Healthy Lifestyle Changes

Dr. Timothy Hoffmann, family practice provider at Family Health Center of Albion, works with patients to help them make healthy lifestyle changes.  One of the tools he uses is the book entitled "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan.  It is one of his passions to help people learn more about healthy choices in an effort to not only improve the health of each individual, but also to have a healthier community.  Dr. Hoffmann states, "With all the talk and concerns about our health care system and rising costs, most experts feel, regardless of what type of health care system we end up with, the single greatest cost-saver will be a major focus on preventive health care.  Primary care doctors are at the forefront in this effort and it is imperative we be experts in nutrition and other lifestyle issues that will have a lasting impact on society.  The fork is the single greatest factor in determining health for the individual and health of the planet.  food is our most intimate contact with our environment - it can either express, or inhibit, our genetic predisposition.  With the abundance of food choices we have and confusion due to the conflicting information promoted by media, people are often left not knowing what to eat or what not to eat.  Learning to go from mindless eating to mindful eating is the process that requires good coaching.  Yet I feel it is not impossible.  As doctors we prescribe a lot of pills and do a lot of procedures, but much of the time we merely treat symptoms, not causes.  It is important, for us to not give up in believing in the human capacity of the patient's will to see change."