Fresh, healthy food.
25 million + pounds of produce distributed annually.Mid-Ohio Farmacy is a partnership between the Mid-Ohio foodbank and local healthcare providers that links patients to the healthy foods needed to manage and improve health. We do this by providing weekly access to fresh produce at participating locations. By enrolling in Farmacy through your healthcare provider, patients have access to weekly produce for their households
- Health Insurance
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Cancer Prevention
- Other Healthy Choices
- Healthy Recipes
Health Insurance 101
Types of Insurance Plans
There are several types of insurance plans available. Please click below to learn about different kinds of insurance plans.
To find out if you are eligible for Medicaid, click here
If you need help enrolling in Medicaid, please contact a SNAP Outreach Team Member at Mid-Ohio Food Collective and they can help you apply here
Finding a Doctor
If you have private health insurance and need help finding a doctor, please call the phone number on the back of your insurance card and they will help connect you to a doctor.
What is Diabetes
It is important to understand the basics of diabetes whether you were just diagnosed or have had diabetes for many years. Please click below to learn more about diabetes
Understanding blood sugar, also called BLOOD GLUCOSE
Checking blood glucose
When you have diabetes, it is very important to know your blood glucose levels. You can do this using a glucose meter. Please click below to learn how to check your blood glucose.
Taking diabetes medicines
Healthy Eating
Following a healthy diet is one of the most important things to have good blood glucose levels. The PLATE METHOD is one way to help you eat the right foods and the right amount of foods. Please click below for an example plate, and use these steps:
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01Fill half of your plate with NON-STARCHY VEGETABLES. These vegetables are low in carbohydrates and have lots of vitamins and minerals.
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02Fill one quarter of your plate with CARBOHYDRATE foods. Carbohydrates are an important part of your diet, but it is important to eat the right amount and kind of carbohydrate.
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03Fill one quarter of your plate with PROTEIN foods. Protein helps make new cells. It is important to choose protein foods that do not have a lot of fat.
Snacks
Grocery Shopping
Diabetes Education – Type 2 Diabetes
Myths About Diabetes
Heart Disease 101
Heart disease is the number one cause of death for Americans. BUT – You CAN make changes for a healthier heart!
Mid-Ohio Farmacy focuses on healthy eating. There are three main things you can change about the food you eat for a healthier heart:
Emergency Medical Care
Get emergency medical care (call 911) if you have any of these heart disease symptoms:
Kinds of Heart Disease
Cardiovascular disease – Heart disease in your blood vessels. Includes:
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01Coronary artery disease – disease in the blood vessels of your heart
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02Peripheral vascular disease – disease in the blood vessels of your legs, stomach, arms and head
Heart arrhythmia – Heart disease caused by abnormal heartbeatsCongenital heart defect – Heart disease caused by heart defects you are born withCardiomyopathy – Heart disease caused by weak heart muscleEndocarditis – Heart disease caused by heart infectionsValvular heart disease – Heart disease caused by damaged heart valves
Another key word to know:
Atherosclerosis – When plaque (fatty deposits) clogs your arteries
All-Around Healthier Eating
A healthier heart starts with choosing healthy foods. Mid-Ohio Farmacy provides weekly access to fresh fruits and vegetables, part of a heart healthy diet. There are many other healthy foods available at food pantries. Check out the shopping list below to begin building a healthier diet!
Blood Pressure
Controlling blood pressure is important for a healthy heart. Click below to learn more about blood pressure.
Knowing your blood pressure measurement is key to control. Please click below to learn how to measure your blood pressure.
Sodium
Sodium and salt – what’s the difference? Some people use these words like they are the same thing. But – sodium and salt are actually a little different. Sodium is a mineral in salt. A lot of the sodium in our foods comes from salt (sodium chloride). Sodium is also found in other ingredients, and too much of it can be unhealthy.
What does eating too much sodium do?
Eating too much sodium can make you more likely to have high blood pressure. Too much sodium can also impact your health in other ways. Please click below to learn more about the effects of eating too much sodium.
Eating less sodium – The ‘Salty Six’
There are six foods that add a lot of sodium to your diet. To start eating less sodium, start by focusing on these six foods. Click here to learn more about ‘The Salty Six’
Here is a three week action plan to eat less sodium, focusing on ‘The Salty Six’
Cholesterol
You may have heard the word cholesterol from your doctor, or maybe from a family member, or on social media. Controlling cholesterol is key to having a healthy heart. But what is cholesterol? Click below to find out more.
Healthy fats
Fat is an important part of our diet. There are three different kinds of fat – saturated fat, unsaturated fat and trans fat. Please click below to learn more about how the different kinds of fat affect cholesterol.
Diabetes and Heart Disease go hand in hand
A = A 1 C
B = Blood Pressure
C = Cholesterol
Please click below to learn more about diabetes, heart disease and your ABC’s.
Cancer Prevention 101
Below are 10 things you CAN do to help prevent cancer! (From American Institute for Cancer Research)
Click here for a printable list of these recommendations.
Quit Smoking
Call the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line: Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for help
Visit here to enroll in the national quit smoking texting program
Get Active
Physical activity, or exercise, helps lower blood glucose, is great for your heart and your overall health! Talk with your doctor before starting any physical activity program. Click here for some physical activity ideas you can do at home:
Reduce Stress
Stress can have a big impact on health.
When we are under stress, our bodies make hormones that can cause blood glucose to go up. This can make it harder to control blood glucose.
Stress can also make blood pressure go up for periods of short time. Lots of spikes in blood pressure over time can damage your blood vessels, heart and kidneys.
It is important to learn how to deal with stress. Please click below for some ideas on how to reduce stress:
Take Care of your Mental Health
It is OK to take care of your mental health. Your brain is an organ just like your heart or your kidneys. Take time to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your mental health.
If you do not have a doctor and need help with mental health, please call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). They will help you find a confidential referral to mental health/substance abuse treatment service in your area.
Healthy Recipes 101
Making changes to what you eat can take some time. Be patient with yourself. Below are some tips and easy, healthy recipes you can prepare from many of the foods available through Mid-Ohio Farmacy:
For more easy recipes, please click here
How Do I Join?
There are a number of participating health providers who can make a referral for the Mid-Ohio Farmacy program. If your provider is a participant (check here), ask if you qualify for Mid-Ohio Farmacy at your next office visit, and start using your Mid-Ohio Farmacy benefits to get fresh food right away.