by Dr. Kim Scheuer
The month of May is named for the Roman goddess Maia who oversaw the growth of plants. The emerald is the birthstone in May, which symbolizes success and love. The UK celebrates May as National Smile Month. May also celebrates National Recommitment Month. What a great way to think about making May the month to recommit to health by using Lifestyle Medicine to address the root causes of disease, rather than just treating illness symptoms. If you are on medications, use this month to be healthier so you can reduce the amount you need if approved by your physician. If you are not on medications, use this month to be the healthiest you can so you never have to start any.
In Lifestyle Medicine, we recognize that 80% of chronic diseases are caused by lifestyle habits. This means we have control of our own health. We can choose to prevent, slow, and reverse many chronic diseases by making the healthiest lifestyle choices possible every day.
Success happens when we eat a variety of healthy whole plants while avoiding animal products and processed foods. How serendipitous that May 19th is World Plant a Vegetable Garden Day and the 20th is Pick Strawberries Day. It is actually true that an apple a day can help keep the doctor away.
Moving more is paramount to being healthy. Exercise and movement even decrease cancer risk! The first Saturday in May happens to be National Fitness Day, and May 21st is National Bike to Work Day. Find ways you can move more every day in May, and throughout the year, so that you can be as physically and mentally fit as possible.
Another component of Lifestyle Medicine is to stress less. Sleeping well, smiling, and laughing more, along with other techniques, will make you healthier. May 3rd is Garden Meditation Day. Talk about de-stressing. Not only would you meditate, but being out in your garden and in nature also helps decrease stress. May 16th is Love A Tree Day, and May 30th is Water a Flower Day! Put those days on your calendar to remind you to meditate, love a tree (by planting one or just being near a tree), and water flowers. You may feel better and be healthier those days.
In Lifestyle Medicine, we advocate avoiding toxic substances. May 31st is Memorial Day and World No Tobacco Day, so if you smoke, May is the time to quit. Think of what other toxins you can avoid or stop during May so that you can be happier and healthier!
Finally, an essential component of Lifestyle Medicine is to love/be loved more. This can happen by engaging more in our family units and communities. May 18th is Visit A Relative Day. Your family can be that which you are born into or that which you make. Make a plan to visit with friends (who can be considered your chosen family) in person. If you have blood relatives who make your life better but live far away, reach out to them by phone or on Zoom that day.
Finding a purpose or a reason to get up every morning will make you healthier. My “purpose” is to help others live happier and healthier lives. Thank you for letting me share these suggestions with you so that you can have a wonderful May and year.