At Roots 2018, we described the food as medicine philosophy as healing yourself, one bite at a time. Experts on our panel discussion included the one-and-only Jane Esselstyn, and three distinguished chefs: Andrea Beaman, Maneet Chauhan, and Jehangir Mehta—and here’s the entire food as medicine discussion from our culinary conference:

People with larger brains, studies have shown, have better ability to think. That’s the simple way to say it, and now here’s a more detailed explanation from a scientist involved in research on the subject. “People with greater brain volume,” says Meike W. Vernooij, MD, PhD, of the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, “have been shown in other studies to have better cognitive abilities, so initiatives that help improve diet quality may be a good strategy to maintain thinking skills.”

Foods rich in bitter flavoring are coming to the forefront, an underappreciated flavor that is finally starting to get its due in the United States. People are appreciating these foods – from Brussels sprouts to cauliflower, eggplant to kale and more – because of their flavors as well as their nutrition.

In February 2017, a study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology showed life-changing results when people ate extra produce, estimating that 7.8 million premature deaths around the world could potentially be prevented if people ate 10 portions (800 g.) of vegetables and fruits each day.

How many of you remember being told this as a child: “No, you can’t have your dessert until you eat your vegetables”? If so, you’re not alone – and, if so, your parents clearly cared about your health and well-being, which is a blessing. And, better yet, it’s actually possible to eat foods that are bursting with sweetness and flavor that are also very good for your health!