08/04/2026
A new clinical trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that medically tailored meals based on traditional Diné (Navajo) foods helped reduce hospitalizations and emergency department visits among people living with heart failure in the rural Navajo Nation.
The MUTTON-HF randomized clinical trial followed 206 adults who received two culturally appropriate meals each day for eight weeks. The meals included traditional foods such as mutton, beans, and squash and were developed through partnerships with local experts to reflect Diné food traditions.
Researchers found that participants receiving the meals experienced fewer combined hospital and emergency department visits, fewer hospitalizations related to heart failure, improvements in blood pressure, weight, and food security, and a better overall quality of life compared with those receiving standard care.
The study is the first randomized clinical trial to evaluate an Indigenous food-as-medicine approach for heart failure and highlights how culturally informed healthcare can support better health outcomes while respecting community traditions.
How can traditional Indigenous foods continue to play a role in improving community health today? 🌽❤️
Sources:
• JAMA Internal Medicine — MUTTON-HF Randomized Clinical Trial.
• American Heart Association — Health Care by Food Initiative.
• Rockefeller Foundation — Program support announcement.
• Study authors and participating research institutions.
