As leaders in the value-based care movement, we must think about the synergism between lifestyle medicine and traditional Western medicine. The tenets of lifestyle medicine force us to think more holistically about medical treatment and prevention.  Under this construct, “Sleep is Medicine” because poor sleep is linked to obesity, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and dementia.  “Exercise is Medicine” because of its impact on a healthy heart, mind, and body.  “Love is Medicine” because mindfulness and gratitude is the key to peace and equanimity. And lastly, “Food is Medicine” because a whole food plant-based diet is proven to improve every aspect of health.  These four time-tested tenets encompass the SELF Principle of lifestyle medicine promoted by Dr. Sean Hashmi. Sean Hashmi, MD, is the adult weight management lead for Southern California Kaiser Permanente. He is a board certified Internist, Nephrologist and Obesity Medicine Specialist practicing at Kaiser Permanente, Woodland Hills, California. In this role as Regional Director for Clinical Nutrition and Weight Management at Kaiser Permanente, Southern California, he’s responsible for developing a comprehensive obesity management strategy involving lifestyle medicine and obesity medicine for the 4.6 million members that Kaiser Permanente serves. He is driven by a lifelong commitment to be of service to others. He also provides evidence-based health, nutrition, and wellness research through his nonprofit organization, SELF Principle. In this episode, you will learn how Sleep, Exercise, Love, and Food (SELF) translate into hope. And hope is the most powerful thing we can possibly have in health care. With hope, we can transform our broken “sick care” system to a true health care system.  And in doing so, we will win this Race to Value.   Episode Bookmarks: 01:30 Background and Introduction to Dr. Sean Hashmi 04:30 Life-defining experiences and personal challenges that led to the practice of lifestyle medicine 06:30 Dr. Hashmi’s Personal Why:  HOPE 08:30 “The greatest way to be selfish is to do something kind for someone.” 09:00 How a lack of financial resources led to a lack of healthcare access for Dr. Hashmi’s sister 09:45 Lessons in lifestyle medicine learned from his own wife’s health issues 10:45 The American College of Lifestyle Medicine and Dr. Hashmi’s SELF Principle 11:00 “Sleep, Exercise, Love, and Food translate into hope. And hope is the most powerful thing we can possibly have in health care.” 13:30 “Lifestyle medicine needs to be looked at synergistically with Western Medicine.  Everything in health begins and ends with lifestyle.” 14:30 The impact of lifestyle medicine on chronic disease (ex: dialysis treatment coupled with plant-based eating) 16:30 Healthcare providers need to learn more about evidence-based lifestyle medicine 17:00 How lifestyle medicine can improve life’s “moments” (quality of life and longevity) 17:45 Incorporating lifestyle medicine into everything we do (instead of it being a standalone program), e.g. prevention of 30-day rehospitalizations 22:00 Is the heart healthy benefit of eating vegetables only when they are consumed in raw form? 24:20 The Healthy Plate Model:  50% fruits and vegetables, 25% complex carbohydrates, and 25% protein (tofu, beans) 25:20 Consumption of whole fruits will lower HgbA1c results in diabetics in the long-run. 26:20 “Healthy” plant-based eating lowers incidence and prevalence of kidney disease. 27:00 The problems with plant-based meats and why whole vegetables are always preferable 28:20 Why the Blue Zones have such healthier people that live longer 31:00 Dr. Hashmi explains his work in obesity management at Southern California Kaiser Permanente 32:00 How clinicians can effectively counteract societal influences that lead to poor eating and other unhealthy lifestyle choices 34:00 The benefits of bariatric surgery will be undermined ...