Healing Through Nutrition: The Power of Culinary Medicine
In the US, many health issues are linked to poor eating habits and nutrition. Over the last few decades there has been a lot of research on the benefits of using nutrition to improve or avoid different health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, fatty liver, kidney disease, pregnancy, and diverticulitis. However, many people are not successful in adopting and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise program to improve their health. There is a new focus on Culinary Medicine to help bridge this gap and help individuals harness the healing power of nutrition.
Understanding Culinary Medicine
Culinary medicine is a field that combines the art of cooking with the science of medicine to promote healthy eating. It focuses on using food as a form of medicine to prevent and treat various health conditions.
By understanding the nutritional value of different ingredients and how they interact with the body, culinary medicine aims to optimize health and well-being. It emphasizes the importance of consuming whole, unprocessed foods that are rich in nutrients, cooking meals from scratch, and educating people on healthy culinary skills to align with health promotion and disease prevention.
In culinary medicine, chefs and healthcare professionals work together to create delicious and nutritious meals aligning with different therapeutic diets that not only satisfy the taste buds but also nourish the body.
The Role of Nutrition in Healing
Many people know that what they eat and drink impacts their weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and so on but aren’t sure what is healthy or how to prepare foods the right way for their specific needs. When consuming a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, we provide the body with the building blocks it needs to repair and regenerate cells, support hormone balance, and decrease stress and free radicals.
Adequate nutrition can enhance the immune system, reduce inflammation, improve brain health, and support the body’s natural healing processes. It can also help manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Culinary medicine recognizes the power of nutrition in promoting healing and aims to support individuals to know the why, what, and how so they are empowered to utilize the power of food as a holistic and natural approach to support their health.
Incorporating Culinary Medicine into Daily Life
Being a dietitian for over 14 years, I have learned that most people know what is healthy and why it is important to care for their body but struggle with consistent actions to support their goals. This may be due to lack of food preparation skills, stress, busy schedules, nutritional misinformation, and/or feeling overwhelmed with where to start. Culinary medicine aims to help improve people’s confidence in developing healthy practices that are individual, realistic, maintainable, and enjoyable.
You can find culinary medicine programs that are hosted in teaching kitchens where they focus on basics such as knife skills, plant-based cooking strategies, quick healthy eating recipes for busy schedules, and cooking classes tailored to specific health conditions. These programs focus on learning how to incorporate healthy eating habits by learning meal planning & preparation and exploring different cooking techniques.
Other programs may focus on how to shop for healthy foods, read nutrition labels, and learning about ingredients that offer specific health benefits to the body. You may find these types of programs at a grocery store or hospital.
To incorporate culinary medicine focus on cooking at home, incorporating more unprocessed or minimally processed foods, and utilizing healthy cooking techniques. Research supports the idea that eating more freshly prepared foods and eating out less leads to a lower calorie intake, healthier diet overall, and significant cost savings.
Key Ingredients for Nutritional Healing
When it comes to nutritional healing, certain key ingredients play a significant role in promoting health and well-being.
Essential for high content of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Provides essential nutrients to the body and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
Rich in fiber and nutrients for sustained energy.
Can help regulate blood sugar levels and promote digestive health.
Important for repairing and building tissues.
Good source of amino acids.
Beneficial for heart health and brain functions.
Provide essential fatty acids.
Rising Interest in Culinary Medicine
Culinary medicine is on the rise and the main reasons why are:
- Increased interest in food and cooking for healthy weight and chronic illness
- Popularity of integrative and holistic medicine & individuals looking to fill the gaps of conventional medical approaches
- Disinterest in highly processed and convenience foods
- Rising cost of healthcare
- Higher demand for foods that are healthier, locally grown, free of unhealthy ingredients, and home gardening.
- Medically Tailored Meals, which are built on the principles of culinary medicine, are gaining traction to help reduce healthcare costs
Enhancing Health Through Nutrient-Dense Cuisine
Nutrient-dense cuisine is at the core of culinary medicine. It focuses on cultural flavors and delicious pairings for meals that are flavorful and packed with essential nutrients.
Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating focuses on upholding evidence-based nutrition and culinary techniques to help support high nutritional value, incorporate a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, utilize different cooking techniques that retains nutrients, and emphasizes herbs and spices instead of excessive salt and unhealthy ingredients to add flavor without compromising nutritional quality.
Our team of chefs and dietitians work together to ensure our meals blend the science of nutrition with the art of cooking for a delicious and healthy result. Our hope is that by focusing on providing healthy meals and nutrition education our customers learn proper portion sizes, sound nutrition practices, and retrain their taste buds to enjoy real, nourishing food.
Check out how our meal plans might help you on your Culinary Nutrition journey today!
