By Ashlyn Smith, MMS, PA-C, DipACLM, BC-ADM, DFAAPA, LSC ELM Endocrinology & Lifestyle Medicine So far in our series, we’ve talked about food, movement, sleep, stress, and connection. Now we come to the final pillar that has some of the most powerful health effects: Avoidance of risky substances. Because everything we put into our body has an effect. Some are subtle. Some are profound. Some are life-changing. Let’s break it down. Health isn’t built by one choice. It’s shaped by what becomes...

By Ashlyn Smith, MMS, PA-C, DipACLM, BC-ADM, DFAAPA, LSC ELM Endocrinology & Lifestyle Medicine As we continue through ELM's Lifestyle Medicine Series, we’ve talked about what to eat. Now let’s talk about what happens to food before it gets eaten. Because not all “processed” foods are created equal. Pumpkins in their original form are unprocessed or Grade 1. The more processing takes place, the less pumpkins look like pumpkins. The most processed form or Grade 4 looks unlike a pumpkin at all,...

By Ashlyn Smith, MMS, PA-C, DipACLM, BC-ADM, DFAAPA, LSC ELM Endocrinology & Lifestyle Medicine Last week we talked about foundational nutrition principles. This week is about something more important: how to shape nutrition around your real life, your goals, and what’s actually sustainable . Because there isn’t one perfect diet. There are dietary patterns and finding a way to make it work for you . Whole grains and antioxidant-rich fruits such as raspberries can lower inflammation, support...