The Power of Food as Medicine

The conversation around healthcare is evolving. Food isn’t just about fueling our bodies—it’s a critical disease prevention and management tool. At this year’s Food is Medicine Advocacy Day, that message came through loud and clear.

On March 12, 2025, we joined industry leaders, healthcare professionals, and policymakers in Washington, D.C., to push for policies that integrate nutrient-dense, ethically sourced food into healthcare solutions. From expanding access to medically tailored meals to funding produce prescription programs, the momentum behind this movement is undeniable.

“Food is Medicine is a concept that Democrats and Republicans can agree on, and there is incredible energy to find a common area to work together on. Every congressional office we visited agreed that combining Regenerative Agriculture, Culinary Arts, and Nutritional Science would significantly improve the health of our citizens, communities, and planet! Independent groups' estimates of annual savings exceeding $1.1 trillion also help the discussion.  

Let’s all eat our way to healthier lives and save money by reducing medical costs– a winning political statement for all parties during these contentious times.”

• Kenneth Rapoport, Azuluna Foods Co-founder & Farmer

Key Policy Priorities: Bringing Nutrition into Healthcare

This year’s Advocacy Day focused on a few key initiatives:

• Funding for Nutrition Research at the NIH – To better understand how food impacts chronic disease prevention and management.

• Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Act – To provide patients with chronic illnesses customized, nutrient-dense meals designed to support their recovery and long-term health.

• Produce Prescription Programs – Expanding healthcare coverage for fresh, whole foods to improve health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.

• Nutrition Education for Healthcare Providers – Bridging the gap in medical training, ensuring doctors and healthcare professionals have the knowledge to discuss food as medicine with their patients.

At Azuluna, we’re already working to make medically supportive, high-protein meals more accessible. Estimates are that seven out of ten individuals live with low-grade inflammation due to diet, 77% of rejected military recruits are rejected for conditions related to poor diet, and diet-related diseases are the leading cause of death today. Research has also demonstrated that lifestyle diet changes are essential to making the benefits of GLP1 drugs permanent. 

Given the importance of diet, Azuluna has partnered with  Dr. Mark Hyman’s UltraWellness Center and Johnson & Wales University College of Food Innovation and Technology to create & deliver ready-to-eat meals designed for wellness.  

Azuluna believes that eating well is the key to a healthier life—and that wellness can be both easy and delicious!

View our tailored Paleo-Meals Developed in partnership with the UltraWellness Center here. 

Why Regenerative Farming Belongs in the Conversation

When we talk about food as medicine, we also have to talk about how that food is produced. Regenerative farming isn’t just good for the land—it creates more nutrient-dense food that actively supports human health.

The Link Between Regenerative Farming & Nutrition

• Higher Nutrient Content – Pasture-raised meats have more omega-3s, vitamins, and antioxidants compared to conventionally raised meats

• Sustainable Agriculture – A healthier planet creates healthier food, reducing the environmental and health impact of industrial farming.

• Food with Function – More than calories, regeneratively farmed food provides bioavailable nutrients supporting gut health, immunity, and metabolic function.

"Azuluna has been practicing regenerative agriculture since 2004, when Dr. George Saperstein, a professor at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, reestablished rotational grazing and pasture biodiversity on our farms. Healthier soils lead to more nutrient-dense, incredibly flavorful proteins—it’s that simple!"

• Kenneth Rapoport, Azuluna Co-founder & Farmer

Azuluna’s Role in Food is Medicine

At Azuluna, our Certified Regenefied farms ensure that consumers, food service providers, and healthcare organizations access the highest-quality, ethically raised chicken, pork, lamb, and bone broth available in New England.

We believe in:

• Raising animals on pasture for optimal nutrition and taste.

• Providing chef-crafted, dietitian-reviewed meals designed for wellness.

• Bridging the gap between sustainable agriculture and human health.

Read more about our Regenerative Certification here.

"Today, Azuluna carries the only Certified Regenerative™ seal of approval in New England, as recognized by the USDA FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Services) and Whole Foods Market. We’re also a founding member of Tufts University’s Food is Medicine Initiative—an effort we proudly took to Washington, D.C. for the second year in a row."

• Kenneth Rapoport, Azuluna Co-founder & Farmer

Where Do We Go From Here?

Advocacy Day was just the beginning—real change happens when awareness turns into action.

How This Fuels Future Progress

• Stronger partnerships between farmers, food brands, and healthcare providers to make nutrient-dense food more accessible.

• Continued legislative momentum to integrate food into healthcare policy.

• Increased consumer awareness around how food choices directly impact long-term health.

How You Can Take Action

✔ Support policies that bring nutrition into healthcare.
✔ Choose regeneratively raised foods that promote human and environmental health.
✔ Stay informed—learn more about the growing Food is Medicine movement.

Final Thoughts: Advocacy Beyond the Hill

Real change doesn’t happen in one day—it happens when businesses, policymakers, and individuals work together to reshape our food system.

If we want a healthier future, we must start with what’s on our plates. That means:

• Advocating for better food policies.

• Choosing food that’s good for both people and the planet.

• Making nutrition a priority in healthcare.

Together, we can redefine the role of food in medicine—one policy, one meal, and one choice at a time.

"This time, we delivered our Regenerative Chicken Bone Broth directly to Senators and Congressional Representatives—both in its original frozen form and as an R&D sample of our newly developed freeze-dried bone broth powder. And, wouldn’t you know it? Just two days later, Congress voted to keep the government open. Now, I’m not saying our regenerative bone broth had something to do with that decision... but I wouldn’t rule out the healing power of good food!"

• Kenneth Rapoport, Azuluna Co-founder & Farmer