Most of us know that eating fruits and vegetables is good for us, but what happens when your doctor actually prescribes them?
According to a new Australian study, this simple idea could be a game-changer for people with type 2 diabetes.
Researchers found that when diabetics ate more fresh produce, they not only felt better but also saw meaningful drops in weight and “bad” cholesterol.
The Nitty-Gritty: What the Study Found
The study was a joint effort by The George Institute for Global Health and UNSW Sydney. Researchers worked with 50 people with type 2 diabetes who didn’t have easy access to healthy food.
These folks got special boxes full of fresh fruits and vegetables, recipes on how to cook them, and regular appointments with a dietitian.
After three months, almost everyone in the study ate two more servings of fruits and vegetables each day, lost some weight, and reduced their bad cholesterol by 10%.
Jason Wu, the study’s lead author and a nutrition expert, said this was the first time in Australia that a study has shown that “food as medicine” could actually work.
Currently, more than 20,000 Australians die prematurely each year because of poor diets, and only one in twenty Australians eats enough fruits and vegetables.
Wu believes that by providing people with better access to healthy foods, the health of Australians can improve dramatically.
A Growing Trend: Food as Healthcare
This isn’t just an Australian thing. In the United States, some programs are already combining healthcare and food prescriptions, and they’re showing positive results.
It seems we’re slowly waking up to the idea that throwing pills at diet-related diseases might not be enough.
What’s more, these programs are often paid for by the government or health care providers, making them more accessible to people who might not otherwise afford healthy food options.
Tristan Harris, co-CEO of Harris Farms, which provided the food for the study, couldn’t be happier about the findings. He said that this is the “most common-sense approach to health” he could imagine.
Harris believes that this could reduce the burden of diet-related diseases and cut down healthcare costs, which is a win-win for everyone.
The Next Steps: From Study to Everyday Life
The study is promising but it’s just the first step. The next goal, according to Dr. Wu, is to expand the study and confirm the benefits.
Most people in the study said they would be willing to pay for this sort of program because it helped improve their health and their family’s diet.
So, it’s not just about individuals; it’s a family affair that could bring about healthier communities.
Conclusion: Food for Thought
The Australian study shows that a simple prescription for fresh fruits and vegetables could make a big difference in the health of people with type 2 diabetes.
If doctors start to think of food as medicine, we could see a real shift in how we treat diet-related diseases, not just in Australia but around the world.
So, the next time you visit your doctor, don’t be surprised if, along with medical advice, you get a prescription for some fresh fruits and veggies!
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, and what you need to know about avocado and type 2 diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about how to eat to prevent type 2 diabetes and 5 vitamins that may prevent complications in diabetes.
The study was published in The Journal of Nutrition.
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