Nutrition IS Preventative Medicine!

by Susan Cross | Posted: September 1st, 2010 | No Comments »

An article in the New York Times this month made me so happy, I jumped up and did a little Snoopy Dance!

This article was about how doctors are actually giving prescriptions to patients, to go to their local farmers markets and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables! This speaks volumes about how very important nutrition is to good health.

I believe very much in the skill and necessity of our doctors and modern medicine in general. However, once we learn about what it is that might be ailing us, nutrition and exercise can usually go a long way in helping to cure us. Hippocrates, the father of medicine said “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food” Well that old adage still rings true today.

In Massachusetts, several practioners are giving their patients ‘veggie vouchers’. Coupons worth $1.00 for each person in your family. A couple with three children would receive a $5.00 coupon towards fresh produce at the farmers market.

Childhood obesity is still on the rise and costs us over $14 billion a year in health expenses. Adult obesity costs us an additional $150 billion per year. While the health of you and your family is the most important concern, it should be noted that if this keeps up, it will bankrupt us as a nation.

If the veggie vouchers are successful farmers markets would become like a nutrition pharmacy for at-risk families. Within one month of the voucher program, an at-risk family with an overweight son, reported that their nine year old lost 4 lbs. in the first month. This is not going to happen at the fast-food drive-in, ever.

This is fantastic in getting children to learn about fresh vegetables and fruits. In the United States, potatoes and tomatoes are the most consumed produce. I use the term ‘produce’ lightly, because they are consumed in the form of french fries, potato chips, and ketchup. None of which you will find at your farmers market.

The goal of this project is to get kids eating at least one serving for vegetables per day. It will also help farmers markets compete with fast-food restaurants selling those dollar deals. According to the Department of Agriculture, farmers markets in the United States generate a little over $1 billion in annual sales. I did a little research myself and found that McDonalds made over $23 billion this year, and the year isn’t over yet.

Please note: At VIB I give health food store tours and farmers market tours for both adults and children. If anyone is interested please leave a message on this post or write to susan@venusinbalance.com. Kids LOVE the farmers market tours – it’s really fun for them.

See you at the market!