Today in the Washington Post: "Doctor Uses Some Foods as Medicines." In the article, Daphne Miller, a doctor, relates a story where she prescribes mushroom ginger soup for a patient with a cold. It's something that I do too, such as getting carrot/orange/ginger juice for a cold or rushing over to the Mexican restaurant around the corner for chicken soup when I have a hangover. Studies also support this idea. Also, it's interesting how some flu medicine such as Theraflu Warming Relief mimics soup.

Along those lines, I recently read over some health advice that Kimya Dawson posted on her blog in light of the swine flu. In addition to suggesting immune-boosting foods such as miso, garlic, turmeric, etc there is also advice on common sense preventative measures such as wearing a surgical mask and staying hydrated.

These themes also seem to connect to a larger trend in public health, especially global health, where access to water, sanitation and food are becoming more important, rather than only technology and modern medicine. For example, Gardens for Health International was "founded on the belief that a comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment plan requires access to adequate, nutritious food." What's telling is that water and sanitation is only now gaining momentum in the developing world, whereas in the United States, it has been a priority since the 1800s.



"Loose Lips" by Kimya Dawson
they think we're disposable, while both my thumbsopposable, spelled out on a double word and triple letter score...