Lifestyle Medicine and Nutritional Psychology are two relatively new fields, have you heard of these before? Today I want to educate you a little bit on Lifestyle Medicine.

I attended an excellent webinar hosted by the National Wellness Institute (NWI) from Dr. Michelle Thompson.  She is a pioneer and leading expert in the field of Lifestyle Medicine.  She is also the Medical Director of the UPMC Lifestyle Medicine Institute 2022, a Certified in Mind-Body Medicine 2021, and spearheaded Doctors in the Kitchen in 2017.

She had so much wisdom to share…but to keep it simple so you aren’t overwhelmed, let’s focus on the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s (ACLM) graphic above. 

There are 6 pillars of health that are seen as ways we can all control our health per the ACLM. She as well as a growing number of physicians, professionals in health and wellness, including myself believe that we ALL deserve the knowledge to make changes in our diets to live a healthier life.  These 6 pillars are the key to living your healthiest life.  For example, if you are not sleeping well, it’s hard to choose the right foods.  You may choose sugary treats because they give you temporary energy, but in reality they suck you into a cycle of calorie laden choices which make you feel sick.  Your mental health also suffers, because you shame yourself for making poor choices.  Each area is related and should be looked at as a pillar of good health.

There are six core pillars to Lifestyle Medicine:

·         Good nutrition – eat plants

Learn how to nourish yourself from the inside out and work towards a predominantly plant-based diet, which is rich in fiber and nutrient-dense.

·         Quality Sleep – sleep well

Not only is it essential for the immune system, but studies have shown that good quality sleep is beneficial to health, vitality, and improved energy.

·         Physical Exercise – Keep moving

Everyone is different so find your own way to maintain regular and consistent exercise as part of your daily routine.

·         Stress Management – stay calm

Stress can be at the root of many emotional and physical conditions so learn to find calm and balance in your everyday life, which reduces stress as much as possible.

·         Positive relationships – love people

Encourage positive relationships with those around you but first and foremost with yourself. Staying connected to those around you will bring emotional support and strength.

·         Substance Avoidance – be present

By eliminating harmful substances such as cigarettes and drugs and being sensible about alcohol intake, you are giving your body the best chance for a healthier lifestyle.

-          The above verbiage is taken from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s (ACLM) site.

I am not here to tell you what to do.  If you feel you need a change and you have breath in your lungs, you can make a change.  You have the ability to make a change.  You do have control over some things in your life and the choices you make.  You can start with food, it can be your medicine or your slow poison.

So, how can we create and activate sustainable lifestyle changes?

The first thing to look at is the state of your plate.  We have 3-5 chances a day to make a change and a healthier choice. Again, I am not here to tell you what to do.  Nutrition is individual.  I love how Dr. Michelle Thompson uses the analogy of eyeglasses and nutrition.  If someone is having a hard time seeing the road, you would not give them your glasses and expect them to be able to see as you do and navigate down the path with your prescription and your lenses.  We all have the ability to listen to our bodies and have control over what foods we eat, what feels right to us and fuels us. 

If we mindfully think about the food we eat, and take inventory after eating, we can make changes based on how we feel.  Do I feel bloated?  Overfull?  Sick?  Is my skin irritated?  Do I get a headache?  Does this give me lasting energy?  Do I feel satisfied?  Does this give my brain vibrancy?  Do I feel good?  Was I even hungry? 

When we slow down and assess what we feel based on the foods we eat, we can discern what foods make us feel healthy, give us energy and fuel our bodies as well as pinpoint foods that make us feel constipated, ill or unwell. 

Consider this…”Food can be the slowest poison to take or the healthiest pill to use.” – Dr. Michelle Thompson in her NWI webinar February 16th, 2023.

Things to consider when debating making changes with your nutrition. 

1.      What is your family of origin history with food, diet, and nutrition?

2.      What is your personal history with diet and nutrition?

3.      What is your relationship with food?

4.      How does the phrase - ”Food can be the slowest poison to take or the healthiest pill to use” make you feel?

If you’re interested in taking a deeper dive into your health, and exploring the 6 pillars of health, I’d love to hear from you!  Send me an email at: Janelleb. Baldwin@SoulisticWell-Being.com.  Let me know if you’d like to talk or do a 10-15 minute Teams chat.