The Benefits of Prescribing Food as Medicine

A Northwestern cardiologist makes the case that nutrition belongs alongside medication in treating chronic disease, pointing to the American Heart Association's dietary guidance and its emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lower sodium.

The piece notes that nearly 1 in 7 U.S. households struggled with food insecurity in 2024 per USDA data, and that nearly seven in ten adults exceed recommended sodium intake even when eating foods that appear healthy, like salads loaded with processed meat and dressing.

The proposed fix floated is 'Food Is Medicine,' a movement aiming to deliver medically tailored meals the way pharmacies deliver prescription refills, though the piece stops short of explaining who pays for it or at what scale.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.