Food Rx: Integrating horticulture research to improve nutrition and health

Top Things to Know

Combining horticulture research with healthcare and nutrition can enhance the effectiveness of dietary interventions, making fruits and vegetables a central component of medical treatment.

Expanding the production of healthful fruits and vegetables and making them more accessible and affordable can significantly improve public health and reduce the prevalence of diet-related diseases.

Implementing systemic changes in federal funding and institutional priorities to support horticulture research can lead to better health outcomes by promoting the therapeutic use of food in medicine.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

The study highlights the urgent need to address the US obesity and diabetes epidemic through increased fruit and vegetable intake and production. It emphasizes that horticulture research and production should be integrated with nutrition and medical research to transform the food system and dietary patterns. The findings reveal that only about 10% of adults meet the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables, and that federal support for horticulture research is significantly lower compared to other agricultural sectors. The study proposes a roadmap for integrating horticulture with healthcare and nutrition to make healthful fruits and vegetables accessible and affordable. It concludes that systemic changes in institutional culture and federal funding priorities are necessary to manage the health crisis effectively.