Welcome to the January edition of Whole Health Digest — home to insights, inspiration, and announcements from the world of Whole Health, provided by the nonprofit Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH).

In today's newsletter, you'll discover:

• Recommendations from the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee that are aligned with the Full Plate Living approach
• Upcoming events for those interested in delivering Whole Person Care
• A giveaway opportunity you don’t want to miss
• And more

News and Journal Highlights

​Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee​

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recommends the Eat Healthy Your Way Dietary Pattern, which combines the core elements of existing healthy dietary patterns and encourages flexible, culturally adapted food choices. The guidelines emphasize consuming nutrient-dense foods and beverages, limiting saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium, and being mindful of portion sizes. AIH and Full Plate Living are thrilled to see new recommendations that support our long-standing enthusiasm for beans. (Source: DGA)

​Use of the Term Healthy on Food Labeling​

Looking for a change worth celebrating as we enter 2025? The FDA has updated its guidelines for using the term “healthy” on food labels, and food companies must now adhere to specific nutritional criteria to market a food as “healthy”. These new guidelines include limits for added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. (Source: FDA.gov)

​10 Ways to Eat Better​

Millions of Americans make healthy eating a New Year’s goal, and many struggle to follow through because they lack the resources and support needed to successfully and sustainably make changes. Here are 10 straightforward ways to eat better in 2025. Encourage your patients to incorporate whichever changes make the most sense in their lives, no matter how small. The number one recommendation is simple: Eat more legumes. (Source: New York Times)

​Impact of Physicians’ Perception of Social Determinants of Health on the Practice of Lifestyle Medicine​

A new study, conducted with grant support from AIH, underscores the importance of comprehensive education on social determinants of health (SDoH) to ensure equitable care. While family physician respondents recognized the effects of certain SDoH, such as access to unhealthy food (89%), alcohol (86%), and tobacco (83%), they showed less awareness of factors like racism and discrimination (53%), and access to parks (56%) or education (60%). (Source: PubMed Central)

Grants

Food, We Need to Talk: A Public Service Initiative Supported by Ardmore Institute of Health

At AIH, we believe that small, sustainable lifestyle changes can profoundly impact overall health. That’s why we are proud to have supported two seasons of the Food, We Need To Talk podcast, a public service initiative designed to empower listeners to adopt healthier lifestyles and make informed food choices. For health professionals seeking new ways to educate and support their patients, Food, We Need to Talk offers valuable insights and practical takeaways.

Learn More

Since 2014, AIH has granted over $19 million to Whole Health projects and initiatives. To learn more about AIH's granting work, click here.

EVENTS

2025 International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health

Join AIH and leaders in integrative medicine at the 2025 International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health. The event will bring together leading figures from various fields to showcase recent scientific advancements in integrative medicine and health. “Attendees committed to working to overcome obstacles that inhibit delivering a whole person approach to health care will find themselves in excellent company.”

Learn More and Register

Beyond the Headlines: GLP-1’s Role in Whole-Person Primary Care

Join the Primary Care Collaborative and other leading experts on January 29th for a discussion on how to best integrate GLP-1s and a new generation of obesity medications into whole-person primary care and how these treatments can provide an important addition to managing chronic conditions. AIH is delighted to co-sponsor the webinar alongside the Healing Works Foundation.

Learn More and Register

ANNOUNCEMENTS

One Week Left: Free CME and Giveaway

Enroll in Implementing Shared Medical Appointments Utilizing Full Plate Living CME by January 31st for a chance to win a copy of the Lifestyle Medicine, fourth edition textbook!

This free AAFP credit system approved CME will equip you to implement shared medical appointments (SMAs) in your practice. You'll learn best practices for SMA delivery and discover how to integrate the powerful Full Plate Living approach to improve patient nutrition and health.

About Lifestyle Medicine, fourth edition: Edited by Dr. James Rippe, this textbook is the leading evidence-based resource in Lifestyle Medicine and a comprehensive guide for primary care physicians ($400 value).

The winner will be announced on Monday, February 3rd.

Enroll Here

American Medical Association Board of Trustees Chair Supports Lifestyle Medicine

AIH CEO, Dr. Ron Stout, co-led an ACLM taskforce, integrating Lifestyle Medicine into the American Medical Association (AMA) and serving as Lifestyle Medicine’s first delegate of the AMA Specialty and Service Society.

Click the link below to read or watch Michael Suk’s (AMA Board of Trustees Chair) take on Lifestyle Medicine and its benefits.

Read or Watch Here

RESOURCES

Recording Available: How to Get Motivated for Healthy Living and Weight Loss

Transforming your health is a journey that begins with understanding what motivates you and committing to sustainable habits. This free workshop recording takes participants through a series of exercises to help them look beyond short-term fixes and tap into the deeper motivation needed to create a consistent lifestyle that allows them to thrive. Consider recommending it to patients searching for renewed focus and intentionality.

Watch Recording

Full Plate Living Patient Education Handout Now Available

Following the positive feedback from our Facilitating Full Plate Living Education Session at ACLM LM24, Full Plate Living is delighted to introduce a new resource: the Full Plate Living Patient Education Handout.

This concise handout provides patients with a simple overview of the Full Plate Living approach, making it easy for them to understand and start making small behavior changes as soon as they leave your office.

Download the Handout

P.S. If you missed our LM24 education session, you can access the recording here.

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We hope you found today's newsletter informative and inspiring. We'll be back next month with another edition of Whole Health Digest.

Happy New Year!

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 and Lifestyle Medicine. 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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