Exploring The Intersections Of Health, Heritage + Harmony Through Fresh Foods

Photos courtesy of CommonSpirit Health

As vibrant, energetic beings, we as humans share a profound connection with the Earth and its life-giving bounty, which fuels our own growth and vitality. When you think of nourishment, what springs to mind? Is it the satisfying sustenance of food; perhaps a particular dish that fills you with energy? Or is it the profound sense of fullness that comes from nurturing others on their paths to fulfillment? Nourishment encompasses not only the physical fuel we consume but also the energetic exchange that sustains us and those around us.

WHAT IS NOURISHMENT?

“Nourishing food is something that makes your body feel good; your spirit as well,” says Jess Church, registered dietitian and director of food security initiatives for CommonSpirit Mountain Region, a nonprofit hospital chain.

This relevant definition emphasizes the beauty in variety. She adds: “What food feels like home?” Note how this answer may fluctuate depending on the season, not only in our planet’s climate but also the chapters in an individual’s life.

Colorado State University professor in the Horticultural and Landscape Architecture Department, Jessica Prenni, says society has “this idea and notion in our heads that the more diverse your plate is, the healthier you are.” Take green vegetables for example — all members of this category have a plethora of vitamins, minerals and gut healthy fiber. But there is much more intricacy on the inside. Prenni emphasizes how each plant species has completely different molecular compositions.

However, despite ongoing research, our understanding of this intricacy remains incomplete. Unlocking the full spectrum of nutritional and energetic benefits these plants offer holds promise for optimizing our wellbeing on a holistic level.

“We have reduced food down to macro and micronutrients,” Prenni says. “We have not expanded our knowledge and understanding of what is in food. We have the technology to do it now.”

UNLOCKING THE POWER OF FRESH PRODUCE

Josh Neff is the CEO of CommonSpirit St. Elizabeth Hospital. Neff is also the hospital’s vice president of Rural Health. He actively serves the rural communities residing in Colorado, Kansas and Utah, ensuring they receive adequate health care. Neff emphasizes the critical importance of ensuring universal access to fresh fruits and vegetables, recognizing the profound benefits embedded in these nutritious offerings. He underscores how a healthful diet positively impacts every aspect of an individual’s well-being.

Neff lives and works in Fort Morgan. He advocates for his neighbors and the region’s rural lifestyle. He notes that there is a large percentage of people in the community whom are employed but still live below the poverty line. Their limited income deprives them of the nourishment their bodies and those they care for, who depend on them, truly crave.

“A poor diet is a leading cause of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, mental health difficulties and more,” Neff shares. “There are not resources for mental health [in Fort Morgan]. It is a domino effect and then people get in a place they cannot get out of.”

Church emphasizes it is important to avoid using the term “food desert” in these regions “because of all the things connotated with the word desert,” she explains. “[Food] is naturally [hard to come by]. Often the places that do not have access to healthy produce is due to history of racism and redlining. Deserts often can be abundant and full of life.”

Access to fresh fruits and vegetables is a key component to reducing health issues in communities, Neff explains. This is not so simple, though, because the vast majority of humans do not grow their own food anymore. Instead, most relay on high-scale agriculture and lots of processed foods. As Prenni says, “History happened. We [people] moved into cities and out of farms.” Now, people work throughout the entire day just to make enough money to purchase the said high-scale agriculture produce and man-made foods.

Prenni explains that the highly accessible foods, the processed ones, are the epitome of the “dark matter of food.” She defines this as the “chemical space that we can’t name and don’t know what [it is made out of].”

This is why all three of these professionals believe in the power of plants. When a plant is photosynthesizing, it is not thinking its goal is to give humans fuel. Each plant produces for itself, but it’s this natural life force that brings us energy.

SAVORING IDENTITY

However, a whole food does not truly nourish someone if the produce is not culturally relevant — produce that genuinely connects with their heritage and allows for proper digestion.

Neff recalls a time when he worked at a hospital in South Dakota; there was a large Hmong population there, and many people from the elderly community would come in for care. Yet, they were not getting better fast enough because they were not getting the nutrition they needed. The food they were served was not culturally relevant and therefore did not effectively nourish them.

“How do we encourage individuals to consume more of what is already integral to their diets?” Prenni reflects. It’s here that her passion for understanding the intricacies of molecular composition becomes apparent. With forthcoming research, Prenni is optimistic there is a foreseeable future where anyone and everyone can confidently navigate the nutritional intricacies of various produce and choose to incorporate authentic foods based on the benefits of each species.

This would not render modern medicine unneeded. Church discusses her battle with the concept as “food is medicine.”

“In some ways, I love the way we can incorporate food in health,” Church says. “But I also struggle with this. Medicine is not something to replace food, necessarily. The apple or kale is not going to replace the lifesaving medications or medical interventions someone needs.”

While fresh and culturally relevant food undoubtedly enhances our lives, it’s crucial to acknowledge that what constitutes such foods varies for each individual. “It is more than access to food, it is about eliminating cultural disparities,” Neff emphasizes.

Culturally relevant food also encourages families to dine together. This improves the unit’s psychosocial and behavioral health. It also promotes a sense of connection to ancestry and belonging in this world.

“Food brings people together, and when people are together, together is better,” Neff says. “It puts less pressure on parents when they know they are able to supply their family with [healthful food].”

Every piece of produce brings its own unique complexity to each table. This is what true nourishment is: a holistic connection between individuals and culturally relevant, fresh foods that not only fuel our bodies but also strengthen our communities and enhance our overall well-being.

Originally published in the Summer 2024 issue of Spoke+Blossom.