Bilingual Nutritional Anthropologist | Behavioral Health, Wellness, and Nutrition Coach | Health Communications | Consultant | Nutrition and Wellness SME | Keynote Speaker | Educator and Trainer
Whether you work in health or not, you've probably heard the quote, "let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.". This is a popular misquotation, attributed to Hippocrates but cannot be found anywhere in his texts. It's likely a mis-paraphrasing of the Classical Hippocratic Oath. I personally like the original quote more: "I will apply dietetic and lifestyle measures to help the sick to my best ability and judgment: I will protect them from harm and injustice." Ironically, the current version of the Hippocratic Oath does not mention diet nor injustice. While I don't quite call this "My Roman Empire"... it's close. It's an interesting case study on how we can build on the mistakes of the past assuming they are true. It makes me think about the mistaken separation between medicine, nutrition, and wellness in today's healthcare systems in much of the world. It makes me think about how we don't talk about current mainstream systems and practices are perpetuating injustice and widening the gap in access to health and food and nutrition security worldwide. #Hippocrates #Hippocraticoath #foodasmedicine #nutrition #nutritionanthropology #healthcommunication
Interesting perspective on the misquotation attributed to Hippocrates and the value of the original quote. Food truly plays a significant role in health and wellness.
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5moBy confusing food with medication we collapse our understanding of healthful living. They are distinct, with each playing a separate role.