Food as medicine

There is a quote attributed to Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine: ‘Let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food.’ Yet when we get sick, we don’t think ‘What should I eat’. Instead we make an appointment with our doctor and will likely go and get a pharmaceutical drug. We have become a country that treats its health in a reactive manner. We wait until something happens then we react.

We should be asking ourselves how can we PREVENT getting sick. This is where using ‘food as medicine’ comes into play. While our general view of food is a source of macronutrients, (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals),  this is short-sighted. Research has found the secondary metabolites found in fruits, nuts and vegetables have many beneficial properties. These secondary metabolites are the ‘medicines’ in the foods we eat. The details of how these molecules help our health is beyond the scope of this article, but ample scientific data support the role of these molecules in our health and well-being. Food can indeed be our medicine if we eat the right source of nature’s bounty.

What to do? Since it is essential that we consume enough water on a daily basis to stay hydrated, take this opportunity to increase your consumption of ‘medicines’ in foods. Simply combine the essential need for water intake with a berry slurry. Start with frozen organic berries*. Take ¼ to ½ cup of the berries and mash them in hot water. Pour the slurry into your water bottle and fill with water and chill. Drink this anti-inflammatory cocktail to satisfy your thirst and provide your body with food medicines for your health. When finished be sure to eat the pulp at the bottom of the container to get fiber and the anti-inflammatories that are not water soluble.

*Hint - mix up the type of berry you consume to maximize the effect as all fruits offer varying nutrients and you want as much variety as possible. We suggest the site Northwest Wild Foods. They offer options you do not normally find on grocery stores shelves such as aronia berries, black currants, huckleberries, tart cherries, lingonberries, honeyberries and black raspberries. All are rich in anti-inflammatories and can do wonders for your health.