Lifestyle Medicine
Lifestyle Medicine
Dr. Shilpi Pradhan is one of the first ophthalmologists board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine in the state of Virginia in 2020. She strongly believes in prevention for chronic lifestyle diseases and the principles of the six pillars of health (see below).
Dr. Pradhan believes in the principles of Lifestyle Medicine and using nutrition to treat disease. She is a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Six Pillars of Health
- Nutrition – a predominantly whole-food plant-based diet
- Physical Exercise – 150 min per week
- Sleep – 7-9 hours per night
- Stress Management
- Social Connection
- Avoiding Toxic Substances (no smoking, alcohol, drugs)
American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM)
The American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine are transforming medicine to be more prevention focused.
What is Lifestyle Medicine?
As defined by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine: “Lifestyle Medicine is the use of evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic approaches, such as a plant-predominant dietary lifestyle, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management, avoiding use of risky substances and pursuing other non-drug modalities to treat, reverse and prevent chronic disease.”
Physicians Commitee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a non-profit organization focused on helping our collective health through plant-based nutrition. Dr. Neal Barnard started this organization and his talks are so important to learn about the truth of what’s in our food. Check out his talks on YouTube.
For clinicians, nurses, dieticians, nutritionists and medical students, PCRM has a free online nutrition learning resource.
Learn more from Dr. Neal Barnard with his podcast, The Exam Room Podcast. See below for more of his informational books and cookbooks.
Forks over Knives
Forks over Knives is an organization focused on helping you learn how to switch to a whole-food plant-based diet.
The primary diet is whole food plant based diets (WFPBD) with primarily vegan diets to help treat and reverse disease. Dr. Pradhan has completed the Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate, Completed (June 2019), T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell. Dr. Campbell’s book, The China Study, shows how much diet can impact health and cancer risk.
Movies/Podcasts Supporting Lifestyle Medicine
Esselstyn Foundation
Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s Talk changed my mind about how important diet is to heart health. His whole family aims to help our collective health through the Esselstyn Foundation and their numerous blogs and books from his son, daughter and wife. All of them are inspiring in their own right spearheading the plant-based movement.
Dr. Esselstyn’s Book: Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease
Listen to his talk about Treating the Cause to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease 2020
Rip Esselstyn ‘s Books: The Engine 2 Diet, Plant-Strong, The Seven Day Rescue, and The Engine 2 Cookbook
Anne Crile Esselstyn and Jane Esselstyn’s Book: The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook
Ornish Lifestyle Medicine
Dr. Dean Ornish has helped shape how we know nutrition affects heart disease and cancer. Check out his videos on YouTube. He has a signature Ornish 9-week program to help you change your life and it can be covered by insurance.
His most influential books:
Free Nutrition Information with Dr. Michael Greger
Dr. Michael Greger has written numerous books and given talks about the importance of a whole-food plant-based diet as well as physical exercise to the point where he gives talks walking on his treadmill. His website, Nutrition Facts, provides free access to information and motivation.
Books by Dr. Greger: How Not to Die, How Not to Die Cookbook, How Not to Age, How Not to Diet
Dr. Pradhan's Blog articles about Diet and Health
- Diet and Heart Health: https://eyedoctormd.org/diet-and-heart-health-risk/
- Cancer and Diet: https://eyedoctormd.org/cancer-and-diet/
- Turmeric and the Eye: https://eyedoctormd.org/turmeric-and-the-eye/
- Lifestyle Medicine: Why It’s the Future of Medicine! https://eyedoctormd.org/why-lifestyle-medicine-is-the-future-of-medicine/
Prolon and L-Nutra
Dr. Pradhan has partnered with Prolon and L-Nutra which was founded by Dr. Valter Longo, author of The Longevity Diet and Fasting Cancer.
Prolon has a 5-day FMD programs (fasting mimicking diets) to help you achieve the reset you need and L-Nutra has long (12-month) programs for metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
How Healers Heal
The proceeds from the book were used to donate $10,000 to ACLM to help fund the HEAL scholarship for health equity. How Healers Heal is also available as an audiobook, so you can listen to these inspiring journeys on the go.
Dr. Shilpi Pradhan
If you could change your life, would you?
See evidence-based references below to learn more.
Contact Dr. Pradhan for Personalized Nutrition Coaching through programs in office and online.
Dr. Pradhan has partnered with Prolon and L-Nutra which was founded by Dr. Valter Longo, author of The Longevity Diet and Fasting Cancer. Prolon has a 5-day FMD programs (fasting mimicking diets) to help you achieve the reset you need and L-Nutra has long (12-month) programs for metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
Lifestyle Medicine Cookbooks
Dr. Neal Barnard and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Author of numerous books including:
Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes
Dr. Neal Barnard's Cookbook for Reversing Diabetes
21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart
Power Foods for the Brain
The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook
The Cheese Trap
Foods That Fight Pain
The Cancer Survivor's Guide
Check out some of my favorite Cookbooks and Websites!
Forks Over Knives – The Cookbook
Delicious Vegan recipes from Vegan Richa
Favorite Go-To Quick Vegan Meals Cookbook
Energizing, plant-based recipes
America's Test Kitchen Cookbooks
Educational Videos
Interviews with plant-based doctors or doctors to help you live a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Lifestyle Medicine and Whole Food Plant Based Diets with Dr. Mills-Bramble
Dr. Roelands' journey to being gluten-free and dairy free
Dr. Aajay Shah's journey into being plant based
Meat, dairy, egg and gluten allergies and common symptoms with Dr. Robert Call
Learn about Lifestyle Medicine as well as Ayurveda with Dr. Siri Chand Khalsa
Obesity in the context of Lifestyle Medicine with Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford