Blending medicine with cuisine
Blending medicine with cuisine isn’t really a new concept. Hippocrates emphasized the importance of nutrition in preventing or curing disease, and it has been the basis of traditional Chinese medicine. This emphasis may even be more relevant today as more and more people rely on prescription drugs to treat all of their ailments. This study takes ancient wisdom and shines new light on it, to change how we think about nutrition and health in modern society.
Food can be medicine when it has anti-inflammatory properties, combats inflammation, reduces chronic stress on the body, and has a positive impact on the body’s systems as a whole. Blending medicine with cuisine historical guidelines are being reviewed, to see if the age-old philosophy can be modernized to accommodate the complex interplay of consumer attitudes, science, and challenging shifting lifestyles of today’s society.
Learning from the past
Academics from the National R&D Center for Edible Fungus Processing Technology and the University of Auckland published a comprehensive review in the journal Food & Medicine Homology, detailing how the concept of medicine and food homology is being revolutionized to fit into modern contemporary lifestyle and health needs. The in-depth analysis strongly advocates for the modernization and globalization of the food-medicine homology theory and opens the door for future investigation and advancement.
The work describes the transition of “medicine and food homology” from a traditional philosophy to a modern strategy, with attention to historical development and current trends, and it highlights how the recent pandemic played a significant role in accelerating this shift. The research also provides a critical view of how this transformation affects food processing, dietary habits, consumer perceptions, and life choices while advocating for a comprehensive health approach that blends ancient insights with modern imperatives.
Combining with modern science
“Our review is designed to showcase the potential of integrating ancient dietary practices with modern living, enhancing health, and preventing diseases through the strategic use of food as medicine,” said corresponding author Professor Wen-Yi Kang of the National R&D Center for Edible Fungus Processing Technology, China and first author Professor Dong-Xiao Sun-Waterhouse of The New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology, New Zealand, while underscoring the importance of integrating traditional wisdom with contemporary healthcare.
The findings from this study have the potential to have profound implications for the future of healthcare, signaling a much-needed move toward personalized nutrition and proactive health management. The potential integration of medicine-food dual-use substances into mainstream healthcare could begin a fundamental change in the prevention and treatment of diseases. This study guides us towards an integrated, sustainable approach to wellness, aligning with the growing consumer preference for holistic health solutions.
Food can be medicine
Medine-food homology is based on many foods not just having nutritional value, but also having therapeutic effects. Basically, what you do or do not put on your plate could be a powerful tool to help prevent or treat various health conditions while nourishing your body. This holistic approach is far from modern Western approaches which have separated food and medicine. However, growing scientific evidence is showing that modern diets are not only a major culprit to the growing rates of chronic diseases, such as the obesity epidemic but that they could also be a potent solution.
The age-old concept extends beyond fruits and veggies, it also involves medicinal fungi, herbs, and other botanicals that can be incorporated into functional foods and nutraceuticals. However, it is important to keep in mind that this approach is not just about adding a bunch of superfoods to your diet. It is a holistic approach that considers how different foods interact with each other and our body, which includes cooking methods, as well as the timing and context of meals.
Addressing public health challenges
The blending of ancient wisdom with modern science is opening up exciting new avenues in nutrition and medicine. The authors suggest that integrating this medicine-food homology could help to address major public health challenges and the rising costs of healthcare. Taking a more proactive role in health through diet could also help to reduce reliance on pharmaceuticals and other medical interventions.
“A more proactive, holistic and individualized healthcare approach can be achieved and promoted globally if the medicine-food homologous substances are selected to complement Western medicine (modern medicine) in health promotion and disease prevention,” the authors write.
Before the holistic sustainable shift can be fully embraced, there will be regulatory hurdles to overcome, as well as the need for more scientific validation. These hurdles will also be paired with cultural barriers and deeply ingrained eating habits that will also need to be addressed which will take some time. But as the lines between food and medicine continue to blur, the ancient concept of medicine-food homology appears to be more relevant today than ever.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
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References/Sources/Materials provided by:
https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/FMH.2024.9420014
http://www.tup.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/index.html
https://worldhealth.net/news/ultra-processed-foods-not-so-new-silent-killer/
https://worldhealth.net/news/vicious-twins-hypertension-and-obesity-america/
https://worldhealth.net/news/has-obesity-become-greater-risk-global-health-hunger/
