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“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”  Hippocrates SOLD OUT!  120 people attend our very successful Food As Medicine event held in NJ on January 25, 2020.   People attended from all walks of life, wanting to know more about how to improve their health through the food they eat.  The message of the day was, “Take control of your health!” Anthony Masiello gave an introduction on how to get started on a plant based diet which helped him go from 360 to 195 pounds. These changes had a dramatic impact on his life in that he could now use the seat belt on a plane and sit with his son in the train ride at the park. Sarina Pasricha MD,  gastroenterologist described the importance of our brain-gut connection.  Getting “butterflies” in our gut is a good example.  She said we are 1% human and 99% bacteria, and 95% of our bacteria are in our GI Tract – mostly the large intestine.  The gut membrane connects diet with our immune system.  Most diagnoses are linked to unhealthy gut microbiome. Robin Wilson-Smith DO, asked us “What is the most common nutritional defect in America?”  The answer is “Fiber.” We eat too much protein and not enough fiber. She went on to say that the most common cancer in the USA today is endometrial, the lining of the uterus and obesity is the number one cause for endometrial cancer.  She emphasized that non-processed soy based foods such as tofu and edamame are healthy and help to decrease cancers, especially of the breast. Karen Gibson, registered dietician said that every breastfed baby knows that the milk tastes different in every nursing, depending on what their mothers’ eat.  She mentioned that plant based diets provide enough iron and that when eaten with foods high in Vitamin C, the iron absorption increases up to five times. Laurie Marbas MD, MBA presented on the topic “Chronic Disease Is it a choice?” She said that we as a country are getting sicker. Our medical education teaches one to be reactive, not proactive.  This leads to a sick care system rather than a healthy one.  20% of our children are overweight or obese.  Life span is cut by ten years when one has type 2 diabetes in their 20’s. All speakers acknowledged that transitioning to a whole foods plant based diet is the best way to stay healthy, so long as there is also  adequate exercise and good sleep.  She said we become the company we keep so choosing to be around like minded people realizing the health benefits of a whole foods plant based diet makes the transition easier. Cathy Daub and Karen Burzichelli organized the event, their third one in New Jersey and there was tremendous enthusiasm from the audience to return next year.  The combination of healthy food, good company, incredible learning, and yoga stretches with Kayla all made this an event not to be missed.  Be on the lookout for our event in 2021!