Fresh fruit and vegetables prescribed by doctors could be an effective way to improve the health of Australians with type 2 diabetes, according to new research from The George Institute for Global Health and UNSW Sydney.

In a study published today in the  Journal of Nutrition, the researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes and high blood sugar who took part in a ‘produce prescription’ program over 12 weeks ate nearly two extra servings of fruit and vegetables a day. They also lost 1.7kg and saw a 10 per cent drop in their LDL (low-density lipoprotein or the ‘bad cholesterol’ that causes heart disease).

Lead author Jason Wu, Head of Nutrition Science at The George Institute and Professor at UNSW Medicine & Health’s School of Population Health, said this was an important first study in Australia demonstrating the potential of ‘food as medicine’ to help doctors and patients better manage diet-related diseases.

“We know that eating a nutritious diet is key to maintaining health. But only one in 20 Australians eat enough fruit and vegetables, with many struggling to access healthy foods, especially those from the most disadvantaged communities,” he said.

“Right now, unhealthy diets cause more than 20,000 premature deaths a year in Australia, and untold suffering for patients and their loved ones.”

How the study worked

To test produce prescription for healthcare in Australia, the researchers worked with specialist doctors at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney to recruit 50 individuals with type 2 diabetes who were experiencing food insecurity. Each participant received a healthy food box designed by nutrition professionals, accompanying recipe ideas and the option to see a dietitian fortnightly.

After 12 weeks, there was a significant improvement in participants’ diet, blood cholesterol levels and body weight. The majority (96 per cent) of participants said the program was helpful or extremely helpful for improving their and their families’ diet, and that they’d be willing to pay to continue the program.

“Our research shows that not only is prescribing healthy produce very promising for improving the diet and health of individuals with type 2 diabetes, it was also very popular. What we need next is to expand and evaluate this program in larger studies to confirm its health benefits,” Prof. Wu said.

There is growing recognition that healthcare systems must do more to prevent and treat diet-related diseases, and the current model of relying mostly on drugs to manage such disease is not enough. In the United States, healthy food and meal prescription programs are already being integrated into healthcare. Paid for by government and healthcare providers, they are delivering promising health benefits and even reducing overall healthcare costs.

Mr Tristan Harris is Co-CEO of Harris Farms, which supplied the healthy foods used in the study.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Professor Wu and The George Institute to prove that good food is medicine and help reduce the unnecessary disease burden of unhealthy diets and the spiralling health costs that come along with it. This is the most common-sense approach to health we could possibly imagine,” he said.