The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee Cardiologist's Plea: Food IS Medicine | Dr. Columbus Batiste
Apr 1, 2025
Dr. Columbus Batiste, a lifestyle interventional cardiologist and co-founder of Healthy Heart Nation, shares his insights on how food acts as powerful medicine. He advocates for eating whole, fresh foods like our great-grandparents did while warning against the dangers of ultra-processed items. Topics include the surprising health impacts of food additives, the benefits of community gardening, and the often-overlooked health risks associated with traditional holiday eating. Dr. Batiste emphasizes that our diet choices directly influence heart health and chronic disease management.
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Food as Ancient Medicine
- The idea that food is medicine is ancient, rooted in traditions of Egyptians, South Asians, and Hippocrates.
- Modern society is rediscovering the power of food and lifestyle to heal and transform health outcomes.
Community Gardens Boost Health
- Community gardens encourage people, especially kids, to eat fresh, nutritious foods and engage in physical activity.
- Growing food locally bridges nutritional gaps and fosters group health benefits.
Daughter Tastes Real Orange Juice
- Dr. Batiste's daughter noticed fresh squeezed orange juice tastes like real oranges, unlike processed juice.
- This sparked his realization about the value of natural nutrition and kids' natural gravitation toward real fruit sweetness.
