The study of nutrition is hardly a science. We have too few details, too many variables (for us) to make accurate predictions. Unfortunately, we know too little about the consequences of many substances (especially artificial ones) that Americans consume on a regular basis, literally, “You are what you eat.”
A common scenario is as follows. Someone goes in for their annual checkup and is found to have high blood pressure. Without much fanfare or discussion, they are prescribed a medication that they will likely take for the rest of their life. And with every medication comes the potential for complications. There is also the expense, with some newer medications costing hundreds of dollars per month.
What if instead, a health care provider prescribed specific dietary supplements and changes? Few Americans view foods for their medicinal properties, instead looking to satisfy their hunger in the moment. Little attention is paid to the effects of various foods, fast food burgers and energy drinks, and ultra-processed snacks that sit on shelves for months.
As a partial explanation, mention should be made of the contradictions and inaccuracies in much of the nutritional advice given over the years. “authorities.” It is true that the benefits and risks of many foods we eat are still being questioned. Various explanations have been published by scientists, often contradicting previous guidance. It is understandable that many individuals have become disinterested in research and choose to ignore much of the good science devoted to the subject.
What if the provider had given this person with high blood pressure a prescription for dietary changes, listing specific foods and herbs, supplements, and edibles? This is the essence of Precision Nutrition, a practice that, in its most primitive stages, is based on the idea that what we eat affects our health.
One definition might be listed as follows. PN attempts to make recommendations for a person’s nutrition based on specific, individual components of their genetic makeup, microbiome, metabolic profile, general health, physical activity, dietary patterns, and even considers socioeconomic and psychosocial factors. Could it one day be possible to develop precision medicine treatments based entirely on diet?
To some, Precision Nutrition may seem like just the latest fad diet. But research on the subject has accelerated due to the costs and complications of drug-related adverse events. Don’t fool yourself into thinking these are unimportant. In just one year, more than $100 billion has been spent on treating them. Over a hundred thousand deaths occur each year as a result of these undesirable complications of pharmacological treatments.
To be clear, all herbs and “natural foods” is benign. If you consume excessive amounts of any substance for long enough, you will have problems. Avocados are considered a healthy food, but if you eat only them for a year, you will get sick (and I have seen it happen!)
Nature prefers a balance, consuming a variety of greens, healthy proteins, complex carbohydrates, essential vitamins, etc. But the probability of experiencing an adverse reaction from food is much lower, and in fact it is difficult to do so. Precision Nutrition (aka Nutriceutical Medicine, aka Precision Medicine) goes a few steps further, suggesting that a disease can be treated, that is, controlled or resolved, by consuming certain substances in certain amounts.
The concept is ambitious and will clearly require a more quantitative and detailed understanding of the complex relationships between a person, their total dietary intake, socioeconomic factors, and genetics. This level of understanding is a long way off, but many people are now realizing the importance and potential of the idea of food as medicine.
This is a vital question: “What should I eat to be healthy?” There are fundamental differences from one person to another. What is healthy for one person may not be healthy for another. Age is also a factor, as it is in all discussions of health and fitness. Our responses to diet change over time and should be taken into account when prescribing anything, medication or food.
Unfortunately, there has been a lot of intrigue and propaganda by the big food industry, which has been running a special misinformation campaign on this issue. According to some studies, the improving American diet continues to lead to higher rates of obesity, heart disease, and all the other lifestyle ills. Finances are certainly a factor for many working Americans struggling to keep the lights on. But how can a food that is manufactured in industrial facilities and consists mostly of chemicals be good for you?
As a culture, we need to know more about our diet and how it relates to health and wellness. More research on this topic could fulfill Precision Nutrition’s promise in the future, but we still have a long way to go with most Americans grabbing dinner instead of meal planning. Still, there may come a time when you’ll be given a nice turmeric-flavored sauté recipe to help you beat your pancreatitis. It’s not such a bad recipe after all!
Dr. Conway McLean, DABFAS, FAPWHc, with offices in L’Anse and Marquette, is a physician who specializes in treating lower leg, ankle and foot problems.