--- title: What is Food as Medicine description: How to use food as medicine to reduce inflammation, improve digestion & support overall health with an anti-inflammatory diet + functional nutrition tips. image: https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hubfs/Vegetable%20Bouquet%20+%20K-1.jpg --- [![Botanical Kitchen](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hubfs/Botanical-Main-logo.png)](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/) - [RECIPES](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/recipe_category/) - [MEMBERSHIPS](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/about-botanical-kitchen-membership/) - [Chef’s Table](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/patch-to-plate-weekly-menus/) - [Whole Plant Life](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/whole-plant-life/) - [About Memberships](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/about-botanical-kitchen-membership/) - [Free Trial Chefs Table](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/register/patch-to-plate/) - [Free Trial Plant Life](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/register/whole-plant-life/) - [GIft Chef's Table](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/register/gift-patch-to-plate/) - [Gift Whole Plant Life](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/register/gift-whole-plant-life/) - [Membership FAQs](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/membership-faqs/) - PROGRAMS - [ABOUT 14 DAY RESET](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/14-day-reset-program-about/) - [Register Chef Table](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/chefs-table-14-day-food-as-medicine-reset-register/) - [Register Plant Life](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/whole-plant-life-14-day-food-as-medicine-reset-register/) - [Start Reset](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/14-day-reset-program-start/) - [1:1 Private Consultations](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/functional-nutrition-consultation/) - [ABOUT](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/about-company/) - [Botanical Kitchen](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/about-company/) - [Karina Hines](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/about-karina-hines/) - [Kitchen Journal Blog](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/) - [Project Portfolio](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/project-portfolio/) - [CLASSES + EVENTS](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/media-events/) - [SHOP](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/shop-supplements-and-herbals/) - [Supplements](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/shop-supplements-and-herbals/) - [Natural Body & Beauty](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/shop-body-and-beauty/) - CONTACT - [Contact us](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/contact/) - [Media Kit](https://info.botanicalkitchen.com/mediakit-0) - [References](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/bibliography/) - [Login](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/login) ![basket of veg photo finish](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/basket%20of%20veg%20photo%20finish.jpg?width=2000&height=1333&name=basket%20of%20veg%20photo%20finish.jpg "basket of veg photo finish") # BOTANICAL KITCHEN BLOG Some additional information in one line - Print ## BOTANICAL KITCHEN BLOG # What is Food as Medicine Authored by: Karina Hines ![](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hubfs/Vegetable%20Bouquet%20+%20K-1.jpg) - ![Swiss Chard Yellow](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Swiss%20Chard%20Yellow.jpg?width=720&height=1080&name=Swiss%20Chard%20Yellow.jpg) - ![Chamomile + Bee](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Chamomile%20+%20Bee.jpg?width=1080&height=721&name=Chamomile%20+%20Bee.jpg) - ![Turner Farm, North Haven, Maine Vegetables](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Turner%20Farm%2c%20North%20Haven%2c%20Maine%20Vegetables.jpg?width=810&height=1080&name=Turner%20Farm%2c%20North%20Haven%2c%20Maine%20Vegetables.jpg) # **What is Food as Medicine?** We make choices every day, and those choices influence our health **— for better or worse.** **"Food as medicine"** is about understanding ingredients and how they can affect us. **What we eat becomes us — cellularly, energetically, and spiritually.** If you think about it, our food choices shape who we are. # **Choosing Foods to Reduce Inflammation** **Inflammation is at the root of many chronic diseases**, and when it is present, it places constant pressure on digestion, immunity, the nervous system, and the body’s ability to detoxify and repair on a cellular level. Using food as medicine means choosing foods that calm and support these systems, rather than adding to the inflammatory fire the body is already managing. **Choosing foods that soothe and support** — rather than those that inflame and irritate — is the foundation and the art of using everyday food as medicine. ## **Inflammatory Ingredients and Foods** Certain foods and food practices **add to inflammation** and increase the burden on the body, particularly when eaten regularly. These include: - **Gluten** **-** a **protein found in wheat, barley & rye can create digestive issues leading to leaky gut, brain fog, fatigue and inflammatory bowel symptoms.** - **Dairy - can inflame and create congestion and increase mucus, especially in the respiratory system and facial skin.** - **Sugar causes inflammation on a cellular level and leads to insulin resistance and feeds fungus, bacteria and cancer cell growth.** - Highly processed foods made with **nitrates, preservatives, chemicals, and additives affect many metabolic functions and add toxic load to body systems.** - **Seed oils** and processed oils with a high toxin and chemical load, fried foods and inflammatory especially for the cardio-vascular system and liver. - **Alcohol causes inflammation and negatively affect the gut, brain,  liver and kidneys.** - Animal products **from animals that have been given **antibiotics and** feed and water exposed to **herbicides, pesticides, and other **toxic chemicals.** - Plant foods grown with **herbicides, pesticides, and chemical sprays add a toxic burden to the body's systems.** - **Artificial flavours and scents**, many of which are made from petrochemicals, act as neurotoxins in the brain **and **add to the toxic load on** body systems.** **Food as Medicine in Practice** **Choosing an anti-inflammatory eating style**, working with the healing power of plants, and cooking with **whole, chemical-free ingredients** supports the body to **calm inflammation, reduce toxic load, and improve digestion and nutrient absorption.** The food we choose to eat each day directly affects how the body functions: - **How well we digest and absorb nutrients.** - **How efficiently we eliminate waste and toxins.** - **How we respond to immune stress.** - **How we maintain balance at a cellular level.** When these systems are supported through food, the body is better able to sustain **steady energy,  clearer thinking, emotional steadiness, and long-term resilience, health, and vitality.** That is what **functional nutrition** is. That is what it means to use **everyday food as medicine.** That is why BK + my recipes follow an **anti-inflammatory eating style.** There are millions of recipes out there. Are you cooking food that truly supports your health and reduces inflammation? We make choices every day, and those choices influence our health — for better or worse.   Topics: [Health](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/tag/health), [Anti-Inflammatory Recipes](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/tag/anti-inflammatory-recipes), [Food as Medicine](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/tag/food-as-medicine) OUR FOOD AS MEDICINE RECIPES - ![Chef Karina Hines Squeezing Lemon Juice](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Squeezing%20Lemon%20Juice.jpg?width=1080&height=720&name=Squeezing%20Lemon%20Juice.jpg) - ![Banner crop Kitchen Bench Seaweed, Herbs, Tomatoes, Spices-1](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Banner%20crop%20Kitchen%20Bench%20Seaweed%2c%20Herbs%2c%20Tomatoes%2c%20Spices-1.jpg?width=970&height=416&name=Banner%20crop%20Kitchen%20Bench%20Seaweed%2c%20Herbs%2c%20Tomatoes%2c%20Spices-1.jpg) - ![Herbs & Food as Medicina](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Herbs%20Product%20Development%20Banner.jpg?width=932&height=524&name=Herbs%20Product%20Development%20Banner.jpg) - ![Mixed Salad Greens + Chefs Knife-1](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mixed%20Salad%20Greens%20+%20Chefs%20Knife-1.jpg?width=1080&height=720&name=Mixed%20Salad%20Greens%20+%20Chefs%20Knife-1.jpg) - ![Electrolyte Drinks ](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Electrolyte%20Drinks%201.jpg?width=1080&height=720&name=Electrolyte%20Drinks%201.jpg) - ![Seaweed Mix Tray](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Seaweed%20Mix%20Tray.jpg?width=1080&height=720&name=Seaweed%20Mix%20Tray.jpg) SHOPPING LIST AT A GLANCE ## Something Powerful ### Tell The Reader More The headline and subheader tells us what you're offering, and the form header closes the deal. Over here you can explain why your offer is so great it's worth filling out a form for. Remember: - Bullets are great - For spelling out benefits and - Turning visitors into leads. SHOPPING LIST AT A GLANCE ## Something Powerful ### Tell The Reader More The headline and subheader tells us what you're offering, and the form header closes the deal. Over here you can explain why your offer is so great it's worth filling out a form for. Remember: - Bullets are great - For spelling out benefits and - Turning visitors into leads. SHOPPING LIST AT A GLANCE ## Something Powerful ### Tell The Reader More The headline and subheader tells us what you're offering, and the form header closes the deal. Over here you can explain why your offer is so great it's worth filling out a form for. Remember: - Bullets are great - For spelling out benefits and - Turning visitors into leads. - Print ![root-vegetable_cta_banner-scaled](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hubfs/root-vegetable_cta_banner-scaled.jpg "root-vegetable_cta_banner-scaled") weekly news ![](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/heart-1.png)letter join patch to PLATE membership [![June 1st 2021](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4492132/bfea87df-b3f1-48c3-9757-21315d42e57a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4492132/bfea87df-b3f1-48c3-9757-21315d42e57a) ![BK logo in white](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/hubfs/BK%20logo%20in%20white.png "BK logo in white") ### Food is a Powerful Tool in Healthcare Receive our Food as Medicine Newsletter. ### Pages - [Home](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/) - [About Us](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/about-company/) - [Membership Plans](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/about-botanical-kitchen-membership/) - [Recipes](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/recipe_category/) - [Media & Events](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/media-events/) - [Contact Us](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/contact/) - [Blog](https://blog.botanicalkitchen.com/) - [Membership FAQs](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/membership-faqs/) - [References](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/bibliography/) ### Legal - [Terms](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/terms-and-conditions/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/privacy-policy/) ### Follow Us [![](https://www.botanicalkitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/substrack-white-icon.png)](https://substack.com/@karinahinesbotanicalkitchen) Copyright © 2026. 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