Healing Through Food: The Art & Science of Food as Medicine
Embracing Ancient Wisdom and Modern Insight to Improve Health
Introduction
Oh, food. I could talk about the role that food has played in our lives for ages. Food is so many things: nourishment, culture, enjoyment, sustenance… But is food medicine?
We’ve always had an inherent understanding that the food we put into our bodies impacts our health. The Ancient Greeks thought the food they consumed played an essential part in balancing the four humors bodies were thought to be composed of. It wasn’t until the late 18th century that advanced analytical chemistry helped identify individual chemical components. Today, propelled by significant strides in biology and remarkable technological advancements, we appear to be standing on the brink of a new frontier in nutrition. We’re unraveling the intricate ways in which food can indeed be medicine.
When it comes to compelling investment areas in the food as medicine space, we at Better Ventures think about it in three main categories: personalized nutrition, medically tailored meals and groceries, and functional ingredients. Before diving into these categories, let’s first touch on the landscape that makes this era of food as medicine both challenging and exciting.
The Rise of Chronic Disease
For years, we have heard about the dire health statistics in the US, and despite ongoing efforts, many of them still ring true today. Today about half of the US adult population suffers from at least one preventable chronic illness. Most of these diseases are diet-related, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and even certain cancers. If we look at the percentage of US adults who suffer from some degree of metabolic dysfunction (a relatively new term that underlies the aforementioned diseases) that number shoots up to 93%. Undoubtedly, diet plays an important role in our health. Less than 10% of adults meet the dietary guidelines for daily intake of fruits and vegetables and dietary factors rank as the primary risk for premature mortality, surpassing even that of tobacco.
Many of the chronic health issues we see with such prevalence have risen with the modernization of society. As we’ve shifted from active hunters and gatherers accustomed to intermittent meals to a calorie-rich sedentary lifestyle, our biology hasn’t kept up. We have also seen an increase in food processing, which has stripped vital nutrients and fiber out of foods. Unfortunately, these shifts have outpaced our bodies’ ability to adapt, resulting in chronic health issues.
Healthcare spending mirrors this concern, with an estimated $1.1 trillion allocated to treating diet-related illnesses. Moreover, demographic pressures such as the aging population have spurred the growth of new categories such as the longevity market, emphasizing the increasing need for proactive health management. On top of all of this, the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a reevaluation of health perspectives, leading more consumers to seek methods to enhance the nutritional quality of their food.
Biology Like Never Before
In the last few decades, our knowledge of the basic building blocks of biology has progressed rapidly, leading to a much better understanding of the biological drivers that shape our health. We now have novel tools like precision gene editing and protein engineering that have shaped our ability to engage with biology.
The 1950s marked a pivotal moment in history when Watson and Crick, building on the work of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins, decoded the structure of DNA. This gave way to the ability to sequence DNA fragments in the 1970s, providing insight into the blueprint of how biology operates. Today, propelled by the advent of Next-Generation Sequencing, we are able to assemble complete genomes with ease, giving rise to the field of genomics. Using genomics, we have not only discovered causal genes behind traits but can use this knowledge to make reliable predictions based on someone’s genome.
However, despite the milestone of sequencing the human reference genome in 2003, we remain unable to solve all health issues. This is because genomics is merely one facet of a rich tapestry in biology. There are many other moving parts within (and outside of) us, that paint the picture of our overall health. Delving deeper into these complexities necessitated groundbreaking strides in other types of “-omics.” We have continued to build on top of our knowledge of genomics, adding fields such as epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, phenomics, and last but not least, the microbiome. Each day, we deepen our knowledge of these individual layers and their interconnectedness, while also generating vast amounts of data…
Computation Advancements and the Era of AI
Alongside advances in biology, our computational capabilities have also leaped forward, particularly in advanced neural networks and computing power, giving rise to Artificial Intelligence (AI). As alluded to earlier, AI’s rise has come at a time that is flooded with data. This includes not just -omics datasets, but also personal metrics from fitness trackers, blood biomarkers, and continuous biosensors such as glucose monitors. The abundance of data, combined with AI’s computing abilities, holds promise for extracting valuable insights. AI’s algorithms can navigate and analyze this data, uncovering patterns and correlations that were previously hard to detect. This technology isn’t just about analyzing information; it’s also playing a role in medical diagnostics, drug discovery, and tailoring healthcare solutions to individuals.
Our Approach to Investing in Food as Medicine
The above landscape makes us especially excited about investing in the food as medicine space, specifically personalized nutrition, medically tailored meals and groceries, and functional ingredients. These segments represent compelling opportunities shaped by the evolving demands for tailored health solutions and the convergence of technology and biology.
Personalized Nutrition
With the abundance of biological data and the power of AI, the ability to tailor diet and lifestyle recommendations to individual users is advancing significantly. This trend coincides with the increasing emphasis on personalization. A recent report indicated that 37% of GenZ and 49% of Millennials strongly value the personalization of food choices. Although nutritionists agree on the fundamentals of a healthy diet, which Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, put succinctly, “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants”, consumers seek recommendations uniquely designed for them, focusing on disease prevention and overall well-being.
Many companies are leveraging at least one -omic dataset to derive insights specific to each individual. Others harness a blend of fitness tracker data, continuous biosensors, and biomarkers to craft comprehensive and personalized recommendations. These companies can also draw insights from various other factors, including ethnicity, gender, preferences, dietary restrictions, and lifestyle. This fusion of diverse data sources enables a more holistic understanding of an individual’s health profile, driving more precise and tailored guidance.
Some great examples of companies focused on personalized nutrition include:
- January.AI — utilizes continuous glucose monitoring and activity tracking to discover health habits to optimize diet, activity, and sleep. January recently raised a $13 million round led by Nomura Securities.
- Viome — uses transcriptomics to identify microbe imbalances, creating a customized health score for each user and personalized supplements. Viome recently announced a $86.5 million Series C round in August 2023.
- Zoe — analyzes the microbiome, blood fat content, and continuous glucose monitor data to create holistic nutrition advice. Zoe most recently received a $2.5 million investment from Flight Fund, which added to a $38 million Series B extension round.
Medically Tailored Meals and Groceries
An integral pillar of the food as medicine movement gaining momentum across public and private sectors is the adoption of medically tailored meals and groceries. That is, meals and groceries that are curated by Registered Dietitians to treat specific diet-related chronic diseases. While the concept has existed for decades, a significant boost came from the 2022 White House Conference on Nutrition, allocating a substantial $8 billion to this field. Numerous reports have underscored the significant positive impacts of medically tailored meals and groceries. Beyond yielding tangible health improvements for patients, it has proven effective in averting costly hospital interventions — a point not lost on insurers. Many companies are relying on user health data, individual preferences, and AI to craft medically tailored meal programs that are unique to each user.
We’re particularly enthusiastic about one of our portfolio companies in this category, RxDiet. Their platform utilizes patient surveys to craft personalized programs tailored to individual health concerns, body composition, and dietary preferences. This comprehensive program encompasses a diverse blend of recipes, guidance, and nutritional counseling to treat diet-related chronic conditions.
Other companies we’ve come across in this space include:
- DayTwo — leverages microbiome data to create personalized treatments for those with type 2 diabetes. DayTwo’s last financing round was a $37 million Series C led by Cathay Innovation and aMoon.
- Season Health — an online platform that provides personalized nutrition counseling and affordable, healthy food for people with various chronic conditions. Season Health recently raised $34 million in Series A funding led by Andreesen Horowitz.
- Faeth Therapeutics — creates customized meal plans based on users’ metabolic data to optimize cancer care. Faeth’s last financing round was a $47 million Series A led by S2G ventures.
Functional Ingredients
Amidst the rising trend of personalized dietary preferences and using food to treat chronic illness, there’s a surging demand for not only minimally processed foods, but also better-for-you ingredients. Recognizing this shift, major Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies such as Unilever are spearheading a movement toward comprehensive industry reformulation. The focus is on cutting down on sugar, salt, and calorie content to meet evolving consumer expectations. This wave of change has gained momentum with the recent enthusiasm around Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists, prompting companies to observe how increased usage might influence food sales and creating a pivotal moment for the industry. Though the outlook on impacted food sales is still uncertain, Ozempic may serve as a catalyst propelling CPG companies towards substantial reformulation efforts.
In this landscape, functional ingredients play a vital role. They offer health-focused benefits beyond basic nutrition, aligning with the quest for healthier choices. Companies, recognizing the importance of health-centric ingredients, are exploring innovative solutions. Relying on our knowledge of biology, primarily protein engineering, gene editing, and precision fermentation, we can design new ingredients that create healthier products. For instance, one of our portfolio companies Inulox addresses this challenge by employing an enzyme that converts sucrose into inulin — a gut-health-promoting prebiotic fiber — after being consumed, retaining the taste and functional qualities of sugar while minimizing its absorption by the body.
While promoting the health benefits of consuming more fruits and vegetables is crucial, the reality is that ultra-processed foods remain a staple for many of us. Therefore, continuous innovation in ingredient technology is pivotal in recreating the essence of these foods while minimizing negative health impacts.
Other companies that are actively innovating in this space include:
- One.Bio — creates a novel prebiotic fiber supplement that is invisible, tasteless, and odorless. One.Bio recently raised their $12 million Series A funding round led by Acre Venture Partners.
- Oobli — harnesses natural sweet proteins found in nature to offer a better-for-you sweetener. Oobli raised $25 million in Series B funding led by Piva Capital.
- Brightseed Bioactives — leverages artificial intelligence to discover compounds in nature that can serve as functional ingredients and be incorporated into various products. Brightseed raised a $68 million Series B round led by Temasek.
What’s Next
There is exciting potential in the food as medicine movement. Not only are we seeing real shifts in how we think about using food to treat chronic illness, but we have also reinvigorated the conversation around using food for prevention and wellness. We are looking at how we can not only expand our lifespan with our food, but also our healthspan. By taking multiple layers of data and using novel tools, we can craft health-conscious foods and offer tailored solutions like never before.
Looking ahead, a key focus lies in augmenting both the quantity and quality of data so we can continue to make better predictions. Initiatives such as the National Institute of Health’s All of Us program are at the forefront, aiming to diversify and enhance the pool of biological data. Additionally, UC Berkeley recently unveiled the Agile Metabolic Health program, aimed at establishing an open-source data platform. This initiative is designed to provide researchers and innovators with unrestricted access to previously inaccessible wearable biosensor data and algorithms. These advancements, once realized, will pave the way for even more precise personalized nutrition recommendations, tailored meals for medical purposes, and might even unearth avenues for innovative ingredients in the future.
This evolving frontier of food and nutrition stands at the crossroads of ancient wisdom, cutting-edge biology, and transformative technology. Building on the age-old understanding of food’s impact on well-being, the future of food as medicine is bright as we continue to build on that knowledge with our ever-evolving understanding of human biology.
