Greco-Arab and Islamic diet therapy: Tradition, research and practice (original) (raw)

Diet therapy is one of the oldest methods of prevention and healing of all types of known diseases and built a substantial part of Greco-Arab medical system in maintaining healthy body, soul, and spirit. According to a statement by Al-Razi (Rhazes, 864-930) "As long as you can heal with food, do not heal with medication". Therefore, in the Greco-Arab medical system, the patients are treated through a scheme starting with diet and physiotherapy; if these failed, simple drugs were used, and then compound drugs, and at last, surgery would be used. The past twenty years have witnessed significant progress in studying the cellular and molecular interactions between intake of healthy foods (e.g., edible wild plants, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables as well as olive oil) and reduced rate of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, common cancers, degenerative diseases and ageing. This is attributed to the fact that these foods may provide an optimal mix of dietary fiber, natural antioxi...