LET FOOD BE THY MEDICINE

University of California Television (UCTV)

15 Jun 201880:06

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe discussion revolves around the concept of 'Food as Medicine,' emphasizing the importance of nutrition in preventing and treating diseases. The panelists, experts in integrative health, Ayurvedic medicine, and organic farming, highlight the significance of a whole food plant-based diet, the impact of glyphosate and other toxins on health, and the benefits of organic and heirloom foods. They stress the need for individuals to be proactive in their health choices, to trust their bodies, and to empower themselves through knowledge and small, manageable steps towards healthier eating habits.

Takeaways

🥗 Nutrition and food as medicine is a key focus at the Center for Integrative Health and Nutrition, aiming to create a preventive healthcare approach based on ancient wisdom.
🌿 Ayurvedic medicine emphasizes a mind, body, spirit approach with a focus on prevention and empowering individuals to be their own healers through diet and lifestyle choices.
🍏 The Gerson Institute promotes a systemic program focusing on nutrition, air quality, and water issues, treating serious illnesses and bringing the body back into balance.
🌾 Zen Honeycutt of Moms Across America advocates for GMO-free and organic solutions, promoting healthy communities by supporting local leadership and raising awareness about toxins.
🧬 Western medicine often deals with symptoms rather than root causes, while Ayurveda and other traditional systems focus on addressing the underlying issues to prevent disease.
🍵 The concept of 'food as medicine' is not just about preventing disease but also treating serious illnesses through dietary changes and natural supplementation.
🌱 Empowering individuals through education about the quality of their food can lead to better choices, creating demand for healthier food options and supporting sustainable farming practices.
🚫 Processed foods and high toxin load in diet can lead to various health issues; shifting towards whole, nutrient-dense foods can significantly improve overall health.
🌻 Eating according to seasons and choosing locally grown foods can enhance the nutrient content of the diet and align with natural rhythms, contributing to better health.
🛒 Choosing organic food, especially for certain items with high pesticide residue, can reduce the toxic load and provide more nutrients, supporting overall wellness.

Q & A

What is the main principle behind the Center for Integrative Health and Center for Integrative Nutrition?
-The main principle is to use a broad-based set of integrative approaches to healthcare, with a particular focus on nutrition and food as medicine, aiming to create what is considered the medicine of the future, which is essentially a return to the medicine of the ancient past.
How does Ayurvedic medicine view the concept of food and digestion?
-In Ayurvedic medicine, food is considered as the primary form of medicine, and good digestion is seen as the core of health. The system emphasizes the importance of eating properly and having good digestion for maintaining health and preventing diseases.
What is the Gerson Institute and what does it do?
-The Gerson Institute is a nonprofit organization that focuses on education, training, and information referral for the work to support people following Dr. Gerson's therapeutic approach, which involves using a diet elimination program and other natural supplementation to treat serious illnesses and bring the body back into total balance.
How does Zen Honeycutt and Moms Across America contribute to creating healthy communities?
-Zen Honeycutt and Moms Across America raise awareness about GMOs and toxins, offering GMO-free and organic solutions. They support local leadership and collaborate with various organizations to provide free materials, supplies, training, and talking points to help create healthy communities.
What is the role of the Health Research Institute in the food system?
-The Health Research Institute aims to create transparency in the food system to enable better choices for consumers. It carries out testing related to nutritional aspects, pesticides, GMOs, and heavy metals, and uses the results to inform the public about these issues through organizations like Zen's.
How did Stephanie Norton transition from a military career to farming?
-Stephanie Norton transitioned to farming after battling Lyme disease and finding that growing her own food had a positive impact on her health. She started Dickinson Farm with the goal of providing healthy, organic food to her community and people dealing with similar health struggles.
What is the significance of the six tastes in Ayurvedic medicine?
-The six tastes in Ayurvedic medicine are significant because they focus on the micronutrients and spices that support the digestive process. This concept emphasizes the importance of food synergy and optimizing the body's internal mechanisms for healing through a balanced combination of tastes.
How does the Gerson therapy approach protein intake in patients?
-The Gerson therapy temporarily restricts protein intake, especially during the first six weeks of the therapy, to mount healing reactions and strong detoxification in seriously ill patients. After this period, protein is gradually reintroduced in the form of organic low-fat yogurt or lentils.
What is the role of fermented foods in promoting gut health?
-Fermented foods play a crucial role in promoting gut health as they contain beneficial bacteria that help improve digestion and maintain a balanced gut microbiome. They are considered predigested foods, making them easier for the body to assimilate and support the body's natural healing processes.
How does the concept of epigenetics relate to the impact of food on gene expression?
-Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that occur due to environmental factors like diet. These changes can influence the way genes are chemically functioning without altering their sequence, and can have long-term effects that may even be inherited by future generations.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Introduction to Integrative Health and Nutrition

The discussion begins with an introduction to the Center for Integrative Health and Nutrition, emphasizing a broad-based approach to healthcare with a focus on nutrition and food as medicine. The speaker shares their passion for developing programs in clinical, research, educational, and community outreach to create a preventive healthcare model inspired by ancient medicine principles, including those from Ayurvedic and Chinese traditions.

05:03

🍏 Ayurvedic Medicine and its Relevance Today

The conversation delves into Ayurvedic medicine, highlighting its comprehensive and holistic nature that addresses the mind, body, and spirit. The speaker explains the foundational principle of Ayurveda that views food as the primary medicine and emphasizes the importance of proper digestion. The discussion also touches on the shift from symptomatic treatment in Western medicine to a more preventative and empowering approach in Ayurveda.

10:06

🌾 The Role of the Gerson Institute and Healthy Eating

The speaker discusses the Gerson Institute's role in educating and supporting people following Dr. Gerson's work, which involves a systemic program focusing on nutrition and environmental factors. The Gerson therapy's development and application in treating various health conditions are explained, along with the speaker's personal journey in embracing Ayurvedic principles and the impact of diet on health trajectory.

15:08

🌍 Collaboration for Healthier Communities

The conversation shifts to the work of Moms Across America, an organization focused on raising awareness about GMOs and toxins, and promoting GMO-free and organic solutions. The speaker shares personal experiences with their children's health improvements through dietary changes and emphasizes the importance of community collaboration and education in fostering healthier lifestyles and environments.

20:09

🧬 GMOs, Nutrition, and the Health Research Institute

The discussion addresses the Health Research Institute's mission to create transparency in the food system, focusing on both nutritional aspects and harmful elements like pesticides and GMOs. The speaker explains how testing and public information empower individuals to make better food choices, ultimately driving demand for healthier food production practices and higher nutritional value.

25:10

🥦 The Impact of Food on Gene Expression and Health

The conversation explores the impact of food on gene expression and epigenetics, explaining how dietary choices can influence gene functioning and potentially lead to long-term health effects. The speaker discusses the power of food in altering health trajectories and the importance of understanding the role of nutrition in chronic disease prevention and treatment.

30:10

🌱 Empowerment through Knowledge and Healthy Choices

The speakers share personal stories of overcoming health challenges through dietary changes and emphasize the importance of empowerment and taking charge of one's health. They discuss the role of education and awareness in making informed decisions about food and lifestyle, and the potential for communities to support each other in adopting healthier practices.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Integrative Medicine

Integrative Medicine refers to an approach to healthcare that combines the best of conventional Western medical practices with alternative and complementary therapies. In the video, the speaker discusses their work at the Center for Integrative Health and Center for Integrative Nutrition, emphasizing a broad-based set of integrative approaches to healthcare with a focus on nutrition and food as medicine.

💡Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic Medicine is a traditional Indian system of medicine that emphasizes a mind, body, spirit approach. It is one of the world's oldest healing systems, with a focus on prevention and empowering individuals to be their own healers. In the video, the speaker discusses their passion for Ayurvedic Medicine and its focus on food as the core of health, highlighting the importance of proper digestion and the synergy of the six tastes in Ayurveda for optimal health.

💡Gerson Therapy

Gerson Therapy is an alternative cancer treatment developed by Dr. Max Gerson, which focuses on detoxification and strengthening the immune system through a strict diet regimen and nutritional supplementation. In the video, the speaker talks about their work at the Gerson Institute, where they educate and train doctors worldwide in this therapy, emphasizing its use of fresh organic food and the belief in the body's ability to heal itself.

💡Food as Medicine

The concept of Food as Medicine refers to the use of nutritional interventions and dietary changes to prevent, treat, or manage diseases. In the video, this idea is central to the discussion, with various speakers advocating for the power of nutrition and specific dietary approaches to improve health and treat illnesses.

💡Nutrition

Nutrition refers to the process of consuming and utilizing the components of food to maintain health, support growth, and regulate bodily functions. In the video, nutrition is highlighted as a critical aspect of health and disease prevention, with an emphasis on the quality and type of foods consumed.

💡Prevention

Prevention in the context of healthcare refers to the measures taken to prevent the occurrence of disease or maintain good health. The video emphasizes the importance of prevention through dietary and lifestyle choices, as opposed to solely focusing on treating symptoms or diseases after they occur.

💡Microbiome

The Microbiome refers to the collection of microorganisms that live within and on the human body, playing a critical role in health and disease. In the video, the importance of a healthy microbiome is discussed in relation to diet and the impact of food choices on gut health.

💡Glyphosate

Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide, known for its role in Roundup, which has been linked to various health concerns, including potential harm to the microbiome and endocrine disruption. In the video, the discussion around glyphosate highlights the importance of choosing organic foods to reduce exposure to this chemical.

💡Organic Food

Organic Food refers to food produced without the use of synthetic chemicals, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or artificial preservatives, fertilizers, or pesticides. The video stresses the benefits of consuming organic food to reduce exposure to toxins and promote overall health.

💡Healing Foods

Healing Foods are those that have been shown to aid in the recovery or maintenance of health, often due to their nutrient content or specific properties that support the body's natural healing processes. In the video, various speakers discuss the importance of including healing foods in one's diet to prevent and treat diseases.

Highlights

Thomas Edison's quote emphasizes the future of medicine focusing on nutrition rather than drugs.

The Center for Integrative Health and Center for Integrative Nutrition aim to create a future medicine based on ancient practices, with a focus on nutrition and food as medicine.

Ayurvedic medicine, rooted in ancient practices, promotes a mind, body, spirit approach to health and healing, emphasizing the importance of proper nutrition and digestion.

The Gerson Institute, a nonprofit organization, educates and trains people on Dr. Gerson's work, which includes treating serious illnesses through a systemic program focused on nutrition.

Moms Across America raises awareness about GMOs and toxins, advocating for GMO-free and organic solutions to create healthy communities.

Health Research Institute conducts tests to create transparency in the food system, empowering people to make better choices about their food consumption.

Dickinson Farm focuses on growing 100% heirloom plants, using minimal organic pesticides, to provide healthy food for people dealing with health issues.

Food as medicine is not just about preventing disease but also about treating existing conditions through dietary changes and nutritional interventions.

The concept of 'food synergy' in Ayurveda highlights the importance of combining different tastes and foods to optimize digestion and nutrient absorption.

The discussion emphasizes the importance of individualized nutrition approaches, considering different body types and mind-body connections in Ayurveda.

The impact of food on gene expression and epigenetics, showing how dietary choices can influence genetic functioning and potentially pass on effects to future generations.

The transformative power of changing one's diet, even in small ways, to significantly improve health and well-being.

The significance of eating organic and the impact of pesticides and GMOs on health, fertility, and the environment.

The importance of education and awareness in making informed dietary choices for oneself and one's family.

The role of seasonal and local eating in Ayurveda, connecting with nature's cycles for optimal nutrition and health.

Transcripts

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Related Tags

NutritionHealing IntegrativeHealth AyurvedicMedicine GersonTherapy OrganicFarming FoodAsMedicine HealthyEating NaturalHealing PreventiveCare HealthcareExperts