Peace Arch Hospital Foundation Projects: Nutrition

Nutrition

Peace Arch Hospital Foundation supports local programs and initiatives to assist in creating the healthiest community possible, through both the Healthy Community Grants program and the Healthy Community Steering Committee. One area of interest is Nutrition & Diet, with the goal of providing access to educational information programs to encourage individuals to make healthy eating choices.  

Safe food and good nutrition is important because it is one of the best ways to protect and promote good health. Eating a nutritious and balanced diet is one of the best ways to keep people out of the hospital. 

As a starting point, Canada’s Food Guide makes the following recommendations for optimum nutrition: 

  1. Have plenty of vegetables and fruits.
  2. Eat protein-rich foods.
  3. Choose whole-grain foods. 
  4. Make water your drink of choice. 

 

Canada Food Guide
The doctors of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition."
Thomas Edison

Dr. Spangehl's Top Three Nutrition Tips

Peace Arch Hospital’s Dr. Werner Spangehl, an advocate for using food as medicine, has three key tips to get you started on your journey towards better nutrition:

  1. DRINK SUFFICIENT WATER: Filtered or tap water is preferred to avoid the waste of plastic bottles. You need 1.5 L of water a day, plus any losses incurred from exercise
  2. EAT WHOLE (UNPROCESSED) FOODS: Look for REAL food that is found in nature – not processed or refined. Processed carbohydrates (sugar, white flour, white rice, pasta) lead to obesity and diabetes, while processed meats (bacon, sausages, cold cuts) increase the risk of cancer.
  3. EAT MOSTLY PLANTS: Fruits and vegetables are low on the food chain, therefore cleaner for your body, containing more nutrients and fibre. They’re also much more sustainable for Mother Earth which is better for you AND for the planet.

Watch Dr. Spangehl’s TED Talk below to learn more about how using food as medicine improves blood flow and organ function!

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Having access to nutritious food is important for optimum health, healing, and wellness. The Foundation is committed to ensuring our community has the resources it needs to maintain a healthy diet and stay out of the hospital in the first place.
Stephanie Beck, Executive Director, Peace Arch Hospital Foundation

Connecting our Community to Fresh, Seasonal Food with A-Rocha