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Chronic Disease Prevention & Lifestyle Medicine

From the Show: Naturally Savvy
Summary: Science has proven that conditions like diabetes, obesity and heart disease are preventable, and even in many cases reversible, with proper diet and exercise.
Air Date: 3/16/16
Duration: 10
Host: Andrea Donsky, RHN and Lisa Davis, MPH
Guest Bio: Lindsey Mcilvena, MD, MPH
Lindsey-McilvenaDr. Lindsey Mcilvena is a double board-certified MD specializing in Preventive and Integrative Medicine. In 2014, she opened her private practice in San Diego, CA devoted to chronic disease reversal. Her revolutionary approach to treating chronic disease focuses on whole food, plant-based nutrition and emphasizes healthy lifestyle changes over pharmaceuticals and surgical procedures.

Along with board certifications in both Preventive Medicine and Integrative Medicine, Dr. Mcilvena holds a Master’s degree in public health with an emphasis in population health, behavior change and program planning. After graduating from the University of Missouri Kansas City Medical School in 2009, she moved to Phoenix, where she completed her internship in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Banner Good Samaritan and Phoenix Children’s Hospital. From 2012-2014, while completing her Master’s degree and residency in Preventive Medicine at Loma Linda University – the only blue zone in the U.S., she gathered additional experience and valuable insights into longevity that shape her practice today.

Dr. Mcilvena believes passionately in the power of lifestyle medicine, and she lives this belief every day. She has personally practiced a plant-based diet for over 10 years and strives to maintain balance through daily exercise, yoga and meditation. She enjoys cooking, hiking, playing the ukulele and taking walks on the beach with her husband Dave.

Dr. Mcilvena is a medical advisor and frequent contributor to SuperFoodsRX, a website devoted to disseminating evidence-based nutritional information.
Chronic Disease Prevention & Lifestyle Medicine
According to the CDC, as of 2014, 29 million Americans have diabetes, while 86 million have pre-diabetes; 70% of adults are overweight or obese.

As a country we spend $315 billion annually on treating cardiovascular disease alone. Yet, science has proven that all of these conditions are preventable, and even in many cases reversible, with proper diet and exercise.

As the public and doctors become more educated, there has been an increased focus on lifestyle medicine as a more viable solution than drugs and surgeries, which do not address the root causes of these diseases. The goal and primary focus of lifestyle medicine is simply the prevention and treatment of disorders caused by lifestyle factors such as nutrition, physical inactivity, and chronic stress.

This is done by helping individuals to make healthier lifestyle choices, including diet, exercise, and stress reduction.

Frustrated by the shortcomings of today’s health care industry in treating preventable conditions like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, Dr. Lindsey Mcilvena was compelled to create her own unique model for patient care. Her pioneering approach combines traditional medicine with proactive, customized treatment plans that focus on addressing the root causes of chronic disease.

The sole focus of Dr. Mcilvena’s medical practice is on helping patients slow and reverse chronic lifestyle diseases. She subscribes to a strategy of treating the whole person and underlying causes of disease through a synthesis of whole foods, plant-based nutrition exercise, smoking cessation, stress management and other healing methods.

Dr. Mcilvena believes every person has the power to manifest change and is passionate about helping individuals take an active role in achieving greater health and longevity.

Listen in as Dr. Mclivena joins hosts Andrea and Lisa to share her view on disease prevention, lifestyle medicine, following a plant-based diet, and how she helps her clients live longer, healthier lives.