Nutrients and Disease

What is the relationship between nutrients and disease? There are some correlations today but when we look at food as medicinal the potential for a relationship is greater than than ever. For example in today's NYT's a clear relationship between a deficiency of Vitamin D and asthma is clarified. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/new-risk-factors-linked-to-asthma-rise/



There are many other diet and health relationships with strong scientific support. A low glycemic index diet for epilepsy. There is much information about the effecacy of this and glycemic indexes are readily available online. http://diabetes.webmd.com/glycemic-index-good-versus-bad-carbs.



Fish oils and flaxseed oil supplements have strong support from the scientific community.



The evidence for the medicinal benefits of berries got Tara Parker-Pope's attention and made the NYT. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/the-power-of-berries/



Parker-Pope also describes how eating the Mediterranean diet appears to lower risk for mental decline according to research published in Archives for Neurology. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/mediterranean-diet-may-prevent-mental-decline/



Yet though we know so much, as well as that 30% of American adults are overweight or obese with only 1 of 50 states boasting a lower rate, still insurance companies pay very little for preventative care and health education. Roni Caryn Rabin, of the NYT, reports on a survey that found health scares reduce smoking but not weight. Rabin quotes Sherry Pagoto, an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, who co-wrote an editorial accompanying the paper. Pagoto believes physician counceling does not have much impact and “The evidence for behavioral weight loss treatment suggests an intensive program is necessary."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/health/11smoking.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=smoking%20cessation%20programs%20vs%20weight%20loss&st=cse



Oddly, there is little money for prevention but this might end as we change our priorities in America.