Friday, February 6, 2015

Prescriptions for Produce

The father of western medicine said it best, “let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.”  Thankfully, more and more people are beginning to believe Hippocrates’ famous advice.  Dr. Garth Davis, the medical director of bariatric surgery at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center is doing just that.  Instead of prescribing patients medications that will surely bring unwanted side effects, he is writing a prescription for fresh fruits and vegetables.  Yes, you read that right—a prescription for plants!  Dr. Davis partnered up with Kristina Gabrielle Carrillo-Bucaram, founder of the nonprofit organic food co-op Rawfully Organic, to create The Farmacy Stand.  This seemingly simple little stand acts just like a regular pharmacy but with one pretty big twist—instead of housing drugs, the Farmacy Stand houses boxes filled with fruits and vegetables like crunchy romaine lettuce, juicy tomatoes, zesty oranges, crispy apples, and plenty more.  To obtain one, the doctor writes his patient a prescription for a Farmacy Stand box and the patient exchanges the prescription for a box filled with nutrient-packed organic fruits and vegetables.  Treating diseases with fresh fruits and vegetables sure sounds better than the alternative!


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