Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” The importance of a healthy diet is well-known, yet statistics for obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other lifestyle-related diseases are at an all-time high.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 68.8 percent of adults are considered overweight. The organization warns that being overweight contributes to “heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, liver disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.”

The solution: a healthy, plant-based diet and physical activity.

Casey Health Institute in Gaithersburg, Maryland, uses a multifaceted approach in treating patients, including integrative primary care, naturopathic medicine, health coaching, and nutritional counseling.

Carrie Runde, ND, Naturopathic Physician at Casey Health explains,  “Food, it turns out, can be a major factor for re-establishing good health when it is compromised. This is why the concept of ‘food as medicine’ is becoming better understood all the time.”

The American Institute for Cancer Research says, “Health experts agree that putting mostly plant foods on your plate is the healthiest diet.” Because these types of food are high in antioxidants, healthy fiber, essential vitamins and minerals and protein and are easy for the body to process, a plant-based diet promotes proper bodily functions and healing.

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