Important Reminders About The Most Powerful Medicine Of All

At Pomona Valley Health Centers, we’re committed to providing quality medical treatment and helping you to optimize your health through smart preventive care. With this in mind, we’d like to share some insights on the most powerful form of medicine. We’re not talking about an up-and-coming pharmaceutical product; we’re talking about food. That’s right: food. Food is the original and most important form of medicine there is. Yet, with the rise of modern healthcare, many overlook the powerful medicinal qualities that food can have.

These days, most “medicine” comes in the form of pills… and many actually work against the normal function of our own bodies. To keep yourself feeling well, it’s important to rely more on good nutrition and less on medicines. Start by making an appointment here at PVHC for a physical exam, and have a first-hand discussion about your diet.

At PVHC, we want to have a personal conversation with you about what you are eating and drinking on a daily basis. A detailed discussion about your diet is essential because, more often than not, food is at the very root of your overall health, your medical conditions and how you feel.

Food Myths and Facts

 You can start re-evaluating how you eat right now by clearing up a few common food myths. Here are some facts:

• Cholesterol can be good for you.
• Eggs are not bad for your cholesterol.
• Not all fats are bad for you.
• Eating fat does not make you fat.
• Margarine is not a lower-calorie option than butter.
• Potatoes, bread, and other carbohydrates are no more fattening than any other food.
• Excess calories from any source (fats, carbs or proteins) are all stored as body fat.
• Fat-free food is not calorie-free food (When fat is removed from food, extra sugars and chemicals are often added.) Therefore, fat-free food can be far worse and fattening for you than regular full-fat food.

Eating Healthy Can Be Surprisingly Simple

 Many self-proclaimed “experts” and those in the media make the subject of nutrition sound extremely complicated. Although nutrition can be complex from a medical standpoint, eating healthy is actually quite simple. For example, here are a few simple yet essential food rules to live by (source, Food Rules by Michael Pollan):

• Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.
• Avoid heavily processed foods, especially products with chemical-sounding ingredients you can’t pronounce.
• Eat “real food” — vegetables, fruits, whole grains as well as fish and meat… in moderation.
• Always leave the table a little hungry.
• Enjoy meals with the people you love.
• Don’t buy food where you buy your gasoline.

 Start with these rules and an honest and thorough conversation with your PVHC doctor about your diet. You’ll be on your way to using the most powerful medicine of all to optimize your health.

“Changing your diet is a great start to a healthier lifestyle, especially when combined with regular exercise. Together they can help you achieve and maintain a proper weight as well as help your body fight infections.” ­– Gregory Dahlquist, M.D., PVHC Family Medical Physician

Check back in with the PVHC blog to get regular updates and important insights on health topics. At PVHC, we’re committed to serving you and your family. After all, this is your life. This is your health. This is your PVHC.

If you have questions or would like to make an appointment, contact Pomona Valley Health Centers