Realfoodology Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Food Is Medicine: How Prescription Produce Is Healing Chronic Disease
Host: Courtney Swan
Guest: Erin W. Martin – Aging Expert & FreshRx Oklahoma Co-Founder
Date: December 16, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the revolutionary concept of “Food as Medicine” and how prescription produce programs are transforming healthcare, reversing chronic diseases, and rebuilding local food systems. Courtney Swan welcomes aging expert and FreshRx Oklahoma co-founder Erin Martin to discuss how reconnecting with real, local, and regenerative food can heal individuals and communities alike. Erin shares the inspiring story and measurable successes of FreshRx, where “prescribing” food—not pills—has changed lives and saved money. The episode also explores Oklahoma’s groundbreaking Food Is Medicine Bill, the intersection of food policy and health, and actionable ways listeners can become involved.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Debunking the Myths of Aging (04:51–10:54)

• Longevity in the U.S.: Despite high healthcare spending, Americans’ life expectancy is declining. Other countries, especially Blue Zones (regions with higher longevity), thrive due to community connection and nutrient-dense, local foods.
• Aging & Disease are Not Synonymous: Erin explains her background as a gerontologist and uncovers that many chronic diseases associated with aging are preventable and not a normal part of growing old.
  • Quote:

    "Disease is actually not a natural part of aging." – Erin (09:26)

• Importance of Community and Purpose: Both Courtney and Erin highlight how America’s separation of elders into nursing homes breaks connection to family wisdom and leads to loss of purpose among elders, undermining overall societal health.

2. Cultural Shifts — Reclaiming Wisdom & Food Knowledge (10:54–20:47)

• Generational disconnection and loss of cooking/gardening skills are contributing to cultural and health decline.
• Emphasis on re-integrating elders into family and community life for intergenerational learning and care.
  • Quote:

    "There's lessons in their wisdom... There are still good and true values that are applicable for generations." – Erin (15:44)

• Call to Simplicity: Society continuously overcomplicates solutions; returning to simple whole food, local systems, and community is the real root of health.

3. Local Food Systems & Community Support (20:47–25:53)

• Home Gardens & Victory Gardens 2.0: During WWII, home gardens supported families. Erin advocates for a modern “victory garden” movement to make local food systems resilient and cross political boundaries.
• Barriers and Solutions: Not everyone can garden, but supporting local food hubs, CSAs, and family farms is an impactful, accessible action for all.
  • Quote:

    "You getting your maybe a couple friends and a couple family members together to buy from a local farm could be the difference between this farm not being able to stay open anymore versus keeping them afloat." – Courtney (24:56)

4. FreshRx Oklahoma: Produce Prescription Program (25:54–38:09)

• Program Overview: FreshRx Oklahoma offers free, year-long supplies of locally grown, regenerative produce to people with chronic illnesses (mostly Type 2 diabetes), coupled with recipes and lifestyle education.
  • Notable Success:

    "A woman lost 132 pounds, reversed diabetes in eight months and came off all prescription drugs." – Erin (27:41)

• Outcomes & Metrics: Regular tracking of health markers (A1C, weight, blood pressure) demonstrates significant improvements and cost savings for the state.
• Funding: Started with philanthropic grants, now transitioning to value-based healthcare funding—“healthcare should pay for this.”

5. From Pilots to Policy: The Food Is Medicine Act (38:09–50:44)

• Legislative Success in Oklahoma (Passed May 2025):
  • Medicaid must offer produce prescription programs with priority for sourcing from local/regenerative farmers.
  • Demonstrated ROI: Projected $28.5 million net savings if program reaches even just 5% of Oklahoma’s 118,000 Medicaid diabetes patients.
    • Quote:

      "This is a no brainer. This is a time I think we have alignment at the federal level, at state levels... It saves them a ton of money." – Erin (49:22)

  • Strong bipartisan support, “something everybody agrees with.”
• Many states now have similar pilot programs; federalization is a growing movement.

6. Nutrition, Soil Health & Regenerative Agriculture (40:32–45:45)

• Nutrient Density Evidence: Regeneratively farmed foods are dramatically more nutrient-dense than conventional; soil health is key.
• Education Gap: Most healthcare and policymaking professionals don’t yet understand the importance of soil/farming practices.
  • Quote:

    “Spinach can vary 365 to 1 [in nutrient levels]... you’d have to eat 365 pieces of spinach to get the same nutrients as one.” – Erin (45:43)

7. Access, Affordability & Education (54:32–58:08)

• Dispelling Myths: Eating healthy is not always more expensive, especially with programs that double SNAP benefits at farmers markets.
• Knowledge is Power: Education around smart shopping, meal prep, and home cooking can stretch food budgets and improve health, even in “food deserts.”
• Food as Preventative Medicine: Many diseases are reversible with diet/lifestyle change; people need better access to this information.
  • Quote:

    "You are not stuck with the disease... There's people that die of old age on zero prescription drugs. And you can have that too." – Erin (58:01)

8. How Listeners Can Get Involved (62:18–70:58)

• Eligibility & Expansion: Most prescription produce programs target low-income patients with chronic conditions, but many states and insurance providers are developing broader programs. Self-referral is possible in some areas.
• Find a Program: Use online maps and resources (see below)—every state is developing some aspect, but advocacy is needed to expand.
• Start a Program/Advocate for Policy: Tons of free guides and toolkits available via aaronwmartin.com and the Harvard Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Aging & Purpose:

  "We've destroyed [elders’] purpose in our society... One day that's going to be us. And we want to have purpose. We want to be able to live long, healthy, happy lives." – Erin (10:05)

• On FreshRx Impact:

  "It's not another shot, it's not another pill... And at the same time, we're scaling our local food system on the backs of making health outcomes—and many times reversing type 2 diabetes." – Erin (27:06)

• On Systemic Change:

  "I really want to pick something that's unifying. And so this has really been it. And I'm really grateful other states are looking to see how we implement this." – Erin (49:41)

• On Getting Involved:

  "Everybody's got a role to play... Just having people know, like being on your show today, I think having people just know in different movements... these programs exist, they work, and we're reversing chronic disease with them." – Erin (70:27)

• On Personal Change:

  "The only person you really can change is yourself. And you be an example to that... It's hard, but it's worth doing." – Erin (71:07)

Important Timestamps

• Blue Zones, Social Cohesion, Aging Myths: 04:51–10:54
• Community, Generational Wisdom, Cultural Shift: 10:54–20:47
• Local Food System Advocacy, Barriers: 20:47–25:53
• FreshRx Program Details & Outcomes: 25:54–38:09
• Food is Medicine Legislation & Policy: 38:09–50:44
• Regenerative Agriculture and Nutrition: 40:32–45:45
• Access, SNAP & Education: 54:32–58:08
• How to Get Involved / Take Action: 62:18–70:58
• Final Thoughts & Where to Find Erin: 74:50–75:42

Resources Mentioned

• FreshRx Oklahoma: freshrxok.org
• Harvard Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation: chlpi.org
• Resource Map: Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition / Nutrition Incentive Hub
• Erin W. Martin’s Resource Guide: aaronwmartin.com
• Follow Erin:
  • Instagram: @expertonaging
  • TikTok: @FoodIsMedicine
  • YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook: “Erin W. Martin”

Action Steps for Listeners

• Support local farmers, CSAs, and food hubs—even one dollar makes a difference.
• Look up and join produce prescription programs in your area—many states have them, and self-referral may be possible.
• Get active in food policy by using free guides and toolkits (see above links).
• Begin with personal and family changes—cook at home more, prioritize whole foods, and be an example in your community.
• Advocate for scaling Food Is Medicine programs and policies in your state and nationally.

Final Thought

"We have a big mess to clean up in this country and we need all hands on deck... You can heal so many people by starting with yourself first." – Erin Martin (73:55, 73:43)