Cooking and Healing: A Free Webinar with Brooklynne Palmer
Brooklynne Palmer, a Culinary Medicine enthusiast, advocates for a philosophy that emphasizes learning what can be added or customized in our diets for health benefits, rather than focusing on taking things out or demonizing food. This approachable and accessible approach to healthier eating can be done from the comfort of your own home.
Growing your own produce, including herbs, is one such way to make a significant shift towards a more well-balanced and nutrient-rich eating pattern. Not only is it significantly safer, but it also provides immeasurable balance and substance to your daily life, offering discipline, routine, and relaxation.
Herbs, often underrated, are one of the easiest and most nutrient-rich ingredients. Consuming food that is high in nutrients, proteins, and vitamins can provide a stronger immune system and lessen the likelihood of falling ill to acute illnesses like the common cold. Herbs are gaining popularity as nutrition powerhouses due to their numerous health benefits.
Culinary Medicine, an interdisciplinary field that combines the art of cooking with the science of nutrition, is at the forefront of promoting healthier eating habits tailored to prevent and treat disease, improve physical health, and support mental well-being. It involves teaching practical cooking skills alongside nutritional education to empower individuals and healthcare providers to use food as a therapeutic tool.
The importance of Culinary Medicine lies in multiple dimensions. It supports physical health by allowing control over what goes into meals, which helps reduce risks of obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic conditions. It also fosters social and emotional connections with family and friends, enhancing mental well-being through shared experiences and emotional bonding. Programs in Culinary Medicine also emphasize mindfulness and cultural preservation, which can strengthen community ties and mental health.
Culinary Medicine is increasingly recognized within medical education and healthcare delivery as a way to address food insecurity, nutrition-related chronic diseases, and reduce healthcare costs by incorporating food as medicine.
Brooklynne Palmer, a first-generation college student, was inspired to pursue Culinary Medicine to help spread awareness about the impact of food on the body. She will be hosting a free Patio to Plate meal prepping workshop webinar on August 16th at 5pm CST, where she will share her food philosophy and guide you through the process of creating nutrient-rich meals.
In summary, Culinary Medicine bridges cooking and nutritional science to improve overall wellness by empowering healthier food choices that support both physical health outcomes like chronic disease prevention and mental health through social connection and mindfulness. Growing your own produce, including herbs, and adopting a Culinary Medicine approach to cooking can lead to a more balanced, nutrient-rich, and healthier lifestyle.
[1] American Heart Association. (2019). Cooking at home can help reduce sodium intake. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sodium/cooking-at-home-can-help-reduce-sodium-intake
[2] American Institute for Cancer Research. (2020). Cooking up a healthier diet. Retrieved from https://www.aicr.org/foods-that-fight-cancer/cooking-up-a-healthier-diet.html
[3] Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2020). The Nutrition Source: Home cooking. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-eating-plate/cooking-at-home/
[4] Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (2019). Culinary Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.eatright.org/food/planning-and-prep/culinary-medicine
- Brooklynne Palmer's philosophy in Culinary Medicine advocates for adding or customizing food choices for health benefits, rather than focusing on removing certain foods or demonizing them.
- Growing your own produce, including herbs, is a way to make a significant shift towards a more well-balanced and nutrient-rich eating pattern, providing balance, discipline, and relaxation.
- Herbs, often underrated, are an easy and highly nutritious ingredient that can boost the immune system and lessen the occurrence of acute illnesses like the common cold.
- Culinary Medicine, a combination of cooking art, nutritional science, and education, is instrumental in promoting healthier eating habits to prevent and treat disease, improve physical health, and support mental well-being.
- Culinary Medicine supports not only physical health but also mental health by fostering social connections and emotional bonding through shared experiences.
- Programs in Culinary Medicine also emphasize mindfulness and cultural preservation, which can strengthen community ties and mental health.
- Culinary Medicine is gaining recognition within medical education and healthcare delivery as a solution for addressing food insecurity, nutrition-related chronic diseases, and reducing healthcare costs by incorporating food as medicine.
