where these benefits are sustainable,” Mozaffarian said. “When you take blood pressure-lowering drugs, you can’t get off the drugs in six months,” he says. The same is true when health foods are prescribed. He said more research is needed to establish which patients benefit from which food assistance programs, medically tailored diets or prescriptions, and the appropriate amounts needed to manage symptoms. Stated. But the ultimate goal, he said, is to get to a point where these benefits are available to those who need them.
