Origins of Food as Medicine

Origins in Ancient Systems

• Holistic nutritional medicine therapy originates from ancient systems.
• These systems include:
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
  • Ayurvedic traditional Indian medicine
  • Ancient Greek medicine used by Hippocrates
• Food was seen as vital for health; specific foods/diets were used for:
  • Illness prevention
  • Healing
• Evidence-based practice emerged in the 1990s and significantly influenced holistic nutritional medicine in the 21st century.

Medicinal Use of Foods Through History

• Ancient Medicinal Use of Foods:
  • 3,500-year-old Egyptian papyrus lists 22 uses of garlic.
  • Chinese physicians used honey, tea, ginger, and sea vegetables.
  • Ancient Greeks valued onions and wine for medicinal purposes.
  • Romans revered cabbage and walnuts as food medicine.
• Quote: "Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food."

Hippocrates' Contributions

• Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine emphasized:
  • Prevention
  • Balanced diet
  • Sensible, moderate lifestyle
• He recognized factors contributing to disease:
  • Unbalanced diets
  • Nutritional deficiencies/excess
  • Elimination of metabolic waste
  • Food selection and timing
  • Biochemical individuality
  • Events and emotions
  • Climate
• The Hippocratic Oath outlines good practice for doctors, focusing on good medical conduct.

Modern Naturopath Movement

• Began in Germany around 200 years ago.
• Natural therapists used therapies to restore health:
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Hygiene
  • Fasting
  • Exercise
  • Colonic irrigation
  • Diet
  • Sunlight exposure

Nutritional Medicine in the 21st Century

• Combines:
  • Traditional food wisdom
  • Modern, evidence-based nutrition knowledge based on reductionist principles.
  • Clinical practice knowledge from holistic nutritionists.

Therapeutic Diets

*Developed by understanding the pathophysiology of health conditions and effect of food constituents on human biochemistry and physiology.

• Food constituents (nutrients, phytochemicals) can be pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory.
• Anti-inflammatory diets may benefit conditions involving inflammation by including foods with anti-inflammatory properties and eliminating pro-inflammatory ones.
• Efficacy is influenced by clinical presentation and individual sensitivities.
• Examples of therapeutic diets:
  • Antioxidant-rich diet
  • Immune-enhancing diet
  • Diet to support healthy liver function
  • Diet to promote healthy sleep
• Preparation methods can maximize therapeutic potential.
  • Raw foods may have higher vitamin C levels.
  • Carotenoids have greater bioavailability when consumed with fat.
• Timing matters:
  • Chrononutrition: Foods/nutrients can affect circadian cycle control systems (biological rhythms).
• Micronutrients, macronutrients, or phytochemicals can aid in reducing pro-inflammatory pathways.
  • Examples: turmeric, ginger, cayenne pepper.

Modulation of Pro-inflammatory Pathways

• Several micronutrients, macronutrients, and phytochemicals can modulate pro-inflammatory pathways.
• Micronutrients:
  • Vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc reduce inflammation.
• Macronutrients:
  • Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil, flax seeds) have anti-inflammatory properties.
• Phytochemicals:
  • Curcumin (turmeric), resveratrol (red grapes), quercetin (onions, apples) counteract inflammatory processes.
• Diets incorporating these may mitigate inflammation and contribute to overall health.