Q: I’m 72-years-old. At this point in my life, what difference do diet changes make? Can they really make a lasting difference in my arthritis, body aches and pains, and irritable bowel flare ups?
A: No longer on the sidelines of medical care, Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is finally getting its long overdue attention as practitioners are finding out that food can and should be treated with the same rigor as medication—a diet prescription. Indeed, food is medicine as is borne out by the evidence.
Poor diet is a cause of death and disability globally as well as an acute healthcare burden. It is a cause of half a million deaths in the United States each year, and accounts for 70% of deaths around the world. A recent study in a Massachusetts Medicaid demonstration concluded that medically tailored meals—a diet prescription for patients—helped reduce emergency care visits by 20% and hospitalizations by 31%. This has the potential to save billions of dollars a year in healthcare costs if implemented in all states.
Nutrition is no longer optional in a treatment plan. It’s the area where many chronic conditions are won or lost. With regard to age, being 72 is not an excuse because it’s never too late. The body is very resilient when following a therapeutic diet. And MNT reinforces nutrition counseling, it doesn’t replace it, because, let’s face it: eating is a behavior. It’s helping the patient make actionable changes and reducing barriers to adherence in following their therapeutic diet prescription. It’s not just a matter of understanding nutrition but living it successfully every day.
To your health!
Leyla Muedin, MS, RD, CDN
