Ask Leah! The Ingles Dietitian

Sponsored: Food Won’t Fix Everything

Sponsored: Food Won’t Fix Everything

It might be surprising to hear a registered dietitian with a degree in Human Nutrition and over 25 years of experience in nutrition saying, “Food won’t fix everything,” but it’s true.

Often, I’ll get emails with questions about what foods are best to: prevent cancer, lower blood sugar, lower blood pressure, help heal liver or kidney damage, etc. 

It’s important to realize that it’s not so much about individual foods or some sort of “Top 10 foods list” as it is about the way we typically eat—also called our diet. There are ways of eating that may be helpful in preventing or managing some illnesses or diseases. There are also ways of eating that may work alongside medications and help manage and treat some diseases and illnesses; BUT individual foods aren’t the only thing that we need to be healthy. We need more than just food to help us feel our best.

• Medical care: Access to good medical care, a health care provider that listens, screening and preventive tests, medications, and vaccinations.

• Good quality rest and sleep.

• Exercise and activity to improve our cardiovascular health, flexibility, reduce stress, improve endurance and (in some individuals) help lower blood pressure and blood sugar.

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• Relationships with family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and even our pets that comfort us, bring us joy, and help reduce our stress.

Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN

Ingles Markets Corporate Dietitian

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800-334-4936

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