Stony Brook Symposium Explores 'Food as Medicine' for Health and Community
Stony Brook Southampton recently hosted a 'Food as Medicine Symposium' that brought together community members, health professionals, and experts to explore the profound connections among nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, culture, social connection, and long-term health. The event, organized by The FoodLab at Stony Brook Southampton, featured presentations from various experts, including Raja Jaber, MD, director of lifestyle and integrative medicine at Stony Brook Medicine, who discussed the habits of communities with longer, healthier lives, emphasizing plant-based diets, physical activity, and strong social connections. Krista Zvoch, director of nutrition for StoryPoint Group, focused on healthy aging and quality of life, highlighting a shift from extending lifespan to extending 'health span.' The symposium also included a culinary demonstration by Paula Montagna, director of clinical nutrition at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, showcasing how to build nutritious meals with whole foods.