Food as Medicine Can Help Prevent, Manage, and Even Treat Disease

Nutritious food can be a powerful tool when it comes to preventing, managing, or even treating disease. Food and nutrition have a significant impact on health, and a poor diet is one of the leading risk factors for worsening quality of life and shorter lifespan. In fact, more than half of adults in the United States have at least one chronic condition, and the majority of these are related to their diet. Dr. Kofi Essel, Elevance Health’s first food as medicine director, leads food-related initiatives that work as part of healthcare to treat diet-related chronic conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension. He and his team work across the organization to drive a holistic view of health that prioritizes access to nutritious and culturally relevant food.