The Meaning of Health
In Western medicine, being healthy means the absence of illness. But there is a wide gap between illness and vitality. Healthy is a state of well-being. It is something that you have and do not value until it is gone. Health is not something that you think about when you have it but rather something that you aim or work towards once you are threatened to lose it.
Prevention is better than cure
Nature intended for us to be healthy. She gave us fresh clean air, water, fertile land, oceans and lakes to swim in and mountains and hills to climb. We added chemicals and fertilisers to our food and water. This has complicated the way we live. Stress adds to the conundrum.
They say that prevention is better than cure. We are given only one body – a vehicle or machine – that is meant to last us our lifetime on Earth. It is our own responsibility to care for and maintain our bodies. Regardless of what happens to it, we have to live in this body for the rest of our lives. Only in one’s old age, does one reminiscence of what could have been done better. Once disease sets in, we look to medicine to heal and sustain our bodies. Often this comes with its own complications like finance, side effects, misdiagnosis and late diagnosis.
How to keep a healthy lifestyle
These days it is trendy to look after one’s self with words like self-care and self-love being used on social media. But what does this actually mean? It doesn’t need to be fancy bath bombs and Instagram-worthy bubble baths.
Looking after your health could mean going to bed one hour earlier after a long day. It could mean choosing to be active by parking your car further away from the entrance to the mall, taking the stairs, swapping a bag of crisps for h popcorn or some stretching in the morning.
It all starts with listening to your body. Eat when you are hungry. Drink water when you are thirsty. Rest when you are tired. Those are the basic mechanisms designed by nature to make sure that your body gets what it needs. It is simple for the simple. Fad diets and complicated fitness regimens are not necessary.
In order to thrive, we need to be aware of what our bodies need. A balanced diet, light exercise, and good sleep are the most important pillars of good health. Health comprises physical, mental (emotional), and spiritual well-being.
In conclusion, we need to go back to basics to enjoy good health. We need to eat more whole foods as close to natural as possible, less processed. Spend more time outside during weekends, even if it is a simple walk down your street. Smile more. Be happy and content with what you have. Balance is the key to harmony and harmony is health.
Guest Post by
Larissa Seebran is a pharmacist, employed full-time at a public hospital in Durban. She is a prominent blogger in Durban and loves to talk about skincare and women’s wellness on her blog and Instagram @lady.larissa
