FOOD AS MEDICINE

What you need to know: I will: be able to explain why certain eating practices are associated with the prevention and management of particular health conditions have the ability to plan and prepare a food item or items to meet the nutritional needs of people with a specific illness or disease understand how and why herbs/botanicals can be used to treat specific health conditions. understand how and why specific diets can be used as treatment for health conditions.

What is the difference between a herb and a spice?

Herbal/Botanical Medicine What is a herb? A herb is the green leafy portion of a plant i.e. basil, mint What is a spice? A spice comes from any other part of a plant and is usually in powder form i.e. cinnamon (bark), pepper (fruit) Some plants provide both a herb and a spice i.e. cilantro is the herb and coriander seed is the spice from the same plant Both spices and herbs can be used medicinally

Herbal Components Every plant has many different components Each component has a specific action on the body Example: rosmarinic acid from rosemary is a Phenylpropanoid and it’s actions are Anti- oxidant, Anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer Herbal Constituent: the active compounds or chemicals within a plant

Herbal Actions Antiemetic: counteracts nausea and relieves nausea Carminative: expels gas from the intestines Demulcent: soothes irritated tissue, especially mucous membranes Expectorant: promotes the discharge of mucous from the lungs Emollient: used externally to soften and smooth the skin Laxative: promotes bowel activity Nervine: calming or soothing effects on the nerves Analgesic: pain diminishing effect Antipyretic: reduces or prevents fever Antitussive: relieves coughing Antimicrobial: When a plant contains specific compounds that help to kill or arrest the growth of bacteria or viruses

List of a few commonly used herbs/spices Ginger Mint Onion Garlic Dandelion Licorice Fennel Turmeric Cinnamon

Choose two herbs/spices from the list on the previous slide and explain: What medicinal action does your herb/spice/food have? i.e. antimicrobial, antiemetic etc? What conditions would we use this food to treat? How would we instruct a person to take this food/medicine? i.e. a tea, a supplement, in a smoothie, in cooking? What dose would we recommend? i.e. one tea per day, 1 tbsp herb in cooking etc

Physiology Overview Normal functioning immune system Antibodies attach to foreign bacteria/viruses and help the immune system to eliminate them

Allergies What are allergies? Inappropriate immune system reaction to a normal substance. In a classical allergic response, cells and antibodies in your immune system misidentify foods or environmental elements as foreign pathogens. Histamine release  causing symptoms

Types of Anti-bodies IgG antibodies – are part of the immune system that when they are malfunctioning they cause food sensitivities IgE antibodies – are part of the immune systems when they are malfunction they cause allergy and anaphylaxis (end result is trouble breathing)

Allergy or Sensitivity Classic AllergySensitivity or Intolerance Caused by a reaction of the IgE antibodyVarious causes including deficiency of enzymes, inadequate gut lining defences, inflammatory response, delayed IgG hypersensitivity Symptoms appear within ~2 hours of exposureReactions can appear up to 72 hours after exposure Can cause anaphylaxisWill not cause anaphylaxis Often test positive to skin prick testingOften test positive to IgG antibody testing

Food Allergies/Anaphylactic Allergies Food allergies tend to be very severe Most common allergens causing anaphylaxis Bees/wasps Peanuts/nuts Seafood Latex Medications

Food Sensitivities Often caused by a damaged gut lining

Food Sensitivities Bloating Gas Skin conditions Acne Eczema Headaches Fatigue Diarrhea Constipation Muscle or joint pain Phlegm Ear infections in children Increasing number of sensitivities Burping Heartburn … Common symptoms

Testing for Food Sensitivities ProCon Very quickExpensive No planning necessaryControversial evidence ProsCons InexpensiveDifficult to execute Helps you to understand your bodyRequires planning Promotes healthy dietary changesMay put restrictions on social life May result in weight lossTakes about 6 weeks of commitment Elimination Diet IgG Blood Test

Group Work In groups of 2 or 3 explain: Definition of the diet: What types of conditions does this diet help? Rules of the diet: i.e. what should you eat more of, less of, not at all Types of Diets – Elimination diet, hypoallergenic diet, Palaeolithic diet, FODMAPS