Healthy Living: Going Beyond the Absence of Disease

Many of us make the mistake of thinking that health is merely the absence of disease. According to the World Health Organization; a person is considered to be healthy if they have complete and total wellbeing in a number of spheres. These spheres include physical, mental, social, psychological, economic, spiritual and political dimensions. Therefore even if you do not have a serious ailment like Tuberculosis or cancer; you will still not be healthy if you are traumatized by war and stressed by your family living conditions. It is from this generalized and comprehensive understanding of health that we propose the following healthy living tips:

a)    Prevent Diseases Before they happen

Healthy people are consciously aware of their bodies and their vulnerabilities. They know if their blood cholesterol of insulin levels are high. These are the people that schedule doctors’ appointments before they feel any symptoms. They will go out of their way to pursue a lifestyle that is least likely to increase their exposure to disease. Some of the things that they do to achieve this objective include reducing the amount of red meat in their diets; choosing to steam/boil instead of fry; checking the calorie content of all their meals; seeking a balanced diet that consists of natural foods without additives; exercising on a regular basis without breaking the body; and screening for genetic defects. This type of preventative healthy living can prolong your life and reduce the hospital bills that you have to pay throughout your lifetime.

b)     Moderate and Reduce Stress in Your Life

We live in a fast moving environment in which we are under constant pressure to perform for our spouses, peers, friends, family and even the general public at large. At the same time the human body is restricted in terms of its capacity to cope with repeated stress. The onus is on you the individual to ensure that you get out of stressful situations. That may mean not arguing with family members or engaging in negative workplace politics. It is also possible to complement your efforts by taking on healthful habits such as doing yoga, meditation and getting counselling when you need it.

c)      Build and Improve your Relationships

By nature human beings are social. The people that surround us contribute to our wellbeing because they give us a sense of belonging and companionship. Therefore in order to achieve health you need to expand your relationships to people that reciprocate your affection for them. That process may necessarily mean that you detach from those that do not connect with you or with whom you have destructive relationships. Try to be at peace with people who are within your immediate environment. Expand your social networks by joining clubs and other recreational groups which offer you a positive social life.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the general things that you can do in order to lead a healthful lifestyle. It is quite clear from this article that health is a holistic concept that touches on all aspects of human existence. Do not narrow it down to whether you have a disease or not.