Peter Skillern

Participants received a monthly stipend loaded onto a debit card that could be used to purchase only fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy items.

After about six months, doctors found participants' blood pressure dropped by 5.4 millimeters of mercury, a small but significant decline that could reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes over time.

Peter Skillern of Reinvestment Partners, the North Carolina nonprofit behind the program, says cost is participants' biggest barrier to eating well.

It's one of several new food as medicine studies pointing to benefits.

Allison Aubrey, NPR News.