What is Preventive Medicine?

Feeling lethargic and fatigued?

Not able to keep up with your daily chores and professional commitments?

Would you like your youthfulness back again?

Are you ready to get in shape and feel great again?

If you answered Yes to any of the above, our Preventive Medicine and Nutrition and Lifestyle Counseling may be just right for you.

What is Preventive Medicine?

We have all heard about the idiom “Prevention is better than cure”. Preventive medicine, sometimes referred to as Lifestyle Medicine, is a specialty branch of medicine that focuses on the overall health and well-being of each patient. Preventive medicine encompasses all aspects of the patient’s life and seeks to protect health, combat disease, and promote well-being using a variety of clinical and nonclinical techniques. Our healthcare practitioners work hand in hand with you and offer-personalized suggestions on lifestyle modifications, including diet, exercise, and smoking cessation.

Practitioners utilize a variety of screenings and tests to diagnose illnesses and help prevent disease. By screening for health conditions on a regular basis, the practitioners can quickly discern any changes in the body’s chemistry. Depending on your health and family history, additional tests may be recommended to screen for risk of developing diabetes or to watch for symptoms of cardiovascular problems. Other blood tests check liver functions, kidney function and hormonal imbalances.

Role of Food in Prevention

Food plays an extremely important role in preventing most diseases that are caused by environmental factors, poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle choices. While it is true that certain types of diseases cannot always be prevented, as there is an underlying genetic component that is passed from generation to generation, you can significantly lower your risk for developing some diseases by simply adopting a healthy and balanced diet, free of trans fats, sugars and such. A research conducted by the American Institute for Cancer Research stated that approximately one third of cancers can be prevented through regular physical activity combined with a healthy diet and by maintaining a healthy weight over the years.

Healthy Diet

When it comes to food and its role in preventive medicine, many people refer to healthy diets as “food therapy”. Foods rich in essential minerals, vitamins and other nutrients can prevent most nutritional disorders and their related health problems. Diet is extremely important in disease prevention, especially for those who are predisposed to lung, prostate, breast, gastric as well as colorectal cancer, which are known to be highly influenced by what we eat and, most importantly, by what we don’t!

Numerous studies have revealed that those who have a healthy diet rich in dietary fiber and eat plenty of fruits, fish rich in amino acids, and cruciferous vegetables are less likely to develop cancer. However, healthy diets should go hand in hand with healthy lifestyle choices. Those who truly want to be on the safe side should avoid or at least reduce their intake of red and processed meat, and should also avoid smoking, doing drugs, or drinking alcohol.

Super Foods

Some foods are simply better than others when talking about preventive care. For example, foods rich in antioxidants such as green tea, garlic or berries are known to lower the cancer incidence, as they directly attack free radicals, which are amongst the leading causes of cancer. Carotenoids, such as papaya, tomatoes or spinach, along with fruits rich in Vitamin A, B, C, D, and E are also linked to a lower risk of lung cancer, while the lycopenes that are naturally found in tomatoes are known to reduce the risk for prostate cancer.

Benefits of Exercise

To stay healthy and fit, it is recommended to increased exercise or other physical activity. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. Regular exercise can help improve respiratory and cardiovascular functions. Exercise also helps the body release endorphins, which are feel good hormones. By including exercise in your day-to-day lives, you can improve your mood, lose weight and help prevent a plethora of health conditions.

Preventive Medicine Using a Holistic Approach

Preventing the onset of diseases is definitely better than trying to treat it, and nutritionists and doctors recommend a holistic approach. Besides the foods mentioned above, it is also important for people to understand the importance of phytonutrients and other biologically active ingredients, such as polyphenols that are known to not just prevent cancer, but also to slow down the reproduction of cancer cells once the disease sets in.

The bottom line is that the body has an amazing capacity to cure and repair itself. Look after your gut and you’ll reap the benefits. A few lifestyle recommendations include-

• Adopting a whole-grain, whole-food approach
• Eat a balanced diet incorporating more fruits and vegetables
• Reduce simple carbohydrates
• Avoid or limiting the amount of red or processed meat
• Exercise regularly
• Get 7-9 hours of sleep
• Take some vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements depending on any deficiencies

The above recommendations can help in reducing the risk of developing diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease or any other potentially deadly conditions.

Get Started With Healthy Lifestyle

One of the primary goals of our preventive medicine program is to help patients and practitioners develop a healthy partnership. In order for this partnership to grow, the patient must be honest and open about their health and lifestyle.

We are dedicated to helping you realize improved health through lifestyle modifications. Our dedicated team of professionals looks forward to treating you with compassion and caring while you heal.