“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
– attributed to Hippocrates, Greek physician and philosopher*
Food as medicine. Have you heard of this concept? It might seem like a recent idea, but it dates back to Hippocrates, one of the first physicians to believe in treating the whole person rather than just the symptoms of a person’s disease. It was a radical idea at the time, focused on the need for a balanced diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle, but now we know how important it really is.
Here at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, we believe that food is indeed medicine. Proper nourishment is fundamental to good health. It aids in disease prevention, improves health outcomes and lowers the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
However, for too many people, this basic necessity remains out of reach.
In Ohio, we have one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the nation, and more than 400,000 children in this state live in food-insecure households. Oftentimes, these families do not have access to enough food to lead active, healthy lives, and they do not know where their next meal will come from. The ripple effects of this are significant, impacting physical and mental health and even economic stability.
This is, quite simply, unacceptable. Everyone deserves access to fresh, nutritious foods and the opportunity to thrive.
As leaders in health care, we play a critical role in identifying and implementing “food as medicine” solutions to address hunger, food insecurity and the social determinants of health that lead to such inequity in our communities. And I am proud to say that we are already using the power of food to make a real difference.
We are proud partners of the innovative Mid-Ohio Farmacy program, which allows our providers to give food-insecure patients a “prescription” to access free, fresh fruits and vegetables for their families every week at their local food pantry. Studies have shown this program improves the health of its participants by reducing significant risk factors like BMI and blood sugar levels. And on the Near East Side of Columbus, our Healthy Community Center is offering regular programming to help people learn how to cook nutritious meals and grow their own produce.
These efforts are about more than filling stomachs – we want to fuel healthier lives and create healthier communities.
So, as we observe Hunger Action Month this September, I would like to hear your ideas! How can we work together to achieve a future where no one suffers from hunger and everyone has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive?
*This quote has been attributed to Hippocrates as a modern rephrasing of his teachings.
Dean, College of Medicine
Leslie H. and Abigail S. Wexner Dean’s Chair in Medicine
Vice President for Health Sciences, Wexner Medical Center