North Carolina’s ‘Eat Well’ Program Cuts Hypertension with Fresh Produce
North Carolina's 'Eat Well' program is transforming health through produce prescriptions. Eligible participants receive $80 monthly to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, with promising results. The program, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), has shown remarkable benefits. Unlike traditional medicine, healthy food positively impacts multiple systems. Dr. Seth Berkowitz's study found that participants who received monthly produce prescriptions saw an average hypertension reduction of 5.4 milligrams of mercury. Latoya Perkinson, a participant, experienced improved blood pressure due to increased consumption of fresh produce. The 'Eat Well' program demonstrates that produce prescriptions can be a powerful form of medicine. By promoting healthier eating habits, it improves overall health and reduces the need for blood pressure medication.
