9/30/2024 –
Food Is Medicine programs could be effective in treating, managing and preventing chronic disease, according to a growing body of research recently outlined by the American Heart Association, which is observing 100 years of lifesaving service as the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all.
But can prescribing healthy food as part of a patient’s health care plan be cost effective?
“The prospective impact of Food Is Medicine programs could be huge. An estimated 90% of the $4.3 trillion annual cost of health care in the United States is spent on medical care for chronic disease, and for many of these diseases — including heart disease — diet is a major risk factor,” said Kevin G. Volpp, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, scientific lead of the American Heart Association’s Food Is Medicine initiative — Health Care by Food™…