Mandy Oaklander | October 11, 2026

What you eat can play a powerful role in preventing some health conditions—and in some cases, your diet can help manage them.

But don’t take it from me: Dr. Sadiya S. Khan, a cardiologist and epidemiologist, lays out the case in a new essay for TIME.

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The benefits of prescribing food as medicine

By Dr. Sadiya S. Khan

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We all know that eating a healthy diet is good for us.

In fact, nutrition is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent and manage chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. The evidence is strong enough that the American Heart Association identifies eating better as one of Life’s Essential 8, the eight key factors for improving heart health.

So, why is it so hard for Americans to eat well?

Part of the problem is knowing what to eat as part of a healthy diet. Nutrition can feel complicated, especially when health claims can be conflicting or confusing. How much protein does one really need? What are good fats and bad fats?

But the fundamentals of a heart-healthy diet have been remarkably consistent for years: eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, prioritize healthy sources of protein, and choose whole grains while minimizing sodium, processed foods, and added sugar. This was reinforced in the most recent 2026 Dietary Guidance released by the American Heart Association.

Read the full essay here.

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