Lifestyle medicine is an evidence-based medical specialty that uses therapeutic lifestyle approaches. It uses science-based therapeutic lifestyle changes for the treatment, prevention, and reversal of chronic diseases. The major reason for chronic diseases is an unhealthy lifestyle which is why lifestyle medicine can be the best and most effective treatment. It gives patients control over their health and motivates them to seek a healthier quality of life. Here are six pillars to lifestyle medicine for a healthy lifestyle.
Six Pillars Of Lifestyle Medicine
Lifestyle medicine physicians prescribe Lifestyle Medicine and educate and empower you with tools to change your behaviors and take control of your health. People with chronic diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol, Crohn’s disease, obesity, and IBS can benefit from lifestyle medicine. The six pillars are:
Nutrition
In today’s world, more than two-thirds of adults are obese, and less than one-third of the population intake adequate servings of fruits and vegetables. Nutrition is one of the main pillars of lifestyle medicine that emphasizes the need and value of improving eating habits. It adds more whole foods, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains, beans, into daily meals. Consuming food less than twice a week and swapping a soda for water will help you to reduce processed foods and added sugar.
Staying hydrated, slowly consuming food, and eating a balanced breakfast every morning are other ways to improve your nutrition. If you have proper nutrition, then you no need to worry about health complications like high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Movement
The most important piece of lifestyle medicine is a movement that focuses on the importance of getting and staying active by sitting less and moving more. Physical activity has many benefits like strengthening your bones and muscles, controlling weight, and improving your mental health. Regular movement will reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Adults require at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week in addition to two or more muscle strengthening exercises session per week.
Emotional Wellbeing/Stress
The most common problem that the current generation faces is stress which affects everyone in different ways. Sympathetic, typically fight or flight, or parasympathetic, typically rest and recovery are two different responses of your body when you are stressed. Your heart rate and anxiety increase during sympathetic stress, and your rate decreases during parasympathetic, and also your body focuses on energy storage. If you don’t manage your stress, it can lead to depression, anxiety, and even chronic disease. Lifestyle medicine works for teaching people how to focus on positivity, meaningful relationships, and happiness.
Sleep
Sleep is essential for everyone but is affected by many factors like environmental changes, stress, medications, or even alcohol and food. You have to keep a diary of your sleep habits for ten days and discuss them with your healthcare provider. Lifestyle medicine will help you to have proper sleep.
Substance Free
Lifestyle medicine encourages every individual to live a life free of illegal drugs, free of tobacco products, excess alcohol, and prescription drug abuse or misuse. The uses of substance have a negative impact on your health in various ways so by preferring lifestyle medicine you can leave all your bad habits.
Hydration
There are various signs of dehydration like fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth and headaches, and more. You can avoid dehydration by following a lifestyle medicine. To avoid dehydration, lifestyle medicine prescriptions recommend making water your preferred beverage.
Wrapping it up
These are six pillars of lifestyle medicine that will help you in leading a healthy and quality lifestyle. When you approach a lifestyle medicine physician, they will leave you with a personalized plan to reach your health goals.
