The saying “you are what you eat” has never been more relevant in the U.S. as the nation’s diet continues to shift toward highly processed foods, leading to a significant rise in chronic diseases.
The United States now spends over $1 trillion annually on treating chronic, diet-related conditions—an amount equal to the total yearly food expenditure of its citizens. Diet is recognized as the leading cause of illness and death in the country, with nearly 60% of adults grappling with at least one diet-related chronic disease.
As these health challenges continue to grow, there is increasing interest in using targeted nutrition interventions to improve public health. The initiative, known as “Food is Medicine,” brings together healthcare providers, philanthropies, government agencies, and local farmers. The goal is to provide medically prescribed or supportive meals and groceries to hospitals, schools, and underserved communities to improve health outcomes.
“The system is not working very well, and medical practitioners have few tools for addressing diet,” says Noah Cohen-Cl.
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