Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Food is medicine: Why doctors care about the Farm Bill

Ashwani Garg, MD
Policy
April 18, 2023
1 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

As the spring planting season approaches, seven farmers from my home state of Illinois traveled to Washington, DC to participate in the “Farmers for Climate Action” rally. Farmers sought meetings with lawmakers, including Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Sen. Durbin and others are crafting the Farm Bill, and the farmers want to ensure climate change is a priority as this must-pass legislation is finalized.

I’m a doctor, not a farmer, but the Farm Bill is important because food is medicine, and health-promoting foods come from farms. Pecans, for example, are grown in Illinois and are a healthy source of protein, iron, and other nutrients. Feeling out of sorts? A recent study shows that snacking on tree nuts can boost serotonin which can enhance mood.

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey is also on the agriculture committee, and his vision for the Farm Bill includes promoting climate-smart farming practices. It’s urgent because farmers in Illinois and other states are currently dealing with the effects of climate change. According to the Illinois State Climatologist, temperatures are rising, and heavy rains are becoming more common. Major floods are becoming more frequent, with rivers jumping banks and croplands flooding. But Sen. Booker proposes ambitious reforms to mitigate and adapt to climate change. If Sen. Durbin and others on the agriculture committee are listening to farmers, he will wholeheartedly support Sen Booker’s plans.

In previously proposed legislation, Sen. Booker floated a concept that will probably wind up in the current Farm Bill—farmers with large-scale livestock operations who wish to transition to growing food crops should get government funding and support. In North Carolina, the buyout program for hog farms on the floodplain was extremely popular with farmers who wished to transition to growing crops. Gov. Roy Cooper’s sought serious cash to restart this program, and there’s a waitlist of farmers who want to participate. A similar initiative would probably be popular with farmers in other states, and our elected officials should make it happen.

Several types of trees can be grown profitably in Illinois and other states, including apple, peach, pecan, walnut, and hazelnut. Trees produce oxygen for us to breathe, and their fibers store carbon dioxide—reducing the negative effects of this heat-trapping gas. Trees can provide flood management while producing income for farmers. Hazelnut trees, for example, are an excellent choice to help control flooding, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In Wisconsin, dairy farmer Paul Jereczek is planting hazelnut trees because he’d like his children to stay on the land, and he doesn’t see a future in dairy farming.

Following destructive flash floods during the summer of 2022, Sen. Durbin demanded assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He should likewise demand federal funds for livestock farmers who wish to transition to orchards designed to withstand and manage periodic flooding. Federal funds are also available for climate-smart farming practices through the Inflation Reduction Act.

In North Carolina, Tom Butler is evidently forging ahead without government assistance, and he’s working with his son Will to transition the family farm from raising hogs to growing mushrooms. From a doctor’s perspective, I applaud this change because grilling mushroom “steaks” is much more healthful than consuming pork, which is high in saturated fat and has zero fiber.

When I recommend a plant-based diet, patients often ask about protein, but mushrooms, for example, provide plenty of protein—more than half of a mushroom’s calories come from protein. Foods made with soybeans are another great source of protein—as well as

calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Tasty and affordable plant-based foods can help people improve heart health, manage diabetes, maintain a healthy weight, and otherwise improve their health.

In Illinois, there are about 436 large-scale livestock operations, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these industrial livestock facilities contribute to climate change by generating methane, a powerful planet-warming gas. If the senators on the agriculture committee care about supporting farmers, preventing destructive floods, addressing climate change, and improving people’s health, they’ll support Sen. Booker’s vision to phase out factory farms.

Ashwani Garg is a family physician.

Prev

Preventing falls in seniors: the surprising role of shoes [PODCAST]

April 17, 2023 Kevin 0
…
Next

Raising reimbursements: the Medicaid imperative

April 18, 2023 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Public Health & Policy

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Preventing falls in seniors: the surprising role of shoes [PODCAST]
Next Post >
Raising reimbursements: the Medicaid imperative

Related Posts

  • Doctors trained abroad will save rural health care

    G. Richard Olds, MD
  • Punishing doctors for spreading misinformation

    Lydia Green, RPh
  • Yet another injury to our doctors and our health care system

    Peggy A. Rothbaum, PhD
  • Lawmakers don’t care for our patients. Doctors do.

    Joanna Bisgrove, MD
  • Practicing great medicine got a lot simpler. It’s health care that’s getting in the way.

    Paula Muto, MD
  • Primary care colonialism: the impact of profit-driven health care on communities

    Michael Fine, MD

More in Policy

  • Unveiling the intricate link between housing costs and health care

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Uncovering the truth about racial health inequities in America: a book review

    John Paul Mikhaiel, MD
  • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

    Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH
  • The untold story of Hispanic/Latino health: Why subgroup data matters

    Matthew B. Alonso
  • Unmasking the brutal reality of gun violence in America: a call to action for unity and meaningful change

    Osmund Agbo, MD
  • Family physicians unite at the U.S. Capitol, seeking congressional support for Medicare reform and health care transformation

    Tochi Iroku-Malize, MD, MPH, MBA, Sterling N. Ransone, Jr., MD, and Steven P. Furr, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • Why doctors aren’t to blame for the U.S. opioid crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • A pediatrician’s journey into integrative medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why allowing yourself to embrace discomfort is necessary for personal growth

      Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD | Physician
    • Unconventional health care, flawed studies, and biases: Navigating the complexities for optimal well-being

      Kara Wada, MD | Physician
    • Urgent innovation needed to address growing mental health crisis among children and families

      Monika Roots, MD | Conditions
    • The importance of listening in health care: a mother’s journey advocating for children with chronic Lyme disease

      Cheryl Lazarus | Conditions
    • Medical errors and the power of apologies [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 3 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • UnitedHealthcare in the Hot Seat Over GI Procedure 'Advance Notification' Policy
  • Genetic Risk Score Predicts Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy
  • FDA Warns on Certain Forms of Compounded Semaglutide
  • Fired COVID Whistleblower Doesn't Want to Settle His Case
  • Video of ACOG Presenter Being Slapped Goes Viral

Meeting Coverage

  • TAR-200 Led to High Complete Response Rates in BCG-Unresponsive Bladder Cancer
  • More Success for CAR T-Cell Therapy in Rheumatic Disease
  • Trial Shows RA Can Be Stopped at Preclinical Stage
  • Tenapanor Improves Abdominal Symptoms in Patients With IBS-C
  • Benefits Found for Hand OA Drug Treatments
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • Why doctors aren’t to blame for the U.S. opioid crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • A pediatrician’s journey into integrative medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why allowing yourself to embrace discomfort is necessary for personal growth

      Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD | Physician
    • Unconventional health care, flawed studies, and biases: Navigating the complexities for optimal well-being

      Kara Wada, MD | Physician
    • Urgent innovation needed to address growing mental health crisis among children and families

      Monika Roots, MD | Conditions
    • The importance of listening in health care: a mother’s journey advocating for children with chronic Lyme disease

      Cheryl Lazarus | Conditions
    • Medical errors and the power of apologies [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Food is medicine: Why doctors care about the Farm Bill
3 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...