I have always been of the opinion that food is better medicine than drugs. I have also always been of the opinion that the fresh food industry does not take advantage of this startling marketing opportunity!
Over the past few years it’s been virtually impossible to turn on the TV or open a newspaper without being told that eating poor quality food can make you ill, whilst eating fresh, wholesome food gives you a much, much better chance of staying fit and healthy.
This was brought home to me recently when it was discovered that children as young as four are being given Ritalin-style medication for behavioural problems in breach of NHS guidelines. In one case a five-year-old from the West Midlands was found to be receiving a double dose of methylphenidate, commonly known by the brand name Ritalin, the drug used to treat ADHD, despite his school insisting that he is “among the best-behaved children in his class”. Side-effects include sleeplessness, appetite loss and reduced growth rates.
Yet it has been proven over and over again that a healthy diet can stop behavioural (and ill health) problems dead in their tracks. Of course, this does not make Big Pharma any money, so it’s not really common knowledge how powerful food is.
Yes, modern medicine is remarkable when it comes to trauma and things such as heart bypass operations – it’s good with the mechanical stuff – but when it comes to treating and preventing chronic conditions such as depression, arthritis and diabetes its record is pretty poor. In fact, if modern medicine was a football team it would be relegated.
Drugs are simply a ‘band aid’, they mask the symptoms rather than tackling the underlying cause, and most have unpleasant and (more often than you probably realise) deadly side effects. People are increasingly looking for an alternative: will the industry please tell them about food!
Rod Millington
Chief Editor
