We've long known that doctors receive little, if any, training in nutrition here in the US. A quarter of medical schools require even one course in nutrition! A new study surveyed nutrition knowledge among physicians at a large medical center, finding poor adherence to healthy diets among respondents and sorely lacking knowledge of American Hearth Association dietary recommendations.
This is really not surprising, however, given that our Western medical system focuses more on treating symptoms of disease, usually through medication, rather than preventing it in the first place. And even then, nutrition is rarely, if at all, considered as part of the care process. Other cultures get it. In Ayurveda, an ancient system of holistic medicine that originated in India, practitioners include nutrition in their health assessments and recommendations to patients. Indigenous Hawaiians used plants such as kukui, ti, taro and papaya to prevent and treat common illnesses. In southeast Asian, African and many Islamic cultures herbs such as turmeric and coriander are cornerstones of a healthy diet. These cultures take a holistic approach, while Western medicine takes a mechanistic approach. What can be done? Our medical system needs an overhaul. Medical schools should rethink their curriculum to focus on prevention and include robust training on the connections between food and health. But at the end of the day, your health is in your hands. Stay away from the fad diets that come and go. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Choose a plant-based diet that favors local, organic fruits and veggies and limits refined and processed foods. If you have specific health concerns, reach out to a trained nutrition professional (like me!) for help.
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Cynthia ArchibaldHolistic nutritionist working to improving the health of our North Shore community Archives
March 2020
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