health & wellness
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Green
And
healthy
Henry Ford
West Bloomfield
greenhouse
adds to healthy
mission.
Dr. Michael Seidman and resident farmer
Michelle Lutz
"The beautiful decor contributes to a homey and
cheerful atmosphere. The staff is very friendly,
attentive and eager to meet your needs."
Diane Levin, daughter of Hannah above
■
REGEN
STREET
cZ4Z,OF WEST BLOOMFIELD(%)
ASSISTED LIVIN
An American House Senior Living Community
4460 Orchard Lake Rd I West Bloomfield, MI 48323
regentstreetwestbloomfield.com
Call today to schedule a FREE lunch
and tour: (248) 683-1010
Ask about our dedicated Memory Care Unit
62
December 6 • 2012
JN
n keeping with its wellness mis-
sion, Henry Ford West Bloomfield
Hospital has hired a resident farm-
er to grow organic produce for patients
in its new greenhouse.
The $1 million complex, including an
education center, was built entirely with
philanthropic funds.
"The ancient Greek physician
Hippocrates said, 'You are what you eat
... let thy food be thy medicine and thy
medicine be thy food"; says Michael
Seidman, M.D., medical director of
wellness at Henry Ford West Bloomfield
Hospital. "These are important guide-
lines. Typical medical care today is not
about health and wellness; it provides
care for the sick. We need to take a path
toward wellness by making healthy
choices. Henry Ford West Bloomfield's
greenhouse provides premium nutri-
ents for our patients, staff and visitors.
It's what we all need:'
Seidman has studied herbs since
1981, and has been funded by multiple
grants from the National Institutes of
Health to research the benefits of herbs
and supplements. He lectures interna-
tionally on health and wellness.
Resident farmer Michelle Lutz is the
former co-owner of Maple Creek Farm
in Yale, Mich., a certified organic veg-
etable farm. She grows a wide variety of
produce in the greenhouse, including
tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, eggplant,
beans, strawberries and herbs. From
harvest to plate is less than 24 hours.
The greenhouse uses hydropon-
ics — growing plants in water, instead
of soil — to maximize diversity and
maintain space for visitors. Compared
to soil-based farming, this method
grows plants faster with only 10 percent
of the water and gives more control
over plant health. Plants receive daily
organic nutrients, and risks from pests
and diseases are reduced. Beneficial
insects are released when necessary to
control harmful insects. And, with no
soil, there are no weeds.
While providing healthy meals, the
produce grown in the greenhouse is
projected to reduce food costs at the
hospital by more than $20,000 per year.
Produce is also used in the hospital's
90-seat Demonstration Kitchen, where
healthy cooking classes are offered
to the community, and at Henry's
Cafe. And it's sold at Henry Ford West
Bloomfield's seasonal weekly farmers'
market, which is open to the public.
Henry Ford West Bloomfield has
been a pioneer in healthy, nutritious
hospital food, including offering
patients kosher meals in their rooms on
request, says Seidman.
Plans include a steady stream of
school field trips, so that children
can learn better nutrition, which can
prevent childhood obesity and many
chronic diseases.
Gardening therapy will allow patients
to take a role in their recovery while
learning how they may prevent or man-
age chronic diseases through healthy
growing and eating practices. The space
is available for physical, occupational
and behavioral therapy, as well as a
place of respite for staff and people vis-
iting loved ones in the hospital.
"In addition to eating right and main-
taining a healthy weight, I recommend
30 to 60 minutes of cardiovascular exer-
cise four to six days a week, seven to
nine hours of sleep a night, abstaining
from tobacco use and stress reduction:'
says Seidman. "These lifestyle choices
help reduce the burden of disease and
promote wellness:'
Tours of the greenhouse are available
seven days a week, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.,
with in-depth tours and workshops by
appointment.
Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital
is located on Maple Road, across from
the Jewish Community Center.
❑
For more information, visit www.
henryfordwestbloomfield.com/greenhouse.