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Food as Medicine-Eat Right for a Sustainable Health


Poornima Jeyasekaran, Soumini G.P.
Pages: 133-143
ISBN: 978-93-5834-756-2


Advances in Medicinal Plant Sciences (Volume -2)

Advances in Medicinal Plant Sciences
(Volume - 2)

Abstract

Food is the original and best medicine. Eating is a major source of pleasure. How we eat is one determinant of health. Changing how we eat is one strategy for managing disease and restoring health. Alarm foods (Fast foods, soft drinks, processed foods) are dangerous for the body. These alarm foods commonly contain a high fat content especially saturated fat and certain alarm foods are associated with increased risk of diseases like heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s. The ill effects of these foods can be prevented by bio active compounds found abundant in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. The phyto nutrients present in fruits and vegetables make them act as medicine. The father of medicine Hippocrates said “Let food be thy medicine” provokes the researches to derive the concept of functional foods and nutraceuticals. The sources of functional foods are plants, animals and microbes. These foods contain nutrients but in addition provide disease prevention and health promotion. For example oats provides carbohydrate and in addition contains beta glucan which prevents Diabetes mellitus, CVD and anti-cancer effect in the colon. When the active compounds in the food are extracted, isolated and given in the form of pills, capsules they are called nutraceuticals. Henceforth what you consume has a great impact on the health and longevity.

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