Welcome to the December edition of Whole Health Digest — featuring the latest research and practical tools for advancing Whole Health, provided by the nonprofit Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH).
In this newsletter, you will discover:
A recent publication on implementing Lifestyle Medicine group visits
Free resources for patients and hospital systems, designed to advance the use of whole-food, plant-based nutrition for chronic disease treatment and prevention
A January workshop for patients on goal setting for long-term success
This article highlights “diabetes distress,” the emotional burden of living with diabetes, as a potential risk factor for future psychiatric illnesses, including depression and anxiety. “The European Association for the Study of Diabetes has chosen the topic for its first-ever evidence-based clinical practice guideline, advising clinicians who care for people with diabetes to screen for diabetes distress at every visit.” (Source: Psychiatric News)
As outlined in this webinar summary, a panel of experts recently advised against a binary view of ultra-processed foods, emphasizing that clinical guidance should focus on a product's specific nutritional profile rather than its processing classification alone. To support sustainable behavior change, physicians are encouraged to help patients avoid an "all-or-nothing" mindset by promoting label literacy and the selection of affordable, nutrient-dense options that fit their budget and lifestyle. (Source: National Academy of Medicine)
This article, authored by Full Plate Living Program Director and AJLM Culinary Medicine columnist, Amy Hanus, advocates for deeper integration of Culinary Medicine into primary care to better address poor nutrition and chronic disease. The piece suggests that merging the clinic and kitchen shifts healthcare toward prevention and connection, noting, “The integration of Lifestyle Medicine and Culinary Medicine reflects the heart of Whole Person Care. Healing is not purely biological—it is behavioral, relational, and personal.” (Source: American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine)
Grants
Implementing Group-Based Lifestyle Medicine: The Role of the Healthcare Practitioner in Feasibility and Effectiveness
“Group-based Lifestyle Medicine programs present a promising path to preventing and managing chronic diseases and supporting patient wellbeing. Establishing effective implementation strategies can enhance the scalability of comprehensive Lifestyle Medicine programs in practice. This convergent mixed methods study aimed to investigate the role of the program deliverer in the feasibility and effectiveness of a group-based program: PAVING the Path to Wellness.”
Loma Linda University Health: New Patient Handbook and Healthcare Resource Guide
With grant support from AIH, Loma Linda University Health has developed two resources to advance the use of whole-food, plant-based nutrition for chronic disease treatment and prevention.
The patient handbook, designed to help patients make dietary changes, introduces nutrition's role in overall health and offers recipes, practical tips for overcoming barriers, and more to help patients get started.
The healthcare resource guide, designed to help hospital systems meet nutritional guidelines, can be immediately implemented into hospital food service departments and adapted for other healthcare facilities.
Since 2014, AIH has granted over $21 million to Whole Health projects and initiatives. To learn more about AIH's granting work, click here.
Resources
Full Plate Living Facilitated Group Program
The Full Plate Living group program combines the best of Full Plate Living’s lifestyle approach with interactive exercises, accountability, and support. It leverages community, a crucial component of behavior change, and the facilitator materials and training make it easy for anyone to lead a weekly group meeting (in-person or virtual) where community members and patients can experience the Full Plate Living program live.
Lifestyle Medicine and the Primary Care Provider: A Practical Guide to Enabling Whole Person Care
Book editors, Dr. Ron Stout, Dr. Daniel Reichert, and Dr. Rebecca Kelly, at LM25
Lifestyle Medicine and the Primary Care Provider is an essential roadmap for incorporating evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine principles into clinical practice to improve patient health outcomes.
The resource offers 27 chapters of actionable, time-efficient strategies covering patient history, screening, lab testing, and team-based approaches necessary for effective, behavior-based care. The book also offers solutions for maximizing reimbursement, detailing successful best-practice models and billing strategies to ensure Lifestyle Medicine services are both effective and financially sustainable.
Use code LMP25 for 25% off your book order from Routledge.
Recording Available: Navigating Men’s Health in the Middle Years
In this workshop, Dr. Aaron George focuses on the unique health challenges men face during the midlife years (ages 40 to 65). He explores common symptoms and conditions, key lab tests, and clinical insights to help men take control of their health.
New Endowed Research Fellowship Honors Dr. Dexter Shurney's Leadership in Health Equity
AIH invites you to join us in contributing to the Dexter Shurney, MD Well-being Fellowship by HERO, honoring the enduring legacy of our cherished friend, colleague, former board vice chair, and Lifestyle Medicine leader. Your support will carry forward Dr. Shurney’s lifelong commitment to advance health equity and address chronic disease disparities through Lifestyle Medicine. To make your contribution, click here.
Events
The Goal-Setting Workshop for Real-Life Success
In this workshop, Melyssa Allen will explore goal setting for long-term success and tools to overcome perfectionism, boost confidence, and celebrate progress. Register to join below or share the workshop details with your patients, employees, or community members.
We hope you found today's newsletter informative and inspiring. We'll be back next year with another edition of Whole Health Digest.
Happy holidays!
The AIH Team
P.S. This newsletter is offered by Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH), a nonprofit dedicated to improving people's health through the power of Whole Health. If it was forwarded to you by a friend or colleague, and you'd like to receive it regularly, subscribe here.
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