Core Insights - The partnership between Meridian Health Plan of Michigan and the Centene Foundation aims to enhance access to fresh food and improve health outcomes in rural southwest Michigan through a $1 million grant to the Food Bank Council of Michigan [1][8] - The initiative focuses on addressing food insecurity, which is linked to diet-sensitive chronic diseases, by implementing a two-phased program that includes upgrading food pantries and establishing a fresh food pharmacy [2][5] Phase One Summary - Phase One will upgrade two existing food pantries to become Nourish MI Pantries, which will provide fresh, nutritious food and support health and equity partnerships [2][3] - The upgraded pantries will implement food as medicine interventions and receive technological support for future In Lieu of Services (ILOS) implementation [4] - The initiative aims to strengthen local food access and build capacity for ILOS operations for participating Medicaid health plans [4] Phase Two Summary - Phase Two, starting in 2026, will designate and upgrade five additional Nourish MI Pantries and fund the Fresh Food Pharmacy program at Grace Health [5] - The Fresh Food Pharmacy will assist eligible patients with diet-sensitive chronic conditions in accessing nutritious food and health education [5] Context of Food Insecurity - Over 1.4 million people in Michigan face food insecurity, with more than 378,000 being children, particularly affecting rural communities with limited access to grocery stores [6] - The partnership aims to address the root causes of health disparities and improve overall health outcomes in these communities [2][8] Organizational Background - Meridian Health Plan of Michigan provides managed care services primarily through Medicaid and is part of Centene Corporation [9] - The Centene Foundation focuses on investing in economically challenged communities and improving health equity [10] - The Food Bank Council of Michigan leads efforts to end hunger in the state by advocating for policies and providing resources to food banks [11]

Regulatory Transparency & Flexibility - The FDA emphasizes regulatory flexibility, tailoring processes to specific conditions, especially rare and incurable ones, considering limited alternatives [1][2] - Drug developers and pharmaceutical companies deserve predictability, as highlighted by the framework for COVID vaccine regulation published in the New England Journal of Medicine [4][5] - The FDA aims for transparency by releasing decision letters to the public and drug developers, modernizing the agency, and addressing misinformation, including rewriting dietary guidelines with USDA [12][13] Vaccine & Booster Recommendations - While the CDC sets the vaccine schedule, the FDA has approved vaccines for high-risk populations; booster shots for low-risk individuals require more research [5][6] - There are scientific unknowns and polarizing views regarding the necessity and frequency of COVID boosters, especially for healthy young individuals, alongside concerns about vaccine injuries [8][9] Public Trust & Misinformation - Public trust in health institutions has significantly declined, with trust in doctors and hospitals dropping from 71% to 40% in the last four years, necessitating rebuilding efforts [10][11] - The FDA is addressing misinformation by rewriting the food pyramid with USDA, ending the "war on natural saturated fat," and clarifying the difference between whole grains and ultra-processed foods [13] Food & Dietary Guidelines - The FDA is taking action to remove petroleum-based food dyes, inspired by previous discussions on removing "poisons and chemicals" from the food supply [17][18] - The FDA acknowledges the addictive nature of processed foods, designed by food scientists, contributing to chronic diseases and insulin resistance in children [20][21] - The SNAP program now has waivers for states to restrict taxpayer dollars from being used for junk food and sugary drinks [22] Women's Health - Women's health issues have been historically overlooked, prompting the FDA to host a roundtable on hormone replacement therapy for perimenopausal women [25][26] - The NIH is refocusing its funding to study root causes of chronic diseases, including school lunch programs, sleep medicine, and environmental exposures [29] Opioid Crisis & Supplements - The FDA, along with the DEA, is taking action to schedule 7-hydroxy mitragynine (7-OHM), a synthetic opioid found in vape stores, which is 13 times more potent than morphine [35][36] - The FDA is concerned about the unregulated nature of supplements and the need for regulation to ensure Americans are taking trustworthy and healthy products [33]

When my grandmother passed away last year at 100 years old, I sat with the truth of her life and her legacy. Aside from being a wife, a passionate teacher, a mother of five, a grandmother of 22, and a great grandmother of 17. What really struck me was how she thrived.No chronic illnesses, no prescription pills, no confusion about what to eat. She ate from the land. She cooked from home.She trusted what she knew. Wisdom passed on from generations before her. Her quality of life got me thinking, when did some ...

Health & Wellness Industry Trends - Chronic preventable diseases are becoming the new norm, often attributed to genetics and age [2] - Poor diet is now the leading cause of early death worldwide, according to a 2023 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association [13] - A 2024 study in the Lancet shows that a plant-rich whole food diet can add up to 13 years of life expectancy [13] - Diets high in processed food and refined sugar are directly linked to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline, according to a study in nutritional neuroscience [14] Dietary Recommendations & Gut Health - Ancestral wisdom emphasizes eating real food, trusting food, and respecting it as medicine, survival, and sacred [3][4] - The gut is a lush living sacred ecosystem with trillions of beneficial bacteria that protect immunity, elevate mood, sharpen the mind, manage cravings, and influence thoughts [17][18] - Individuals who ate over 30 different plant foods per week had a more diverse and resilient gut than those who ate 10 or fewer plants, according to the American Gut Project which studied over 10,000 individuals [24][25] - Ultra-processed food, refined sugars, toxic oils, and chronic stress are soil killers that destroy the gut microbiome [28][29] Practical Steps for Healing - Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, sending a message of safety to the body and promoting healing [20][21] - Regardless of diet, eating more diverse plants is essential for a vibrant gut [23] - Focus on crowding out toxic elements from the diet, such as ultra-processed foods and refined sugars [28][30]