Moving towards sustainable healthy choices.
According to the World Health Organization, being healthy means achieving a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing; not merely the absence of disease.
To obtain good health and wellbeing we must remember that there is a vibrant interplay between the various aspects of our lives. These aspects should be taken into account when embarking on any program aimed at improving your health.
In the pursuit of health, most people usually focus their efforts on diet and exercise as the key components necessary to achieve health and weight loss goals. This is mostly because the picture of good health usually goes only skin deep.
A balanced diet and a consistent exercise program are necessary for maintaining a healthy weight, fostering good blood sugar and cholesterol levels among other things. However, factors such as stress and inadequate sleep can also affect your body’s ability to maintain good health and combat diseases.
A holistic approach considering the dynamic nature of your life can be the key to success when trying to implement lasting changes.
We now know that an individual’s mindset and issues within their personal life can present significant roadblocks to progress.
Achieving true health requires an honest look at your behaviours, habits and beliefs and entails a lot more than following a diet plan or instituting an exercise routine.
Over a lifetime we develop complex relationships with our food and daily routines. Preferences based on culinary taste and economic convenience, often constitute poor choices. This can lead to the development of bad habits, resulting in poor health outcomes.
Lifestyle medicine addresses the determinants of health and focuses on educating and motivating patients to change harmful habits and behaviours. It encourages the adoption of a whole-food and plant-based diet, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management techniques and supportive social connections. It also promotes the avoidance of harmful substances.
A lifestyle that is in harmony with a healthy body is vital. To do this it is beneficial to engage with health care professionals that can guide you through a process that addresses your current health problems while encouraging habits and behaviours which promote good health.
This approach will assist you in identifying why you feel sick, tired and stressed; while helping you to avoid conditions like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. These conditions are mostly due to unhealthy habits and are some of the leading causes of pain, suffering, disability and death worldwide.
Being healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. The key lies in engaging with the right support and guidance as well as finding and maintaining a routine that works for you. Consistent action can help you to develop healthy habits which can lead to a life free from chronic disease, filled with a genuine sense of overall well being.