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ABOIM Board Member Gerard E. Mullin, MD, CNSP, MHS Discusses the Relationship Between Health and Diet

Health and DietGerard E. Mullin, MD, is one of the nation’s leading authorities on the gut micro-biome. He has made a career out of educating the public about the benefits of healthy eating, and in his new book, The Gut Balance Revolution, he outlines a step-by-step plan that uses food to reboot, rebalance, and renew the gut’s natural bacteria to energize the metabolism and shed weight. In a recent interview on Maryland Public Television concerning the relationship between health and diet, Dr. Mullin made it clear that eating the right food is powerful medicine. Yet, he isn’t alone in this stance. The idea of prioritizing nutrition and healthy eating is a central component of integrative medicine, a burgeoning medical specialty that emphasizes healthy living and natural remedies to help achieve optimal health.

The concept of food as medicine is not new, but has waned in popularity in recent years as big pharmaceutical companies have engaged in extensive direct-to-consumer advertising. Now, when someone isn’t sleeping well or is having stomach problems, they visit their family physician and expect to be prescribed a pill to help. With integrative medicine, the physician prioritizes natural remedies that can provide the same benefits of pharmaceuticals but are natural, readily available, and without the same risk for adverse side effects. To be sure, physicians who specialize in integrative medicine like Dr. Mullin still prescribe medication as needed, but it isn’t the first line of defense.

Furthermore, food can be used effectively as a form of preventative medicine. There are many fruits, vegetables, and grains that can potentially lower cholesterol, boost the metabolism, reduce inflammation, and have other significant short- and long-term benefits. Integrative medicine is centered on finding the specific foods, supplements, and natural ingredients that will help the patient achieve and maintain optimal health without using pharmaceuticals unless it’s absolutely necessary.

In The Gut Balance Revolution, Dr. Mullin identifies a number of different foods that can help benefit the natural flora of the micro-biome, while also pointing out the foods we eat every day that could have an adverse effect.

At the American Board of Physician Specialties®, we are proud to have Dr. Mullin as a board member of the American Board of Integrative Medicine® and fully support the advancement of nutrition education across the nation. To learn more about the ABOIM, contact us today. The ABPS is the official board certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc. ®

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