Aim to simplify all aspects of your life by going back to basics, as this approach can lead to significant positive changes in your health.
Prioritize eating real food and avoid processed foods, as this simple change can have profound health benefits and does not necessarily need to be expensive.
Incorporate physical activity into your daily life, even if you don’t go to the gym, by finding useful and pleasurable ways to move, such as brisk walking.
Mimic natural light cycles by avoiding overstimulation from artificial light, especially when you should be switching off, to improve your sleep quality.
Make sure to rest when necessary and actively seek opportunities to incorporate essential rest into your daily routine.
Understand that the essence of lifestyle medicine is often about making fundamental behavior changes to improve health and well-being.
If experiencing vague, chronic symptoms like joint pains, migraines, or bloating, understand that these are often signs of underlying issues with identifiable and modifiable causes, rather than just random occurrences.
View vague symptoms like insomnia, joint pains, digestive issues, or headaches as early warnings of bodily dysfunction that, if ignored, can lead to more serious diseases later.
When seeking medical help, look for practitioners who focus on understanding ‘what is going on in that person’s life that is leading to those symptoms’ rather than just labeling and treating symptoms.
If you need ongoing guidance or support to implement and sustain lifestyle changes recommended by a practitioner, consider working with a health coach.
Recognize that the principles of lifestyle medicine, which aim to improve patient health, can also be effectively applied to one’s own life to enhance personal well-being.
For type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, consider a low-carb diet by reducing sugar, sweetened items, and starchy foods, while increasing eggs, salads, green vegetables, bacon, cheese, fish, and meat.