This idea is particularly relevant for individuals with a condition or disease known to be related in their individual case to a particular nutrient or food as in food allergies, indigestion, constipation and atherosclerosis. If a person has a known allergy to a particular food substance such as milk, shellfish, wheat, or nuts, they can avoid having their particular type of reaction, by choosing not to consume foods containing those allergens. A somewhat different example of the same concept is that many individuals who have had coronary bypass surgery or other surgical techniques to re-open clogged arteries are educated about dietary changes that can reduce the build up of artery clogging plaques. Americans sometimes forget the power of the food we put on our plates. I've often thought that the practice of taking a drug on a regular basis, such as one to reduce the chances of indigestion, before you eat something that you know will make you have symptoms of sickness is rather silly.
Constipation is another great example.
In most people, constipation is a direct result of our eating and activity patterns. High fat, high protein, low fiber diets, inadequate fluid intake and sedentary lifestyles are the predominant causes of chronic and acute problems with constipation and other related disorders such as hemorrhoids and diverticulosis. Health is the dynamic, ever-changing process of trying to achieve your individual potential in the physical, social, emotional, mental, spiritual and environmental dimensions. Wellness is the achievement of the highest level of health possible in each of the dimensions. Food is an important feature in all six dimensions of wellness.