Lifestyle medicine is perhaps the oldest form of medicine, and yet only recently did it become an official branch of medicine.  Simply put, lifestyle medicine is about the dynamic relationship between lifestyle habits (e.g., diet, exercise, and relaxation practices) and health problems.  Proponents of lifestyle medicine recognize that modifiable behaviors such as unhealthy eating and physical inactivity are major drivers of disease, death, and rising healthcare costs.

Lifestyle medicine is often used in conjunction with conventional medicine.  For example, diabetic patients who may be on medication to help control their blood sugar levels might also be prescribed a high-fiber, low-sugar diet and exercise regimen to assist in managing their condition.  Lifestyle changes are also recommended for many other common diseases, including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, obesity, osteoporosis and many others.  In the case of cancer, for example, specific dietary and exercise strategies can reinforce the benefits of Photodynamic Therapy, Immuno-PDT, and various other innovative therapies.

Guidance in the areas of exercise, healthy eating, dietary supplementation, and stress management should hold a central place in all good medicine.  These basic health-promoting practices can help you manage illness and reduce the risk of developing more serious health conditions.  Perhaps most importantly, lifestyle medicine helps you feel and function better so you can enjoy more years of good health.

 

Resources

Here are a few organizations that embrace the ongoing evolution of Lifestyle Medicine (click on the links below of details):

These organizations are dedicated to the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related chronic diseases and the promotion of healthy lives.

 

For specific applications in Lifestyle Medicine with respect to non-cancerous diseases, CLICK HERE…