Lifestyle Medicine

We’d like to shine the spotlight on the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM). The ACLM has developed the “Six Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine.” They are good for all of us providers to review and incorporate into helping our patients achieve their best health. They are: 

1. Optimal nutrition: whole foods, minimally processed, plant-predominant diets. 
2. Physical activity: aiming for at least 30 minutes of activity per day, but better yet incorporating physical activity into one’s life throughout the day. 
3. Stress management: mindfulness and stress management throughout the day. 
4. Restorative sleep: high-quality sleep each night getting at least 7-9 hours. 
5. Connectedness: regular time in relationships and community. 
6. Risky substance avoidance: avoidance of unhealthy habits such as smoking and too much alcohol. 

We believe in all of the above. And we have found that there are certain factors that are essential when aiming to achieve the six pillars above. They include: 

1. Regular routine — for most, we advocate regular early morning routines and regular sleep schedules. 
2. Choice of work/job — this is very important and tricky — many times certain jobs and positions can inhibit one’s abilities to be connected in community, and can create too much stress. Also long commutes to sedentary jobs can eat into time that should be used for physical activity. 
3. Membership in regular community such as church groups — the elements of modern American life such as automobiles and the internet have made it such that regular face-to-face community is something that must generally be sought and worked at to maintain. 
4. Limiting time online — screens, the 24 hour news cycle, and media consumption can limit mental “peace and quiet” and mindfulness is a practice to regain some calm over modern anxieties. 
5. Time outside — fresh air and sunlight, and time away from the noise of cars and machines is calming to the mind. 
6. Regular weekly rest and reflection — to stay centered as the weeks turn to months which turn to years.