Prescription for Your Plate

WACO, Texas (KWTX) -

When it comes to the things we choose eat we know some are generally bad for us like junk food. On the other hand, some are good for us like fresh fruits and vegetables. But did you ever stop to think that certain foods could actually be a form of medicine to help you heal from specific illnesses? More and more people are embracing the idea of food as a prescription for your plate.

If you ever have a craving for smoothies, juices, wraps, or acai bowls you’re probably familiar with Oh My Juice. And you may have seen owner Denitia Blount behind the counter at the locations in Waco, Woodway, or their seasonal shop on the Baylor University campus. But you may not know the health issues Blount experienced that led to the creation of this fresh food restaurant with her friend Tierra Barber 12 years ago.

She said, “I had migraines, probably six or seven a month, gastrointestinal illnesses. I was in a lot of pain. I was sick every day of my life for about five years.”

She was constantly exhausted too. While the symptoms were clear, medical experts had a hard time diagnosing her illness and treating it. Finally an episode on a plane in 2005 made her realize she had to do something drastically different

“It culminated in a trip to Costa Rica. I ate at the airport in Atlanta and I got on the plane, and I was sick the entire flight,” she told us.

Blount became violently ill with stomach problems. But when she got to her destination she stumbled onto something that changed her life.

“For nine days I ate at the local farmers market. I was afraid to eat anything. And I wasn’t sick a single day. I had bananas, plantains, pineapple, papaya, all fresh fruit,” she explained.

Her GI issues and migraines began subsiding. And while all the problems didn’t go away overnight, they were drastically better.

“Literally I felt so good when I came back to the states, I changed my diet,” she said.

Initially she switched to vegan foods but now she’s an omnivore, eating primarily organic fruits and vegetables and high quality meats. But all the foods she eats have a few things in common, just like the items she serves at Oh My Juice. They don’t have any preservatives or processed materials. They’re all natural.

Jessica Messina is a registered dietician with Baylor, Scott and White Hillcrest Medical Center with Armark. She says dietitians have viewed food as medicine for a long time. Many people are aware foods can help prevent illnesses, like antioxidants found in colorful fruits and vegetables which can help prevent cancer. But Messina says some foods can actually aid in healing as well. And it’s broken down into a handful of categories like addressing gastrointestinal issues, wound healing, and reducing body inflammation, particularly when it comes to heart health.

“Nuts, especially walnuts are good because they have omega-3 fatty acids which are good for heart health and reducing inflammation, along with fish like tuna, to get those omega-3 fatty acids that you need.” Messina explained.

Foods high in fiber and antioxidants can help reduce heart inflammation too. Messina said look for green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and fresh colorful fruits and vegetables.

And some foods can help heal wounds, like sports injuries or surgical wounds for example. For that, Messina says omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, low-fat proteins, and zinc can all be helpful. Messina says proteins help your body produce collagen which benefits wound healing. But again the key is lean. With chicken for example, she says to look for skinless chicken without a lot of fat.

And when it comes to gastrointestinal issues, Messina says foods with probiotics, and prebiotics which feed them, can help increase and preserve healthy gut bacteria which facilitate healthy digestion. But that’s not all.

“Yogurt is wonderful for digestive health. A lot of your immune system is located in your GI system so it’s important to keep that healthy to keep the rest of your body healthy too,” Messina explained.

And she says fiber from beans and fruits like apples are also a great way to maintain a healthy gut.

Denitia Blount says she’s seen people with illnesses from cancer to auto-immune disorders come into her restaurants and choose food as medicine along with other forms of medical care.

“It’s about helping them start their journey, or continue their journey,” Blount told us.

And she wants people to truly consider what they eat as a way to not just heal their bodies, but to improve the quality, and length of their lives.

Blount said, “When you make positive changes in your life, you can actually get better as you age and age can become a great thing.”

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