6 KEYS of Lifestyle Medicine
Plant-Based Whole Foods | Exercise + Movement
Manage Stress Intentionally | Q2 Sleep
Social Connection | Stop the S.A.D (smoking, alcohol, drugs)
These 6 keys of lifestyle medicine are the foundation for everything I do in clinical practice because they are what open the door to a healthier, fuller life - without the use of prescription drugs or side effects.
We all deserve to live in a body that feels good and unencumbered by chronic disease. These keys will get you there.
Click the links below to explore helpful strategies and tools to incorporate each essential key into your life. I will also include easy plant-based recipes, tips for raising plant-based kids, contributions from other experts in the field of lifestyle medicine and wellness, and more. Check back regularly or subscribe and we'll keep you in the lifestyle loop!
Plant-Based Whole Foods
A plant-based, whole-food lifestyle is the #1 key to health and longevity. The research is clear that this way of eating - this lifestyle - is the absolute best way to prevent or even reverse chronic disease.
This section is packed full with recipes, resources, grocery lists, articles, kid-friendly meals and school lunch ideas, and more. Dive in and also don't forget to subscribe to receive my weekly Food As Medicine recipe.
Exercise + Movement
The research shows that 150 minutes of exercise every week, can lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer and other chronic diseases by 30%. But daily movement is just as important - walking, gardening, vacuuming, etc. - all of it adds up and helps keep you strong and healthy throughout your lifespan. Click into this section to find fun and simple ways to get your body moving.
Manage Stress Intentionally
Unmanaged stress is an independent risk factor for developing chronic disease and can lead to early death (morbid but true). Let that shit go by dosing yourself daily with stress management rituals that help offload your stress intentionally and purposefully. Click into this section to find, what I call "pocket-sized" stress management tools and other useful tips to lighten your stress load.
Q2 Sleep
Listen to the experts. Sleep Medicine specialists say we need both adequate Quantity (7-8 hours) and good Quality (20 minutes or less of wakefulness during the night) for our bodies to function optimally. Read through this section on sleep to review the latest research and learn the best tips and tricks to getting a better nights sleep.
Social Connection
Did you know that loneliness is a risk factor for a shortened lifespan? A landmark study published in 2015 showed that social isolation can increase the risk of mortality by the same magnitude as smoking, obesity, or diabetes. We need social connection to fully thrive. This section offers a space to connect with my wellness community and sisterhood as we delve into conversations about everything from parenting to finding purpose. Check back often to find new contributions from my favorite people.
Stop the S.A.D. (smoking. alcohol. drugs.)
Substance use can negatively impact our healthspan and longevity -- we all know this. But it also diminishes our experience of the present. We can't be fully present or fully access joy when we are under the influence of harmful substances. Regular substance use impacts our mental health and can create a cage of not only addiction and dependence, but depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. This section offers resources and tools to help you quit - because you deserve to be healthy, joyful and free from these cages that keep you trapped.