1. Lifestyle Medicine Definition: The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) defines lifestyle medicine as "the use of evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic approaches, such as a predominantly whole food, plant-based diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substance use, and other non-drug modalities to treat, oftentimes, reverse and prevent the lifestyle-related, chronic disease that's all too prevalent."
   1. In a strong paragraph, discuss the prevalence of "lifestyle-related chronic disease".
   2. A core component of lifestyle medicine is the use of evidence-based research. In a few sentences, discuss the importance of using only evidence-based research to inform therapeutic approaches.
   3. Based on the text and other references, how would you describe the field of lifestyle medicine and its importance, to someone who had never heard of "lifestyle medicine"?
2. Watch the ted talk, "How Early Life Experience is Written into DNA.Links to an external site." Then, answer the question, how do our early life experiences affect our genes? Use specific examples from the video. Your response should be 1 strong paragraph.
3. Read the article in this week's content about "Blue ZonesLinks to an external site.". Then, discuss the following questions. Your response should be at least 3 paragraphs (1 paragraph per question).
   1. Describe the 9 evidence-based factors, found from individuals who live in "blue zones" that contribute to longevity in these individuals.
   2. Select one of the five Blue Zone locations. Then, discuss which of the evidence-based factors you discussed in the question above are used prominently by the community.
   3. Discuss the life radius project in Albert Lea, MN. In your response include what changes were implemented and the outcomes of the project.
4. Social Determinants of Health
   1. Review the social determinants of health website from HealthyPeople 2020Links to an external site., found in your learning resources. Then, discuss the following questions. Your response should be at least 2 strong paragraphs.
      1. Identify and describe the five key areas of social determinants of health.
      2. Discuss how your health-related lifestyle behaviors (or the health behaviors of someone you know- you can keep their name confidential) have been influenced (either positively or negatively) by social determinants of health. Please make sure you are connecting this response to one or more of the five key areas of social determinants of health you described above.
5. Microbiome
   1. Read Genetics or Lifestyle about the Microbiome and watch the Ted Talk on the Microbiome ( Ted Talk on the MicrobiomeLinks to an external site.and Genetics or LifestyleLinks to an external site..) Then, summarize what the microbiome is and how it connects with lifestyle medicine.