Food as Medicine
By Rev. Natalie Mitchem, RDN
Proverbs 23:1 says, “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully whatis before you.” The concept of food as medicine and Culinary Rx ( “prescriptions”) to fight, prevent, manage, and reverse preventable diseases like Diabetes Type II, heart disease, cancer (e.g., Colon), high blood pressure, stroke, auto-immune diseases, and premature aging are on the rise. Shlisky’s 2017 evidence-based research states nutrition plays a major role in healthy aging. Hamdy and Barakatun-Nisak’s 2016 research indicates medical nutrition therapy and healthy food choices reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, promotes weight control, and improves glycemic or blood sugar control.
Many medical schools, including Harvard Medical School, Tulane University of School of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical School, and Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, now offer and require future doctors to take a culinary cooking and nutrition course. The surge in this approach to fighting and preventing disease is found in evidence-based research indicating that healthy food is essential and imperative to fighting many types of disease.
Healthy food fights disease at the root. Medicine typically addresses symptoms and the results of a disease condition. In a day and time when health insurance is not always available or affordable and in places around the world where medicine and medical intervention is limited or not available, increasing knowledge regarding food as medicine is timely and a blessing. In February 2018, the International Health Commission of the AME Church introduced AME Culinary Rx. AME Culinary Rx is the first faith-based 60-day online nutrition and cooking program designed to teach ways to prevent and fight disease. Church culinary staff, Bible study groups, church leaders, and individuals can use AME Culinary Rx to inform, educate, and equip the body of Christ. We invite seminaries to use AME Culinary Rx as a tool and course for church leaders.
AME Culinary Rx has reduced the price from $99.99 to $49.99 with lifetime access to AME Culinary Rx! AME Culinary Rx is located at www.AMEChealth.organd
https://ame-church.rouxbe.com/. The regular price is $199.99. The $49.99 is a special rate for the faith-based community.
The faith-based version of Culinary RX offers scriptures and increased knowledge. Imagine your doctor informing you or a loved one that they can stop taking medication and experience improved health because of food as medicine. Soon, many doctors will write prescriptions recommending patients complete a culinary nutrition cooking class to manage disease conditions. We invite everyone to enroll in AME Culinary Rx and help prevent disease, fight disease, and save “physical” lives while we save souls for Christ.
