​View This Email in Your Browser​

NatureMed Pulse

The Institute for Natural Medicine

Vol. 3, Issue 17

Can We Build a Healthcare System That Prevents Disease?

In 2022, chronic conditions accounted for nearly 86 percent of U.S. healthcare spending. Investing a bigger portion of that number in prevention, treatment access, and quality of life may seem like a lofty goal, but it’s entirely possible. Research shows preventive measures could eliminate:

• 90% of type 2 diabetes cases
• 80% of cardiovascular disease
• 70% of strokes
• 70% of colon cancers

Chipping away at chronic illness starts with personal accountability. Habit change, alongside doctors who prioritize low-risk, high-payoff treatments, can quickly shift disease statistics down.

This week, we look at the value of both practitioner and patient in preventive care. Plus, new insights on a chronic disease where prevention saves lives.

Why Prevention Deserves a Practitioner

By definition, preventive care comes before a diagnosis. While initial, minor symptoms may seem manageable, they are often cues that underlying conditions have already begun progressing, especially if they don’t abate.

​Whole health providers put prevention on a pedestal. By assessing genetic and hereditary risk factors along with lifestyle and environment, they can catch early warning signs, sometimes even before their patients do. Care plans usually start with the gentlest, least toxic, and most evidence-based therapies, tending to foundational elements of health that reinforce stability and recovery.

natural medicine starter

the ND hierarchy

Epigenetics: How One Person Can Change Generations

We know a woman’s self-care during pregnancy and breastfeeding directly affects her baby. But what if a mother’s nutrition choices during those years also influenced her child’s future offspring? This familial ripple effect is an example of epigenetics, when environment and lifestyle switch genes on or off without altering DNA.

Although genetic code is largely fixed, epigenetic changes are reversible and more within our control. Diet, exercise, sleep, stress regulation, and mental wellness are the cornerstones of a healthy future for this generation and those to come.

More on Epigenetics! OHSU professor and NIH advisor Dr. Kent Thornburg dives into the lifestyle and nutritional factors that influence early growth. Sign Up

a drill-down of health sites

sugar’s cholesterol effect

Don’t Give Type 2 Diabetes a Chance

“The number one risk [for diabetes] is prediabetes,” says naturopathic doctor Alan Christianson. A prediabetes diagnosis gives patients a narrow but opportune window to get glucose back in check.

Chronic pain, fatigue, weight struggles, etc., can signal erratic blood sugar. But people aren’t necessarily stuck with these symptoms. Food and lifestyle tweaks are some of the best ways to change the disease’s trajectory.

managing diabetes

insulin resistance

The NatureMed Pulse Team

Please note we do not provide individualized medical advice, diagnose conditions, or answer personal health questions. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for specific guidance.

​​​​​

4500 9th Ave. NE, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​