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Food Isn't Medicine. Here's Why It's Dangerous To Believe It Is. - MSN
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” is a phrase credited to Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician thought to be the father of medicine. In other words, the notion is nothing new.
But its hold over us is as strong as ever.
The way health influencers and diet gurus talk about certain trendy health foods, you’d think they could cure cancer. In fact, there are people who say that certain foods can cure cancer and other illnesses. Anthony William, known as the Medical Medium, published a book about celery juice and told Goop that he has “seen thousands of people who suffer from chronic and mystery illnesses restore their health by drinking sixteen ounces of celery juice daily on an empty stomach.” Dr. Oz has promoted certain foods as having “cancer-starving benefits,” suggesting that eating them in particular quantities may literally prevent cancer from spreading in your body.
Though at first glance these claims might seem hopeful, or harmless, thinking of food as medicine can actually be dangerous. For one thing, it downplays the importance of actual medicine in the treatment of diseases. Not to mention it’s manipulative (and sometimes insulting) to suggest that a person could solve their health problems with a simple diet change.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” is a phrase credited to Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician thought to be the father of medicine. In other words, the notion is nothing new.
But its hold over us is as strong as ever.
The way health influencers and diet gurus talk about certain trendy health foods, you’d think they could cure cancer. In fact, there are people who say that certain foods can cure cancer and other illnesses. Anthony William, known as the Medical Medium, published a book about celery juice and told Goop that he has “seen thousands of people who suffer from chronic and mystery illnesses restore their health by drinking sixteen ounces of celery juice daily on an empty stomach.” Dr. Oz has promoted certain foods as having “cancer-starving benefits,” suggesting that eating them in particular quantities may literally prevent cancer from spreading in your body.
Though at first glance these claims might seem hopeful, or harmless, thinking of food as medicine can actually be dangerous. For one thing, it downplays the importance of actual medicine in the treatment of diseases. Not to mention it’s manipulative (and sometimes insulting) to suggest that a person could solve their health problems with a simple diet change.