RLMI News and Events
A whole-food, plant-based program in an African American faith-based population study and paper publishede
The African American (AA) population is disproportionately impacted by chronic disease as well as many of the leading causes of preventable death, including hypertension, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. In the AA community of Kane County, Illinois, the incidence of chronic disease is particularly high. A standardized Zoom-based group program that gives participants the knowledge, skills, and support to adopt a whole-food plant-based diet has been shown to rapidly improve health. The results of a cohort analysis were analyzed to assess the effectiveness of this program within an AA community characterized by a high burden of chronic illnesses.
Participants were recruited from a network of 12 AA churches in Illinois to participate in Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute’s “15-Day Whole-Food Plant-Based (WFPB) Jumpstart” program. The medically-facilitated 15-Day Jumpstart program provided WFPB nutrition education, coaching, and cooking demonstrations during seven 1 and 2-h Zoom sessions. Participants underwent pre- and post- metabolic screenings to assess for changes in their weight, vital signs, blood sugar, and cholesterol measurements. Changes in diet, biometrics, and patient-centered outcomes from baseline to the end of the program were assessed via paired t-tests for the normally distributed measures, and a Wilcoxon signed rank test for measures that were not normally distributed.
The 15-Day WFPB Jumpstart program led to significant changes in diet, resulting in improvement in several chronic disease measures in this AA community. This rapid improvement can reinforce behavior change. Read the paper, published 7/14/23 to see the great outcomes.
Learn more and sign up for an upcoming Jumpstart at: https://rochesterlifestylemedicine.org/about-jumpstart/
Plant-Based Cooking Class – Breaking the Food Seduction (4-class series option)
If you missed the first two of RLMI’s June 2023 cooking classes, there may still be time to register for the one or all four of the August virtual classes, Summer Plant Based Cooking Series.
These classes will take place Mondays 8/7, 8/14, 8/21 & 8/28 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm EDT. Each class costs $25, or register for all four for $85.
Each live class is provided over Zoom and includes educational discussion and video, live cooking demos, a fun quiz, and time for Q&A. The recipes will be emailed prior to the class so you can follow along. Some classes have additional handouts that will be provided.
Instructor, Bubbie Staron, is a Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute program facilitator, cooking instructor, and certified Food For Life instructor. Food For Life is a program from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and is recognized as an award-winning nutrition education and cooking class program that provides an innovative approach to diet-related chronic diseases. Bubbie is also the co-founder of Rochester VegFest and is Vice President of Animal Rights Rochester.
Deborah Chielli, MSN, BS Dietetics, APRN, AGNP-C, DipACLM, Certified in Lifestyle Medicine, Plant-Based Nutrition & CHEF Coaching, will be joining Bubbie to help answer questions.
If you missed this series, don’t despair and do stay tuned. RLMI will be offering more plant-based cooking classes in the very near future. Check our calendar of events for more programs and events.
Lifestyle as Medicine Lecture: Plant Powered Protein with Brenda Davis, RD
On June 13, 2023, Brenda Davis, RD answered the question that many who follow a plant-based diet hear, “Where do you get your protein?” We live in a protein-obsessed culture. People of all ages and activity levels are concerned about getting enough protein. Those who shift to a plant-based diet will invariably be asked where they get their protein. Most Americans assume that only animal products provide enough high quality protein, and without it, your muscles will wither away. Brenda Davis, co-author of Plant-Powered Protein, laid the protein question to rest once and for all, and tackled many other protein misconceptions. She examined standard tools for assessing protein quality and made a strong case for factoring risk of death and disease into the protein quality equation. She discussed protein needs throughout the lifecycle, the advantages of plant vs animal protein, the most healthful protein sources, and the advantages of plant protein beyond human health.
She is a distinguished member of RLMI’s Scientific Advisory Board and one of the best speakers you will ever hear. Brenda Davis spoke on the topic of her new book, Plant-Powered Protein: Nutrition Essentials and Dietary Guidelines for All Ages (2023), available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Plant-Powered-…
Brenda Davis, RD is a world leading plant-based pioneer and an internationally acclaimed speaker. Brenda has been a featured speaker at medical, nutrition, and dietetic conferences in 25 countries on 6 continents. As a prolific nutrition writer, Brenda has authored/co-authored 13 books with nearly a million copies in print in 15 languages. Her latest book, Plant-Powered Protein, was hot off the press in April 2023. Brenda has also authored and co-authored numerous professional and lay articles and is a past chair of the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association.
Brenda was the lead dietitian in a diabetes intervention research project in the Marshall Islands. On her last trip there (November 2017), she developed a nutrition education curriculum for kindergarten through grade 6 and trained teachers in all public schools. Brenda was the 7th recipient of the Plantrician Project’s Luminary Award in 2022 and was inducted into the Vegetarian Hall of Fame in 2007.
If you missed this incredibly insighful and educational RLMI Lifestyle as Medicine Lecture event, you can watch it here on our RLMI YouTube channel.
Join RLMI and AARP for Summer Webinar Series on Boosting Brain Health Naturally
AARP New York along with Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute is proud to present: Boosting Brain Health Naturally – a six series virtual event for AARP members and guests.
These webinars will be held from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET. Connect with us to learn about helpful information and tips to improve your quality of life. Please register for each event to receive event reminders and the link to join the Zoom class.
Events:
All webinars will take place Mondays at 1:00pm ET
1. June 5, 2023: Brain Food: Eating for Optimal Cognition and Memory.
Register: https://events.aarp.org/Diet0605
This webinar will review the elements of an optimal diet to support brain health, which includes whole food plant food nutrition, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Discussion will include why it would be best to avoid, reduce or eliminate highly processed foods, meat and dairy.
2. June 12, 2023: Sleep and the Brain: How Rest Helps Us Think More Clearly.
Register: https://events.aarp.org/Sleep0612
This webinar will review how to get good sleep, enhance sleep and why and how sleep impacts health. Emphasis will be placed on how the brain responds to lack of sleep, how to mitigate sleep disruption, how to protect one’s sleep environment, and the optimal amount of sleep recommended.
3. June 19, 2023: How Activity Benefits the Brain.
Register: https://events.aarp.org/Activity0619
This webinar will explore physical activity and its positive impact on health, particularly on brain health. Discussion will include various types of physical activity and how the brain is affected when we are active versus inactive. Small changes in physical activity are proven to reap big benefits.
4. June 26, 2023: How Relaxation Benefits the Brain.
Register: https://events.aarp.org/Relaxation0626
This webinar will explore the impact of both stress and relaxation on the brain and cognitive function. RLMI presenters will provide tips for managing stress with two main strategies: reducing stress when possible and how to deal effectively with unavoidable stress. Evidence for how stress management has been shown to improve cognitive function and performance will be shared.
5. July 10, 2023: How to Increase Cognitive Function.
Register: https://events.aarp.org/Cognition0710
This webinar will offer evidence for how challenging one’s brain can enhance brain function. Tips with low or no cost ideas will be shared for stimulating and engaging the brain that may result in measurable increased health outcomes. RLMI presenters will touch on how pursuing meaningful activities are especially beneficial.
6. July 17, 2023: How Socializing Helps the Brain.
Register: https://events.aarp.org/Socialization0717
This webinar will present evidence of how social interaction and connection can improve brain health. RLMI presenters will offer strategies on the positive impact on brain function of increasing and deepening one’s social interactions.
Could you benefit from Health Coaching? Book a free consultation now.
Wondering how to start or continue your journey to better sustained health? Work with a certified Lifestyle Medicine Health Coach.
One of RLMI’s certified and experienced Health Coaches partners with you to make self-directed, lasting changes, which promote health and wellness and enhance well-being. Potential areas you may choose to address include a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connections! Book a free 15 minute introduction consultation.
Questions? Please contact us at [email protected] or 1-800-710-7564.
Visit here for more information on health coaching through RLMI.
Plant-Based Cooking Class: Designing a Diet for Maximum Weight Control with Food for Life Chef Bubbie Staron
If you missed the first two of RLMI’s June 2023 cooking classes, there may still be time to register for the June 24th virtual class, Designing a Diet for Maximum Weight Control.
This class is centered around diabetes but is beneficial for preventing, treating, and reversing most chronic diseases. This is not a “diet” that asks you to walk around hungry or feel deprived. How can you lose weight, if needed, without skipping meals or limiting your portions? In a word, it’s all about FIBER. Plant-foods have it, animal foods do not. Fiber is what makes us feel full, and, as a bonus, it also helps to control blood sugar levels, protects against certain cancers, and, of no small importance, it keeps us “regular.” Learn to comfortably fill up on whole foods and watch the pounds melt away. Learn how to create some high-fiber dishes – without any cardboard taste.
If you missed this series, don’t despair and do stay tuned. RLMI will be offering more plant-based cooking classes in the very near future. Check our calendar of events for more programs and events.
Bubbie Staron is a Program Facilitator and Cooking Instructor at Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute. In August 2019, Bubbie became a Certified Food For Life instructor. Food For Life is a program from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and is recognized as an award-winning nutrition education and cooking class program that provides an innovative approach to diet-related chronic diseases. Bubbie is also the co-founder of Rochester VegFest and is Vice President of Animal Rights Rochester.
Lifestyle as Medicine Lecture: Self-Destructive Eating and the Social Pressure to Eat Dangerously with Dr. Joel Fuhrman
On May 25, 2023, Joel Fuhrman, MD, gave a powerful presentation on the importance of understanding serious health risks associated with processed and fast food consumption, even from occasional use. These “Frankenfoods” do not merely increase death from heart disease and cancer, but also impair the human brain, creating depression, lowering intelligence, and increasing propensity for drug abuse and crime. Importantly, the worst food choices create food addiction, leading to excessive caloric intake and dependency.
Learning objectives of this presentation included: Mechanisms of food addition, both stimulatory excitation and withdrawal symptoms and Recognizing and dealing with emotional obstacles for healthful eating and weight loss.
Joel Fuhrman, M.D. is a board-certified family physician, seven-time New York Times best- selling author and internationally recognized expert on nutrition and natural healing. He specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional methods. Dr. Fuhrman is the President of the Nutritional Research Foundation and on the faculty of Northern Arizona University, Health Sciences division. He coined the term “Nutritarian” to describe a nutrient-dense eating style, designed to prevent cancer, slow aging, and extend lifespan. For over 30 years, Dr. Fuhrman has shown that it is possible to achieve sustainable weight loss and reverse heart disease, diabetes and many other illnesses using smart nutrition. In his medical practice, and through his books and television specials, he continues to bring this life-saving message to hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
If you missed this incredibly insighful and educational RLMI Lifestyle as Medicine Lecture event, you can watch it here on our RLMI YouTube channel.
Lifestyle as Medicine Lecture: The Evolution of Lifestyle Telemedicine with Dr. Kim Scheuer and Anthony Masiello
On Thursday April 20, 2023, Kim Scheuer, MD, Lifestyle Medicine Physician and Anthony Masiello, CEO of Love.Life Telehealth (formerly Plant Based TeleHealth) shared their stories and the evolution of Lifestyle Telemedicine, a succesful telehealth practice, which inspires and treats people everyday all over the world, to get healthy and reverse their chronic diseases.
Anthony Masiello, who lost 160# and reclaimed his health, and Dr. Kim Scheuer, who rejuvenated her life and the lives of her patients, shared their individual stories of health improvement through Lifestyle Medicine. This led each to career changes and put them on a path so they and others can bring Lifestyle Medicine benefits to all in need throughout the United States and Internationally.
They discussed what Love.Life Telehealth offers to those seeking evidence-based medical care focused on promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyle modification to prevent, reverse, and treat disease. And they will present the evolution of their Lifestyle Telemedicine service.
If you missed the incredible stories of how they turned their lives around, lost weight, got healthy and launched lifestyle telehealth, watch the recording of last Thursday’s RLMI Lifestyle as Medicine Lecture event, The Evolution of Lifestyle Telemedicine, presented by Kim Scheuer, MD, Lifestyle Medicine Physician and Anthony Masiello of Love.Life Telehealth, you can watch it here on our RLMI YouTube channel.
Lifestyle as Medicine Lecture: How to Use Diet and Fasting to Delay Death and Debility, with Dr. Alan Goldhamer
On March 23, 2023, Dr. Alan Goldhamer, one of the world’s leading experts on medically supervised, water-only fasting, discussed how diet and fasting can help delay death and debility. Articulate, inspiring, and energetic, Dr. Goldhamer is a frequent lecturer and speaker on fasting, diet, and treatment of chronic diseases to achieve optimum health. Dr. Alan Goldhamer founded and became Director of TrueNorth Health Center in 1984 in Santa Rosa, California. Since then, he has supervised the fasting and care of more than 20,000 patients. TrueNorth Health is a multidiscipline practice that includes doctors of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, naturopathy, and psychology. Its healthcare providers treat patients with conditions ranging from high blood pressure and diabetes to autoimmune disorders and lymphoma. The Center is the largest facility in the world specializing in medically supervised, water-only fasting and one of the premier training facilities for doctors to gain certification in the supervision of therapeutic fasting.
Don’t fret. If you missed this compelling presentation from Goldhamer, a strong proponent of living a whole food, plant-based diet and lifestyle, and author., you can watch it here! Please share it and subscribe to RLMI’s YouTube channel for more great lifestyle medicine, health and plant based focused content.
Whole-food plant-based Jumpstart for a Deaf and Hard of Hearing study and paper published
Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) patients are at high risk of developing chronic illness, and when they do, are at higher risk of poor outcomes than in a hearing community.
We adapted our online, Zoom-based, medically-facilitated 15-Day Whole-Food Plant-Based (WFPB) Jumpstart program to give DHH participants knowledge, skills, and support to make dietary changes to improve their health!
Participants joined from across the USA and Canada. The majority were experincing chronic lifestyle diseases before participating in the 15 day Jumpstart health intervention. For those who submitted, labs and biomearkers were greatly improved post-Jumpstart.
We conducted a study and then published it. Read the published article: https://lnkd.in/eeWzgKfd
See recipes from our Deaf and Hard Hearing Jumpstart cohort here: https://lnkd.in/ebjswFBB
Learn more and sign up for an upcoming Jumpstart at: https://lnkd.in/exS692ch
