Title: What does it mean “Foods as Medicines”?
“Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food”. This old and often quoted phrase was spoken by Hippocrates around 400 BC. Hippocrates of Kos (c. 460 – c. 370 BC), was a Greek physician of the classical period who is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine. He is traditionally referred to as the "Father of Medicine" in recognition of his lasting contributions to the field. The Hippocratic school of medicine revolutionized ancient Greek medicine, establishing it as a discipline distinct from other fields with which it had traditionally been linked, thus establishing medicine as a separate profession.
Today this phrase may be duly revived and made really practical. We live in time of an increasing reliance on prescription drugs to treat any ailment, both mental and physical. Hippocrates' statement emphasizes the fundamental importance of nutrition in promoting and maintaining good health. The foods you eat supply the nutrients your body needs to maintain your brain, muscle, bone, nerves, skin, blood circulation, and immune system. But Hippocrates’ phrase embodies the idea that the food we consume plays a pivotal role not only in nourishing our bodies but also in preventing and treating diseases. Let me repeat and emphasize that a healthy diet acts as a form of preventative medicine. By providing the body with the essential nutrients it needs, a wholesome diet strengthens the immune system, enhances organ function, and fosters overall well-being. This, in turn, reduces the risk of developing chronic diseases. Especially it is valuable in the modern time with the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The contributing factors in their development are often wrong food habits.
Under such circumstances the importance of preventive medicine, including a healthy diet, is essential. In recent years the scientists have recognized the important role that the human microbiome plays in determining health and disease. The microbiome is the collection of all microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and their genes that naturally live on our bodies and inside us. Although microbes are so small that they require a microscope to see them, they contribute in big ways to human health and wellness. In turn, diet is a significant factor that influences gut health. While we know that certain foods are good for us while others are detrimental.
How can you improve and maintain a healthy microbiome? Eating a healthy diet can help improve your microbiota. Healthy food supports the growth of many beneficial species in the gut. Some common examples will explain. It may be highly recommended to consume probiotic foods, which are foods that contain live microorganisms intended to maintain or improve the "good" bacteria (normal microflora) in the body. Also it is very useful to consume prebiotic foods (typically high-fiber foods) that act as food for human microflora. So consuming proper chosen food we may essentially influence our microbiome and its proper functioning. And it is a distinct contributor for our common health. So let us think of food as medication. It is the most important thing you can control by yourself when it comes to your health. You by yourself usually make decision what to eat and it is the direct way how you may influence your own health. Good nutrition helps fuel our body. Proper nutrition also helps protect you from illness and disease, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis.
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