Preserving & Enriching the Most Precious Gem in Our Life-Health

World Health Day (April 7th)

Strive Together to Stay Healthy

Almost none in this world needs an elaborate explanation for the term ‘health’ but most of us don’t pay attention to this precious gem in our life. Yoga, autism, cancer, diabetes, malaria and many more have designated days to impart their importance to the citizens of any country. But doesn’t it seem funny to celebrate a day for health when it is a part of each of us integral to everyday life and activities? The proverb,

‘If wealth is lost, nothing is lost
If health is lost, something is lost
If character is lost, everything is lost’

says it all. Heath is not only the absence of physical pain but in the actual sense it is a sense of complete well-being of the body which includes physical, mental and social well-being. Health is a person’s ability to recover from illness or the time taken to become his/her normal self after being struck by problems. While this definition is conventional, of late researchers have also added the statement that health is the ability to adapt to new threats and diseases without having to face debilitating side effects.

Physical & Mental Health
Physical health has been the topic of conversation for decades. Alongside absence of any disease it is also the person’s ability to develop endurance, lead a healthful lifestyle and minimize the risk of injury. Mental health on the other hand has gained prominence recently. It is as important as physical health for the overall well-being of the person. What we need to understand is the core fact that mental health is not only the absence of depression, anxiety or restlessness but also the inside ability to enjoy life, face problems, feel safe, lead a normal life even after facing stressful situations in life and maximizing your potential to reach a better place in life.

It is essential to realize that both, mental and physical health are interrelated. For instance, the inability to walk or move around prevents a person from performing few tasks or even going to different places. This brings about frustration or a sense of disappointment which in turn can become depression in due course. Likewise, depression prevents a person from doing physical activity increasing sedentary behaviour and leading to physical imbalance.

The overall health of a person is affected by the multiple conditions- the environment in which he/she lives, genetic code of the individual and the socio-economic environment surrounding the person. The last factor, socio-economic environment determines the quality of life of the individual. Higher the socio-economic environment better is the life of the person as he/she enjoys better health, good healthcare and a great job.

Being Healthy Forever
Each of us can take steps from our end to safeguard health and improve wellness. This is the smartest way to lead a healthful life instead of waiting until some disease strikes us. Adhering to few recommendations can take us a step ahead in terms of wellness and well-being.

• Eating a well balanced, healthy diet filled with nutrients. Visit the website www.firsteatright.com for a healthy diet plan from our renowned nutritionists and dietitians.
• Doing physical activity regularly irrespective of our mood or emotions
• Going for a routine health checkup annually
• Staying stress-free is impossible but each of us can take steps to manage stress
• Having a positive outlook on life, surrounding yourself with positive people and looking at life from a brighter perspective
• Voluntarily engaging in activities that provide a sense of fulfilment and belonging

Life does not come with a guarantee or warrantee but taking these steps can help you become more flexible, healthier and stay positive in life. You might not be disease-free but you are surely equipped with the ability to handle situations, illnesses and problems with better ease.