By: Adam Meyer writing for Eating Well
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
Doctors prescribing fruits and vegetables in addition to medication? That's the focus of produce prescription programs, which are increasingly being recognized for their impact on heart health. Published on August 29th, 2023 in Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association (AHA), a recent study led by Kurt Hager, Ph.D., M.S., an instructor at UMass Chan Medical School, shows promising results. Gathering data from nine different programs across the U.S., the study found that participants—2,064 adults and 1,817 children at increased risk for cardiovascular disease—experienced significant improvements in body mass index (BMI), blood sugar and blood pressure levels after increasing their fruit and vegetable intake. Even food insecurity, a known factor that impacts health, decreased among participants.
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