Doctors might soon be giving out fresh fruits and vegetables as part of treatment plans, according to a study from Australia.
This simple change could be a great way to help people with type 2 diabetes improve their health.
Power of Fresh Produce
Scientists from The George Institute for Global Health and UNSW Sydney found that people with type 2 diabetes who took part in a fresh produce prescription program ate nearly two extra servings of fruits and vegetables each day over a 12-week period.
Participants also lost about 1.7 kilograms and their “bad cholesterol” levels dropped by 10%.
Food as Medicine
The study’s leader, Jason Wu, believes that this study proves the power of using “food as medicine” to manage diet-related health conditions.
He said that while we all know that a good diet is crucial for health, not many people eat enough fruits and vegetables.
This is especially true for people in disadvantaged communities who have a hard time getting healthy food.
In Australia, over 20,000 premature deaths each year are caused by poor diets. This also leads to a lot of suffering for patients and their families.
How the Study Worked
To see if a produce prescription could work in Australia, the researchers teamed up with doctors at a hospital in Sydney. They found 50 people with type 2 diabetes who had trouble getting enough food.
These participants received a box filled with healthy foods chosen by nutrition experts. The box also included recipe ideas. Participants had the choice to see a dietitian every two weeks.
Promising Results
After 12 weeks, the participants saw big improvements. They ate better, lost weight, and their blood cholesterol levels improved.
Almost all participants (96%) said the program helped them and their families eat better. They also said they would be willing to pay to continue with the program.
A Popular and Effective Solution
Dr. Wu said the results showed that the fresh produce prescription program was not just popular but also effective at improving health. He believes that the next step is to expand the program and do more research to confirm these benefits.
A Shift in Healthcare
Many people now believe that healthcare systems should do more to prevent and treat diseases related to poor diets. Relying only on medications is not enough.
In the United States, some healthcare providers and the government are already paying for programs that prescribe healthy food and meals. These programs have shown promising health benefits and even lower overall healthcare costs.
Good Food is Good Medicine
Tristan Harris, co-CEO of Harris Farms which supplied the healthy food for the study, said he was excited to work with Professor Wu and The George Institute.
He believes that good food is the best medicine to combat unhealthy diets and the high costs associated with them. According to Harris, using food as medicine is the most common-sense approach to health.
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If you care about diabetes, please read studies that pomace olive oil could help lower blood cholesterol, and honey could help control blood sugar.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about Vitamin D that may reduce dangerous complications in diabetes and results showing plant-based protein foods may help reverse type 2 diabetes.
The study was published in The Journal of Nutrition.
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