Pillar 2: Treating Food as Medicine: Healing Begins at the Table.

Pillar 2 of the Life by Natural Causes program invites you to adopt a mindset that supports vibrant health through every bite.

This isn’t about restriction—it’s about discovering the powerful relationship between what you eat and how you feel, function, and flourish.

Below, we unpack key lessons from our resources, grouped into helpful categories, to support your journey from curiosity to confident application.

1. Seeing Your Body as a Marvelous Healing Machine

The first and most powerful shift is recognizing that your body is naturally wired to heal—if you allow it the right conditions. The foods you eat can either activate your body’s healing processes or slowly shut them down. Treating food as medicine begins with the belief that your body is on your side.

2. Learning What to Eat (and What to Avoid)

Your food choices either part of the problem (POP)  or part of the solution (POS). It’s that simple—and that profound.
Eat more of:

• Whole, unprocessed, plant-based foods
• Leafy greens, fruits, nuts, seeds, and legumes
• High-fiber, antioxidant-rich meals that nourish the gut and support immunity

Avoid or reduce:

• Ultra-processed foods loaded with chemicals and added sugars
• Refined grains and oils that trigger inflammation
• Food-like products designed for shelf life, not human life

Audacious Truth: When you begin to view food
not just as fuel but as medicine, everything changes.

3. Eating With Intention

When and how you eat can be just as important as what you eat.

• Learn when to eat: Experiment with fasting windows that give your digestive system time to reset and repair.
• Learn how to eat: Slow down. Chew thoroughly. Be present. These small actions help digestion and reduce overeating.
• Default to nutritious decisions: Build habits around go-to meals that are delicious, satisfying, and deeply nourishing.

4. Recognizing the Hidden Power of Food

Food can influence more than your waistline—it can alter your mind, your habits, and your emotions.

• Mood: A poor-quality diet can lead to mood swings, anxiety, and low energy. A nutrient-dense one can do the opposite.
• Addiction: Some highly processed foods are designed to be addictive. Becoming aware of this is the first step toward reclaiming control.
• Identity: Over time, healthy eating becomes part of how you see yourself. It’s not a chore—it’s who you are.

5. Cultivating Confidence and Curiosity in the Kitchen

Healthy cooking is not a skill—it’s a superpower.

• Learn new ways to prepare vegetables that make them crave-worthy.
• Batch cook to make healthy choices easy and automatic.
• Explore spices and herbs that turn meals into medicine.

Use reliable resources to vet your recipes, nutrition advice, and health claims. As you grow in confidence, be open to learning from different traditions—including vegetarian and plant-based perspectives backed by science and results.

6. Embracing the Ancient Practice of Fasting

Fasting isn’t a fad. It’s a time-honored healing tradition that supports everything from cellular repair to insulin sensitivity. Learn the difference between intermittent fasting, time-restricted eating, and extended fasts. Listen to your body, and experiment with support.

Starting Where You Are

This pillar isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Each time you swap a packaged snack for something unprocessed, nutritious and alive, you’re practicing food as medicine. Each meal becomes an opportunity to feel better, think more clearly, and live with greater energy.

Let your next meal be your next step toward healing.
The food on your fork holds more power than many prescriptions. By treating food as medicine, you’re not just eating to live—you’re eating to thrive.

Life by Natural Causes (LBNC) is a Knowledge-to-Health Outcomes Learning System designed to engage users in behavior changes that will result in positive, health outcomes, all under the guidance of their health team. LBNC, currently in Beta development, has a launch target of 3QCY25.

Disclaimer: Only licensed MDs are authorized to make medical claims. We connect you with professionals trained to support and optimize your health outcomes. Always consult your physician — ideally one trained in functional medicine — or another qualified provider regarding any medical concerns.