What is Lifestyle Medicine?
Lifestyle is medicine.
Lifestyle medicine emphasizes the importance of everyday behaviors to maintain optimal health. This evidence-based approach to patient care recognizes that many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity, are largely preventable and can be managed or even reversed through changes in several key areas including:
Regular Movement
Regular physical activity is the key to overall health and disease prevention. It includes strategies for increasing daily physical activity, such as walking, biking, or gardening, as well as structured exercise programs.
Whole Food Nutrition
A healthy diet rich in whole, minimally processed foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats contribute to optimal health. The goal is to promote optimal nutrient intake while reducing the consumption of added sugars, unhealthy fats, and processed foods.
Staying Socially Connected
Social connections and relationships are important for achieving overall health and well-being. It includes strategies for building and maintaining social support networks, such as participating in social activities, volunteering, and joining community groups.
Connecting with Nature
Complete health and vitality depends on connection with nature. The essence of olakino recognizes the need to immerse ourselves in the teachings of the earth we move on, the water we immerse in, the air we breathe and the miraculous resources gifted to us.
Managing Stress
Managing stress for optimal health and well-being includes activities for reducing stress, such as mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques.
Complete Sleep
The focus on getting adequate sleep includes developing strategies for improving sleep hygiene, such as establishing a regular sleep routine, avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bedtime and creating a sleep-friendly environment.
Avoiding Risky Substances
This stream focuses on the importance of avoiding or limiting exposure to harmful substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. It includes creating strategies for quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and avoiding or managing drug use.
Lifestyle Medicine empowers individuals to take an active role in their own health and well-being by adopting healthy habits.
Practitioners who specialize in this treatment approach work with patients to develop personalized lifestyle plans that address their specific health needs and goals. They use a holistic approach that considers not only physical health but also mental and emotional well-being, social, and environmental factors.