Hippocrates, the 4th century BC Greek physician, said in his Regimen in Health, “A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings.” Hippocrates, known to the world as the Father of Medicine was a pretty smart guy. He believed the body must be treated as a whole and not just a series of parts. He believed in the natural healing process of rest, a good diet, fresh air, cleanliness and good water. In his Airs, Waters, and Places, he discussed environmental causes of diseases, in particular, a town’s drinking water. Hippocrates was a prolific writer and a single theme carries throughout his works “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food”. How did we get so off track?
“Your food shall be your remedy” To maintain health and prevent illness we need a balanced combination of amino acids (proteins), lipids (fats), complex carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, enzymes and water and that nourishment must come from whole foods and whole food supplements.
Rather than the Father of Medicine, I’d say Hippocrates was really the “Father of Prevention.”
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