Food as medicine

Food can be more than just a source of nourishment — it can be medicine. In fact, there is abundant evidence that the way we eat can help mitigate symptoms of chronic conditions, balance hormonal changes, manage gut health disorders, and even reduce the risk of dementia. Reducing these health burdens improves overall wellbeing and enhances mental health, which can improve employee satisfaction and productivity. By offering resources that help employees view food as medicine, employers can help improve a number of conditions. To better understand this link, consider the following facts:

The immune system reacts to an unhealthy diet the same way it reacts to a bacterial infection, so reducing intake of pro-inflammatory foods such as red meat, white bread, and sweetened beverages and increasing intake of whole grains, fish, fruit, green vegetables, and olive oil may reduce inflammation, ease pain, and otherwise reduce discomfort related to chronic conditions.
Certain nutrition strategies can help women manage the changes that occur naturally during the menopause transition.
Research has found that a diet high in sugar can impair brain function and contribute to mood disorders including depression.
A diet that includes fermented foods can strengthen an individual's microbiome and ease conditions including insomnia, unintentional weight change, headaches, and more for the 70 million Americans who live with a functional gut disorder such as irritable bowel disease.
Consumption of processed meat has been found to increase the relative risk of all dementias by 44% and Alzheimer's specifically by 52%.

Promote the connection to better mental health

Employers who want to support mental health can help employees understand the connections between what they eat and how they feel. Use internal communications like newsletters, emails, and office signage to provide resources that highlight the interdependence between food and health, and that help employees establish and maintain healthier eating habits. In addition, you may consider using an educational campaign within your wellbeing initiative to highlight the value of improved nutrition.

Instant Insights /

Help employees improve mental and physical wellbeing, one bite at a time

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