The Source and Reasonable Boundaries of Dietary Therapy
The term "dietary therapy" has a long history, with the idea of "food treating diseases before they occur" found as early as in the "Huangdi Neijing" and "Shennong Bencao Jing." Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes "food and medicine share the same source," believing that certain ingredients have a role in nourishing, regulating, and balancing the body. This concept indeed has historical value and experiential significance in the context of ancient medical resources being scarce.
Modern nutrition also acknowledges that dietary structure plays an undeniable role in the prevention and recovery from chronic diseases. For example, dietary fiber helps control blood sugar, adjusting the potassium-sodium ratio can affect hypertension, and antioxidant components like vitamins C and E help delay cellular aging. However, these effects are often supportive and regulatory over the long term, rather than direct curative interventions.
In short: food is the foundation of maintaining health, but it does not possess the "medicinal" potency to treat diseases. Especially in the face of clear pathological changes, such as diabetes, tumors, and viral infections, relying solely on dietary interventions is insufficient to reverse the disease process. If one deviates from medical treatment, it can delay the condition and lead to serious consequences.
The Myth of "Miracle Foods": Why Do Misbelief Cases Frequently Occur?
In real life, there are many cases where treatment is delayed due to the mistaken belief that a certain food has "special effects." The most common misconceptions include:
1. Treating diabetes with bitter melon
Mr. Li has type 2 diabetes and, after hearing from a neighbor that "bitter melon can lower blood sugar," he began eating raw bitter melon slices every morning and evening, even stopping his oral hypoglycemic medication. A few weeks later, he experienced dizziness and fatigue, and hospital tests revealed his blood sugar had risen to 18mmol/L, with signs of impending ketoacidosis. The doctor pointed out that while there is some research data showing that bitter melon can improve insulin sensitivity, it is far from having the ability to replace medication and cannot accurately control blood sugar fluctuations.
2. Can red dates and goji berries cure all diseases?
The slogans "red dates nourish qi and blood, goji berries benefit the liver and improve eyesight" are deeply ingrained, and many women, when experiencing anemia or menstrual irregularities, excessively consume them without considering whether they have an anemic disease, endocrine disorders, or structural lesions like uterine fibroids. There was a case of a 30-year-old female patient who long used red dates and astragalus to "nourish blood," while ignoring persistently low hemoglobin levels, ultimately being diagnosed with moderate thalassemia, missing the best intervention period.
3. Can garlic treat Helicobacter pylori?
Some studies indicate that garlic extract has a certain inhibitory effect on Helicobacter pylori in vitro, leading to some folk remedies claiming that "garlic is a natural antibiotic." However, in the complex environment of the stomach, this inhibitory effect does not reach antibiotic standards, and some patients, by refusing standard eradication treatment, have seen their gastritis develop into atrophic gastritis or even precancerous lesions.
These cases reveal a common point: food can serve as an auxiliary adjustment but cannot replace medication, nor can it be the sole intervention method.
The Functional Components of Food Do Not Equate to Clinical Efficacy
Nutrition does indeed study the functionality of certain food components, such as:
Sulfur compounds in onions and garlic have certain anti-inflammatory potential;
Anthocyanins in blackberries and blueberries have antioxidant capabilities;
Tea polyphenols in tea have shown anti-tumor activity in animal experiments.
However, there is a significant distance between "a certain component has an effect" and "eating this food can cure diseases":
Content issue: The active components in actual food are far lower than drug doses;
Absorption efficiency issue: Nutritional components may not be fully absorbed or may be rapidly metabolized in the body;
Metabolic pathway issue: Many components are effective in vitro but become inactive in the complex environment of the human body;
Difficult-to-control side reactions: Some foods may cause allergies or drug interactions in specific populations.
For example, isoflavones in soybeans are promoted as "plant estrogens" that can "protect breast tissue and prevent menopause," but numerous studies show their effects are far inferior to actual hormone medications, and excessive intake may disrupt endocrine function. Similarly, while honey contains hydrogen peroxide and a small amount of antibacterial factors, it cannot replace antibiotic treatment for bacterial infections.
The "functional components" of food do not equate to "functional foods," nor can they be equated to "medications that cure diseases."
The Correct Combination of Medical Intervention and Dietary Adjustment
While "dietary therapy cannot replace medical therapy" is a bottom-line principle, this does not mean that dietary adjustment is without value. The correct approach should be: based on a clear diagnosis and treatment plan, use scientific dietary practices to enhance treatment efficiency and quality of life.
Here are some dietary suggestions for common diseases:
Patients with hypertension
Combining with the DASH diet (low sodium, high potassium, high calcium, high magnesium, rich in fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy) can help lower blood pressure. If adhered to, some early-stage hypertension patients may be able to reduce their medication dosage, but they cannot stop medication completely.
Patients with gastritis
Avoiding spicy, irritating, overly hot, or cold foods and maintaining regular meals can indeed help alleviate gastric inflammation. Combining with medical treatment (such as proton pump inhibitors) can further stabilize the condition.
Patients with liver disease
Reasonably controlling fat and protein intake and increasing antioxidant intake (such as vitamin E and carotenoids) can assist in liver function recovery, but nutritional supplementation plans should be discussed with a doctor.
Cancer patients
During treatment, it is necessary to ensure adequate caloric and protein intake to alleviate treatment side effects, such as appetite loss and gastrointestinal symptoms caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Nutritional intervention can enhance treatment tolerance and improve prognosis.
The above strategies emphasize one thing: diet can complement medicine, but cannot "fly solo."
Why Do the Public Prefer "Dietary Therapy Myths"? The Psychological Motivations Behind It
People's preference for "natural" and "side-effect-free" food therapies is not without reason. This phenomenon encompasses multiple psychological factors:
Fear of side effects
The side effects listed in some medication instructions can be overwhelming, causing many to worry that "taking medication harms the liver and kidneys," leading them to hope to avoid risks through food.
Distrust of the medical system
Some people turn to "alternative paths" after experiencing misdiagnosis, overtreatment, and unequal medical resources, believing folk remedies and dietary therapy are superior to hospitals.
Information overload on social media
The "miraculous foods" and "health secrets" spread through short videos, articles, and group chats are often simplistic and lack evidence, yet are widely accepted due to their easy-to-understand content.
The pursuit of control
Behaviors like "drinking ginger soup every day to avoid colds" or "eating black sesame to prevent gray hair" are easy to execute, giving a sense of "I am in control of my health," which alleviates anxiety.
However, the problem is that this psychological dependence, once tied to disease management, can easily mislead behavioral judgment. Overly believing that "eating well can cure diseases" is, in fact, a risk transfer, relinquishing control of the condition to erroneous information sources.
Rebuilding Scientific Trust: Information Screening and Health Literacy Improvement
In the face of a vast array of nutritional and health information, establishing scientific literacy becomes particularly important. The following points can help the public avoid falling into "dietary therapy traps":
Verify sources
When paying attention to health information, prioritize materials published by institutions with a medical background, such as "The Lancet," "The New England Journal of Medicine," the Chinese Nutrition Society, and official platforms of the National Health Commission.
Beware of "cure-all" type promotions
Any food or health product claiming "universal efficacy" is almost always unreliable. The effectiveness in scientific research often has boundaries and limitations.
Proactively communicate dietary preferences when seeking medical care
If an individual has special dietary therapy habits, they can consult with doctors or registered dietitians to see if they conflict with existing treatments and obtain professional advice.
Enhance family health literacy
Many elderly individuals are keen on dietary therapy and folk remedies, requiring children to patiently educate them and help identify false information. One case involved a young person discovering that their parents were taking a certain "blood vessel-clearing heart-nourishing soy milk," which was actually a misleading herbal powder, and timely intervention prevented potential liver toxicity.
Restore "food supplementation" to "daily nutritional support"
Changing language habits can also shift perspectives. For example, instead of saying "eating this cures diseases," say "this helps support the body's recovery."