What's All the Buzz About "Food As Medicine?"
You don’t need to be a dietitian to recognize the impact of healthy eating. However, since I am a Registered Dietitian, it’s exciting to see the concept of “food as medicine” gaining more attention as a formal part of patient care and treatment. It is even more exciting to be working with Superior Fresh, an innovative food company that is sustainably producing foods including salmon and organic salad blends that offer powerful nutritional benefits (Omega-3 fats in salmon and antioxidants & fiber in greens) that can help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and improve healthy living and well-being.
Why is Food As Medicine Important
It is estimated that one in every five deaths across the globe is related to poor eating habits. In fact, today, an unhealthy diet has surpassed smoking as a risk factor for disease and death.
It might be possible to add an extra 48 minutes to your life by substituting just a half portion of beef with a handful of nuts, vegetables, fruits, and seafood. This is the power of making healthier food choices and exciting research out of the University of Michigan published in the journal of Nature in 2021.
The majority of Americans are falling short when it comes to eating enough fruits and vegetables (salad anyone?) and Omega-3 rich seafood, such as salmon.
How Does it Work?
Since most individuals are more likely to follow “doctor’s orders,” or a treatment plan that is formally prescribed by a healthcare professional, the theory was first tested by prescribing fruits and vegetables to patients. Produce prescriptions were one of the first forms of “food as medicine” interventions tested on patients because the majority of Americans (88%) are falling short of consuming life-saving fruits and vegetables in the amount (or quantity) that can improve health, according to 2019 data from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Similar to receiving a new prescription, education was provided to patients on how to select, prepare, and incorporate more produce into everyday meals. Nutrition education for participants was provided by a partnering supermarket with Registered Dietitians on staff. Coupons and cost savings on produce are generally provided to patients for a minimum of 6-12 week timeframe to support behavior change with the ultimate goal of helping individuals to avoid inevitable costly medicine treatment and prescriptions in the future.
How is Superior Fresh a “Food as Medicine” Solution?
We are sustainably producing foods that are under-consumed by most Americans that offer powerful health benefits. We are proudly a U.S. based company and operate locally in the Midwest.
Organic-raised Atlantic Salmon: Fed an organic diet and raised in a clean and safe aquatic environment, we are offering you a protein source with essential Omega-3 fats (EPA/DHA) that are hard to get in most other food source (other than other fatty fish). There is plenty of research evidence indicating that Omega-3 fats offer benefits for heart health in addition to many other conditions. Unlike other farmed and wild salmon, our salmon are not exposed to ocean pollutants and contaminants.
Organic Leafy Greens & Salad Blends: We grow a variety of delicious and antioxidant-rich leafy greens 365 days of the year in our eco-friendly, safe environment. From buttery soft butter lettuce to spicy arugula, we have the ingredients to boost the flavor of any salad, sandwich, or nutioust entree using leafy greens.
