Can food act like medicine?

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Hippocrates' famous saying, "Let food be your medicine, and medicine your food", implies that what you eat can treat and even prevent disease. Eating habits have a powerful impact on health, exemplified by the growing prevalence of diet-related health problems. So can food work like medicine? The following article will clarify this issue more clearly.

1. Can food act like medicine?

Food can act like medicine, the concept is also the driving force behind healthy meals for life and that's why our freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced meals have function!
With an abundance of nutrients and beneficial compounds, whole foods can help fight inflammation, lower blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure, and protect against a number of chronic diseases. Eating a nutrient-dense diet may also prevent the need for certain medications in the first place, and may help some people break free from the bondage of certain medications such as blood pressure medications, insulin, or statins. . However, depending on their purpose, certain drugs are invaluable and should not be replaced by food alone.
What we choose to eat has a profound effect on our overall health. Research shows that eating habits affect the risk of disease. While some foods can trigger chronic health conditions, others provide powerful protective and healing properties. Therefore, many people believe that food can become medicine. But diet alone cannot replace medication in all cases. Although many diseases can be prevented, treated, or even cured with dietary and lifestyle changes, many others cannot.

2. How food nourishes and protects the body

Many nutrients in foods help promote health and protect your body from disease. Eating whole foods is important because their unique substances work together to produce effects that cannot be replicated by taking supplements.
2.1. Vitamins and Minerals Although our bodies only need small amounts of vitamins and minerals, they are vital to our health. However, the Western diet – which includes lots of processed foods and few whole foods like fresh produce – is often lacking in vitamins and minerals. Such a deficiency can essentially increase the body's risk of disease. For example, inadequate intake of vitamin C, vitamin D, and folate (vitamin B9) can damage the heart, disrupt the function of the immune system, and increase the risk of certain cancers, respectively.

2.2. Beneficial Plant Compounds Nutrient-rich foods, including vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains, are high in beneficial compounds, such as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect cells from damage that can lead to disease. In fact, studies demonstrate that people whose diets are rich in polyphenol antioxidants have significantly lower rates of depression, diabetes, dementia, and heart disease than others.
2.3. Fiber Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet. Not only does it promote proper digestion and elimination, but it also provides a source of beneficial bacteria in your gut. Therefore, high-fiber foods like vegetables, beans, whole grains, and fruits help protect against disease, reduce inflammation, and boost your immune system. On the other hand, a low-fiber diet is associated with an increased risk of diseases, including colorectal cancer and stroke.
2.4. Protein and healthy fats Protein and fats in nutrient-rich foods play various important roles in your body. Amino acids - the building blocks of protein - support immune function, muscle synthesis, metabolism and growth, while fats provide fuel and help with nutrient absorption.
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in foods like fatty fish, help regulate inflammation and have been linked to improved heart health and the immune system.

3. 3 ways that food works like medicine

Food acts as medicine for our bodies in many different ways. When we eat natural, unprocessed and healthy foods, it really makes a positive impact on our lives. Food can help regulate bodily functions, like improving digestion and taking many precautions so we can live a healthier lifestyle. And some foods can even provide all the nutrients your body needs, like vitamins or minerals, so you don't have to depend on supplements anymore. Basically, eating right leads to perfect harmony in each person's body. When we pay attention to the benefits of the ingredients in our food, our bodies immediately notice real results. Here are 3 ways that food acts as medicine in human life:
3.1. Reducing health risks From high cholesterol levels to diabetes and inflammation, an unhealthy diet has actually harmed the body in many ways. However, fresh, healthy foods can help reduce many of the health risks we face.
Quinoa is a special nut that scientists consider a powerful food: it's naturally gluten-free, a complete protein, and contains all 9 essential amino acids! Compared with other foods, it contains many nutrients and is easy to grow, harvest and preserve. A recent study published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition found that eating just a small amount of quinoa each day can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Combined with a low-cholesterol diet, flaxseeds may have been shown to reduce levels of bad cholesterol and levels of triglycerides, the fats in our blood. They are also a good source of Omega 3 essential fatty acids and have been linked to active effects against certain types of cancer. These ingredients are now found in Karuna Divine blends, which are a great post-workout or meal replacement supplement.

3.2. Detoxify Our Body Sometimes our bodies need an immediate detoxification process to get rid of the harmful chemicals that the body has built up inside. Many foods are actually capable of doing this! The mung bean sprouts and aronia berries found in Karuna Heal juice have the amazing ability to cleanse our system using their powerful antioxidant power!
3.3. Improves Digestion In fact, processed foods are difficult for our bodies to fully absorb. Gut health is crucial to our overall bodily functions and certain foods are great for supporting the digestive system.
You may be familiar with roasted chestnuts, as they are considered a delicacy around the world. In addition, chestnuts also help improve digestion by lowering cholesterol levels and stabilizing blood sugar. They are incorporated into Karuna's existing Divine blends for their rich nutrient content and pair well with the black soybeans, golden flaxseeds and quinoa they are fused with.
Karuna drinks are inspired by devotion with compassion. In fact, Karuna means compassion. The goal of these dishes is to make people aware of our social and environmental responsibility to promote health and help the planet thrive. Each recipe is influenced by time-tested East Asian recipes and understands the benefits of how the ingredients in each drink work together or separately.
Food is not simply fuel for all the vital activities of the body. It can also enhance or weaken health, depending on what we eat. A nutrient-dense diet consisting of whole, fresh foods has been shown to prevent many chronic diseases and may help treat some, such as type 2 diabetes. While it is clear that following a nutritious diet is one of the most important factors in living a long and healthy life, remember that we should not rely on food to replace conventional medicine. .

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Reference sources: healthline.com, ecowatch.com, mykaruna.com