Healthcare is Food's Next Frontier

by Mandy Saven

Food to amplify health

Healthcare is starting to better quantify the benefits of — and more formally integrate — health and wellness habits, from nutritious diets to regular exercise and meditation. As the relationship between food and medicine tightens, healthcare organizations, brands and consumers are using food to prevent and manage illness, as well as boost vitality.

Key examples in this area include Boston meal kit company Epicured, which offers dietitian-approved, low-FODMAP, gluten-free food packs that revitalize gut health in individuals with gastrointestinal conditions. And in the frozen food category, Luvo has partnered with U.S. physician-turned-chef Robert Graham to create meal packages that could be available on prescription and reimbursed by health insurance providers. These include a six-week vegan package with foods that help control blood sugar and improve gut health.