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Dr. Michelle McMacken, FACP, DipABLM, Executive Director of NYC Health + Hospitals Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine
Are you living with:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Prediabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Health concerns related to obesity
Would you like to learn how to become healthier through lifestyle changes?
Our Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Programs can help!
call 347-507-3695
You will have access to our team of lifestyle medicine trained experts, including a doctor, a nurse practitioner, a registered dietitian, a health coach, a behavioral health provider and a community health worker, who will work with you to create a personalized plan to “upgrade” your lifestyle.
We focus on six aspects of lifestyle change: a healthy plant-based diet, physical activity, stress reduction, sleep health, social connections, and avoidance of risky substances such as tobacco.
Our programs involve individual appointments and regular group classes. Both components are important for your success. We also offer educational materials; recipes and cooking tips, classes on grocery shopping, meal planning, meal preparation, exercise, sleep, and stress management techniques; and the chance to connect with others who are making lifestyle changes.
Try this healthy recipe for Black Bean Chili
Patients who enroll in one of the programs will receive a full medical evaluation by a team physician, with special attention to current lifestyle behaviors and social needs.
We’ll guide and support you in adopting healthy lifestyle habits. You don’t need to be ready to change overnight. Schedule an appointment to see how we can help you get healthier – call the Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Program at (347) 507-3695.
The Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Program is currently available at:
In the future, it will also be available at these sites:
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt
Frequently Asked Questions
A plant-based diet is a diet centered around vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, lentils, peas, nuts, and seeds. It minimizes or avoids animal foods, sweets, and highly processed foods.
A plant-based diet has many health benefits:
- Can lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar
- Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers
- Can help with weight loss
- Decreases inflammation in the body
- May reduce the need for medications
To join this program, you should be interested in moving towards a more plant-based diet. But we welcome you even if you are not ready to go 100% plant-based. Our team will work with you to make changes at whatever pace you are comfortable with.
We offer individual and group training on exercise, sleep health, mindfulness, stress reduction, and overall well-being. Our group sessions also provide social support.
You should be prepared to participate at least once a week over a several-month period. Keeping in regular contact with our team will help you be more successful in making lifestyle changes.
Adults with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and/or health concerns related to obesity are eligible to join this program.
NYC Health + Hospitals accepts many insurance plans.
Some insurance plans may require patients who enroll in the Lifestyle Medicine Program to choose a primary care doctor at the NYC Health + Hospitals facility they choose in order to join this program.
Our primary goal is to help you optimize your health, lower your risk of disease complications, and improve your overall well-being. Our doctors will review your medications and recommend adjustments as needed. Our emphasis is on helping you adopt the healthiest possible lifestyle.