“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams, in real time.”
— Oprah Winfrey —
LIFESTYLE MEDICINE IS THE FUTURE
The future of modern medicine is lifestyle-based medicine; integrating ancient wisdom into our modern world and shared human experience. The True Health Initiative has a vision where,
“all people live long and healthy lives, free of preventable chronic disease.”24
This too is my vision. There is growing understanding that we need to build healthy environments to enable every global citizen to live in a state of good health, free of chronic preventable disease. A world that gives everyone access to modern healthcare facilities for intervention as needed, using evidence based truths, on a foundation of our body’s innate natural healing mechanisms.
We can refer to an official definition of lifestyle medicine as,
“the application of environmental, behavioral, medical and motivating principles towards the management of lifestyle related health challenges in a clinical setting.”25
However, when we consider lifestyle medicine beyond the clinical healthcare setting it becomes so much more.
It becomes an empowered way of living and being, connected as communities living in tune with the natural world that nourishes and supports us all. It also creates space for the personalization of one’s path by asking, “what would your ideal lifestyle be,” without the need for comparison or judgment.
THE FUTURE IS INTEGRATED, HOLISTIC & LIFESTYLE BASED MEDICINE
The modern “rediscovery” of lifestyle-based medicine and holistic practitioners is integral right now. Not just in the management of the current burden of chronic and preventable disease but in turning the tide toward prevention, and ultimately one day the absence of this burden that is plaguing our modern human experience.
Our modern approach to chronic and preventable disease is predominantly interventional in the form of “pharmaco-medical” treatments. We can all agree that while necessary in some cases, they should not be considered as the complete solution to the problem.
PROFITS OVER PEOPLE
As it stands, “the global market for pharmaceuticals reached $1.2 trillion in 2018, up $100 billion from 2017, according to the Global Use of Medicines report from the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science.”26 If money is energy, then we are channeling more and more vital energy into managing this burden of disease yet the number of people living a restricted life with a chronic preventable disease has increased to 1 in 2! This tells me if money into pharmaceuticals was the solution, then we would not be facing an increasing burden!
A new approach is needed right now. A human centric approach founded in nature and supported by communities that enable daily self-care within the context of any geographical setting.
The challenge with changing this modern day approach is that it is so profitable. IQVIA Institute suggests that, “Going forward, the global market will grow by 4–5% CAGR, reaching $1.5 trillion.”27
Imagine if instead, we invested this money in co-creating environments that enabled self-care on a daily basis, supported by nourishing communities that learn to empower self–regulation and self-government: real global blue zone communities, thriving together.
6 SIMPLE LIFESTYLE MEDICINE RITUALS
To overcome this confusion and educate the public about lifestyle medicine, Dr Katz assembled a global coalition called the “True Health Initiative.” It consists of over 300 leading experts and influential leaders from the paradigms of the 12 Medicines; Nature, Environment, Connection, Food, Modern medicine, Lifestyle, and many more.
These health experts collated their knowledge about lifestyle as medicine and agreed on 6 core principles of healthy living that could add years to lives, and life to years:
Minimizing Self-harm
(1) Consuming minimally processed, low human interference mostly plant- based foods;
(2) Avoiding toxins such as tobacco and excess alcohol;
Move more and rest well
(3) Adopting a physically active lifestyle;
(4) Getting plenty of sleep;
Find harmony in your work and lifestyle
(5) Reducing psychological stress;
And finally;
(6) Cultivating supportive relationships and social bonds.
SUMMARY
In other words connection, connection, connection! A message I reference, over and over again. Focus on just one of these actions to get started and your results will give you the energy to embrace them all!
CALL TO ACTION
Build by 1%.
Out of the 6 lifestyle medicine recommendations above. Choose ONE to focus on this week.
COMMENT (which one do you choose?)_______________________
REFERENCES
This is directly referenced from the amazon best-selling SelfCare Book "Lifestyle Medicine For the People" by Rory Callaghan. If you would like to read more content like this. Grab the free online chapters of the book or a hard copy.
We have done our best to reference everyone’s expert opinions, peer-reviewed science, and original thoughts, all references available here and referenced in the text.
We also understand that most thoughts are not our own and there is a collective unconsciousness, unconsciousness, and universal mind stream of energy that is always at work. How are references are sorted and filtered is here.
