Beth Motley MD, FACLM

Beth Motley MD, FACLM Family Medicine/Lifestyle Medicine MD
Plant-based diets & deprescribing
Longevity & chronic disease prevention
Wife & mother of 5 Health & Wellness Website

40+1🤰🏼 Day off. Spent the first few hours walking. Since then I’ve been food prepping so my kids don’t perish when I go ...
04/30/2026

40+1🤰🏼

Day off. Spent the first few hours walking. Since then I’ve been food prepping so my kids don’t perish when I go MIA.

Whole wheat pasta with white beans, tomatoes, and kale 🥬 🍅

Baked oatmeal bars 🌾🫐

Chef AJ’s black bean brownies 🍫 🫘

All kid favorites!

Now back to walking. 🚶‍♀️

Homemade popsicles 🍒 😋 It’s basically just a fruit smoothie, pour in a small paper cup, then pop in a popsicle stick and...
04/29/2026

Homemade popsicles 🍒 😋

It’s basically just a fruit smoothie, pour in a small paper cup, then pop in a popsicle stick and freeze. 🥶

Used what we had on hand:

Dark cherries, frozen 🍒
Mango, frozen 🥭
Avocado 🥑
Ginger 🫚
Bananas 🍌

Blend, freeze, and enjoy! We made these last night and were eager to dig in today!

☀️ Staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your health! And most days, plain water is my go-to. But on...
04/29/2026

☀️ Staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your health! And most days, plain water is my go-to. But on a hot day sometimes you just want a little something extra.

Spindrifts are our favorite. The kids love them too! 🍍🍋‍🟩

They are made with sparkling water and real fruit… a refreshing treat with no added sugar and no artificial ingredients. And minimal calories, about 5 or 10 in a can.

I love them all but if I had to pick it would be the strawberry lemonade 🍓 or the Arnold Palmer 🍹 I think! But also really love that blood orange! 🍊

If you’re trying to ditch sodas or sugary drinks and plain water feels boring, these is a great bridge. Small swaps add up. 💧

What’s your favorite flavor Spindrift? 🍑 Or is there a different beverage that you prefer?

Lemony Orzo Salad 🍋As featured in recent lunch boxes. 😋 The perfect throw-it-together summer meal. ☀️ (Down here in SC i...
04/27/2026

Lemony Orzo Salad 🍋

As featured in recent lunch boxes. 😋

The perfect throw-it-together summer meal. ☀️
(Down here in SC it’s basically summer.)

Ingredients:
• 12 oz whole wheat orzo
• 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained + rinsed
• ½ English cucumber, diced
• ½ red onion, finely diced
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 3 Tbsp parsley, chopped
• 3 Tbsp basil, chopped
• 3 Tbsp mint, chopped
• a few chopped olives, optional

Lemon Tahini Dressing:
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• Zest + juice of 1 large lemon
• 5 Tbsp tahini
• ¼ cup champagne vinegar (or ACV)
• ½ cup water

Instructions:
Cook orzo in salted water → drain + rinse with cold water → cool.
Add chickpeas, veggies, and herbs.
Blend dressing until smooth → pour over → toss well.
Chill before serving.

Question: Do you add the olives? 🫒
I’m a solid NO!

Had a wonderful afternoon speaking at the SC Association of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Rehabilitation 2026 Annual Meetin...
04/24/2026

Had a wonderful afternoon speaking at the SC Association of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Rehabilitation 2026 Annual Meeting.

My talk, Prescribing Plants: The Role of Plant-Based Nutrition in Cardiovascular Disease, went to a group that clearly cares deeply about this work. Cardiac rehab professionals who are already in the trenches doing the hard work of helping patients heal their hearts.

Plant-based nutrition isn’t a trend. It’s one of the most evidence-based tools we have for cardiovascular health, and audiences like this one give me hope that more patients will hear about it! ♥️

I had a column published yesterday on hypertension and diet, and it got me thinking about how big this problem really is...
04/24/2026

I had a column published yesterday on hypertension and diet, and it got me thinking about how big this problem really is.

Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure. HALF!!! And most aren’t managing it effectively.

The research tells us that what you eat moves the needle on BP significantly!

Clinical trial data, including randomized controlled trials, have established plant-based diets as an effective lifestyle intervention for high blood pressure.

Let’s look at the numbers:

The original DASH trial showed that a plant-forward diet reduces systolic blood pressure by 5.5 mmHg compared to a typical American diet.

A meta-analysis of 32 cross-sectional studies involving more than 20,000 individuals found that vegetarian diets were consistently associated with lower average BP compared to omnivorous diets.

A pooled analysis of 41 clinical trials found that DASH-pattern eating lowered systolic BP by more than 5 mmHg, with high certainty of evidence.

5 mmHg doesn’t sound like much - I hear you! But diet is not one lever… it’s several, and they compound.

Add modest weight loss (another side effect of plant-forward diets), regular movement, and sodium reduction (largely achieved by cutting processed foods) on top of a plant-based diet, and you’re looking at reductions of 15–20 mmHg or more.

For context: a single BP medication at standard dose lowers systolic BP by about 8.7 mmHg. Two medications together bring that to roughly 15 mmHg. Lifestyle done well gets you there without a prescription!

Plate changes are real medicine, and they’re available to everyone today!

And it really works! I see it in the office every day. Thankful to have a patient panel of individuals who are excited to do the hard work.

Have you made the dietary change that improved your blood pressure. What was it? 🫜

Strawberry picking at Hunter Farms. 🍓 A few reasons why these are a favorite snack when in season…Strawberries are loade...
04/23/2026

Strawberry picking at Hunter Farms. 🍓

A few reasons why these are a favorite snack when in season…

Strawberries are loaded with vitamin C! One cup has more than an orange, supporting immune function and skin health.

They’re one of the highest antioxidant fruits, rich in anthocyanins that help combat inflammation.

Naturally low in calorie density but high in water and fiber >>> great for satiety.

The fiber (plus polyphenols) helps support gut health and feeds beneficial bacteria.

There’s even evidence that they help improve cholesterol markers and vascular function over time.

Simple, sweet, and healthy.

What’s your favorite fruit to pick? And where?
🫐 🍏 🍑 🍓

Morning Glory Muffins 🥕🍎 Original recipe from Minimalist Baker(Or Morning Glory Bread in our case!)This is basically a k...
04/23/2026

Morning Glory Muffins 🥕🍎
Original recipe from Minimalist Baker

(Or Morning Glory Bread in our case!)

This is basically a kitchen sink recipe… a little bit of everything… a nutrient-packed way to start the day!

Ingredients:
1½ Tbsp flaxseed meal
½ cup fresh orange juice (with pulp)
½ cup date paste (see note)
⅓ cup dairy-free milk or water
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
1½ tsp vanilla
1 cup oat flour
1 cup potato starch (didn’t have on hand so we subbed whole wheat flour)
1½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup grated apple (packed)
⅔ cup grated carrot
⅓ cup raisins (or dried fruit)
½ cup shredded coconut (optional)
⅔ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Instructions:
1. Mix flax + orange juice → let sit 5 minutes
2. Stir in date paste, milk, applesauce, vanilla
3. Add dry ingredients, mix well
4. Fold in apple, carrot, raisins, coconut, walnuts

Bake:
* Muffins: 350°F for 20–24 min
* Loaf (bread pan): 350°F for 45–55 min
(cover loosely if browning too fast; bake until center is set)

Enjoy! 😋

39 weeks 🤍I don’t talk much about pregnancy on here. I’m not an Ob/Gyn. But as an MD and a mom of multiple, I do get a l...
04/22/2026

39 weeks 🤍

I don’t talk much about pregnancy on here. I’m not an Ob/Gyn. But as an MD and a mom of multiple, I do get a lot of questions about pregnancy and childbirth.

My personal preference: go natural, in the hospital.

Home has its comforts, no question. But my medical training in Ob/Gyn and Pediatrics taught me a lot. I’ve seen enough to know how quickly things can change. And at the end of the day, it’s not really about me and my comforts… it’s about what’s safest for the baby. If he had a vote, I’m pretty sure he’d choose immediate access to care over ambience.

So I choose the best of both: Less intervention when possible, with a full team available if needed.

And to be clear, I will never override the recommendations of my physician team. They have far more training in this space than I do, and I trust their expertise.

And yes, our kids will all be fully vaccinated. I understand the data, the decades of evidence behind it, and the role it plays in protecting not just my children, but others too.

Now just waiting on this little guy to arrive. 🤍
What mattered most to you in your birth experience… comfort, control, or safety?

Every weekend Jay makes two loaves of sourdough… one to eat, one to gift.This weekend we changed it up with sourdough pi...
04/21/2026

Every weekend Jay makes two loaves of sourdough… one to eat, one to gift.

This weekend we changed it up with sourdough pizza night. 🍕

Nothing beats a whole wheat sourdough crust!

Here’s how to build a plant-based pizza that hits the spot:

👉 Crust: Whole wheat sourdough
Not that fancy? Grocery stores often sell the dough, or you can get a premade whole wheat crust.

👉 Sauce: Crushed tomatoes + garlic + oregano + pinch of salt

👉 Load it up: Mushrooms, peppers, onions, spinach, tomatoes… whatever you love (we were a little light on pizza veggies but did peppers, onions, and olives)

👉 Pro tip: Cook watery veggies first (no soggy pizza)

👉 Bake hot: 450–500 until crispy + bubbly

👉 Finish: Fresh basil, arugula, or a drizzle of cashew cream

No cheese needed. The flavor is already there!

What are your favorite pizza toppings? 🍕
I grew up in a pineapple pizza family but current family has veto’d the pineapple! 🍍

This morning’s breakfast… green smoothie bowls. 💚Marketed as “green monster ice cream for breakfast”!Avocado, frozen ban...
04/17/2026

This morning’s breakfast… green smoothie bowls. 💚

Marketed as “green monster ice cream for breakfast”!

Avocado, frozen bananas, spinach, frozen pineapple, ginger, flax, and chia. 🍏

Top with whatever you like… berries, slivered, almonds, chia seeds, h**p seeds, shredded coconut, etc.

If you want more of an ice cream consistency, use more frozen items. Lately, when avocado is ripe, but we’re not ready to eat it, I will pop it in the freezer. Same goes for ripe bananas! 🍌

Always a hit. I have to reserve these for a day when I am not in clinic because they can be a little messy. 😋

Noodles always sell well in our house! When looking for something beyond the usual pasta with red sauce, this a favorite...
04/15/2026

Noodles always sell well in our house! When looking for something beyond the usual pasta with red sauce, this a favorite!

Sesame Soba Noodles (easy weeknight bowl)

From Love & Lemons

What you need:
• Soba noodles
• Avocado
• Snap peas (or any green veg)
• Edamame
• Radish (optional)
• Fresh herbs (mint or cilantro)
• Sesame seeds

Quick dressing:
• Rice vinegar
• Tamari/soy sauce
• Sesame oil (optional)
• Garlic + ginger
• Touch of maple syrup

How to make it:
1. Cook soba noodles (don’t salt the water), then rinse cold so they don’t stick. 
2. Whisk together the dressing.
3. Toss noodles with dressing.
4. Top with veggies, avocado, herbs, and sesame seeds.
5. Finish with a squeeze of lemon.

Fresh, crunchy, tangy, and perfect for meal prep… make for dinner then pack for tomorrow’s lunch!

😋

Address

15 Park Creek Drive
Greenville, SC
29605

Opening Hours

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Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

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+18642717761

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ABOUT

I am a Family Medicine/Lifestyle Medicine physician with Greenville Health System in Greenville, SC. Originally from Acton, MA, I was a figure skater growing up, and became interested in nutrition as a means of optimizing performance. I then moved on to study biomedical engineering at University of Virginia. It wasn’t until my medical training that I made nutrition my main focus, and dedicated my elective time to working with various Lifestyle Medicine doctors around the U.S., including John McDougall MD, Neal Barnard MD, Ron Weiss MD, and Caldwell Esselstyn MD. After these experiences, I had no doubt that Lifestyle Medicine is the key to addressing our chronic disease. I thought I was giving up engineering when I switched to medicine, but in fact, Lifestyle Medicine is engineering. We are reframing the question. Rather than asking “how do we treat the symptoms?”, we must ask why the disease state developed in the first place, our root cause analysis. I am a clinical assistant professor at USC School of Medicine Greenville, a leader of the Lifestyle Medicine Education Collaborative, and an active member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

WHAT IS LIFESTYLE MEDICINE? Lifestyle Medicine is the medical subspecialty focused on using lifestyle modalities to prevent and reverse chronic disease. Why, today, is healthcare so focused on "controlling" disease and treating symptoms, rather than addressing the root cause of disease, and reversing the process entirely? Heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are all prime examples. Lifestyle changes - in particular, a move to a more plant-based diet - are far more powerful than any pharmacotherapy for managing chronic disease and ensuring long term health. We don't "need more research"; we need to start applying what we already know to our communities.

WHAT IS A WHOLE FOODS PLANT-BASED DIET? “Whole foods” means unprocessed or minimally processed foods, as they exist in nature, i.e. single-ingredient foods. Strict individuals will avoid added salt, sugar, and oil as well.

“Plant-based” in its broadest interpretation means >95% of calories coming from plant-based foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. However, most individuals who follow a plant-based diet aim for 100% in order to maximize potential health benefits.