Food as Medicine

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Foods as Medicine Since a long time ago, human has acknowledged the health benefits of foods. However, with the development of chemical drugs and pills, they have forgotten that the food they eat are directly linked to their health. Foods, in facts are the best medicines and therefore we should take into account carefully how we perceive and use them. Firstly, choosing the right diet and the right food to eat can help improve health and body functions. Secondly, using food for health benefits has been a norm and that scientists are looking forward to create foods that can fight diseases. Not surprisingly, there are some similarities and differences in the views on the health benefits of foods between two different generations. And last but not least, foods with health benefits have been industrialized (nutraceuticals and functional foods), which raised the concern on how the government should regulate them. We are what we eat, the foods we consume every single meal significantly impacts our health and therefore it can be used as medicine. Healthy diets are directly linked to good health. It is because human bodies need food to function properly, if the food is not good enough, then our functions are disrupted. For example, eating foods with high Glycemic index (the digestion rate of carbohydrates) can lead to sudden increase as well as drop of blood sugar, which are said to increase risks of cardiovascular diseases and obesity (Ghartey & Nembhard, 2013). On the other hand, consuming unsaturated fatty acids, which are found from vegetables sources, such as olive oil, walnuts and soybeans, can improve health. This is because unsaturated fatty acids raise the level of HDL cholesterol that collects excessive LDL cholester... ... middle of paper ... ...D. (2013). Nutriotion and Healthy Eating. Whitby, ON: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. Nutraceuticals/Functional Foods and Health Claims On Foods. (n.d). Retrieved from Health Canada: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/label-etiquet/claims-reclam/nutra-funct_foods-nutra-fonct_aliment-eng.php#a4 Phytonutrients. (n.d). Retrieved from WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/diet/phytonutrients-faq Schorr, M. (2013, October 17). Chicken Soup Really Is Good for a Cold. Retrieved from ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=117888 What are Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals? (n.d). Retrieved from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/industry-markets-and-trade/statistics-and-market-information/by-product-sector/functional-foods-and-natural-health-products/functional-foods-and-nutraceuticals-canadian-industry/what-are-functional-foods-and-nutraceuticals-/?id=11

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