A groundbreaking study has unveiled the significant positive impact of “prescribing” fruits and vegetables to individuals, demonstrating increased consumption of these essential foods and a multitude of health benefits.
Recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Circulation by the American Heart Association, the analysis delved into the effects of prescribing fruits and vegetables to individuals at heightened risk of cardiovascular disease. The participants, engaged in produce prescription programs for an average of six months, showcased heightened consumption of these vital foods. Remarkably, this dietary shift correlated with enhancements in body mass index, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure, alongside a reduction in food insecurity.
Dr. Mitchell Elkind, Chief Clinical Science Officer of the American Heart Association and a distinguished professor of neurology and epidemiology at Columbia University, noted, “Poor nutrition and nutrition insecurity are major drivers of chronic disease globally, including cardiometabolic conditions like Type 2 diabetes and their cardiovascular consequences, including heart failure, heart attack, and stroke. This analysis of produce prescription programs illustrates the potential of subsidized produce prescriptions to increase consumption of nutritious fruits and vegetables, reduce food insecurity and, hopefully, improve subjective and objective health measures.”
These innovative produce prescription initiatives furnish patients with electronic cards or vouchers to access complimentary or discounted produce at grocery stores or farmers’ markets, thereby bridging the gap between affordability and access to nutrient-rich foods.
Encompassing over 3,800 participants from nine programs across the nation, this analysis is believed to be the most extensive exploration of the impact of produce prescriptions. Notably, the cohort comprised 1,817 children with an average age of 9, and 2,064 adults with an average age of 54, with more than half the households reporting experiences of food insecurity.
Participating individuals received a median of $63 per month to procure produce, coupled with questionnaires gauging fruit and vegetable consumption, food security, and health status. While routine health assessments were conducted to monitor well-being, the absence of a control group for result comparison marked a study limitation.
Nonetheless, the findings underscore the potential of produce prescriptions as a pivotal instrument for health enhancement. Notably, adults reported an increase of nearly one cup in daily fruits and vegetable intake, while children’s intake saw a boost of about a quarter cup per day. Furthermore, the odds of encountering food insecurity decreased by a notable one-third.
Dr. Elkind highlighted the necessity for forthcoming research to encompass randomized controlled trials that can counteract potential biases and establish more robustly the advantages of produce prescription initiatives. He further spotlighted the American Heart Association’s novel “Food Is Medicine Initiative,” geared toward supporting such trials, signifying a concerted effort to deepen the understanding of the nexus between nutrition, health, and wellbeing.
