Diet has been shown to play a pivotal role in maintaining a person’s health. There are many nutritional factors that can significantly affect health and many of these have been scientifically investigated. Many foods have been shown to have beneficial effects on the health because of the chemicals they contain. Certain foods contain essential component such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids, that are vital to health. Other foods contain accessory nutrients or antioxidants that play a role in supporting normal physiological function and optimising metabolic processes. Many other foods can have detrimental effects on health, and avoiding these foods is advisable. However, there are a number of non-nutritional strategies that can be employed in life that are effective at improving health, and when incorporated to a lifestyle strategy including a high quality diet, can significantly increase the quality of life.
The most effective strategy to avoid ill health and disease, is stress avoidance. Stress is highly subjective, but universally destructive. Stress can come in many forms including work, relationships, physical activity, commuting, or any other activity that results in the development of a stress reaction in an individual. Stress hormones include adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol. These hormones allow an individual to cope with difficult environmental conditions or perceived negative events. External stress is required in humans as a motivating and adaptive force, but too much stress leads to a destructive deterioration in normal physiological regulation. Avoiding undue and overly bearing stress is therefore highly important if a healthy lifestyle is to be maintained. A good diet can allow a greater tolerance for stress, However, no diet or dietary component can prevent the damaging effects of chronic and intense stress, and in many cases withdrawal from the stressor is the only coping strategy.
Meditation and breathing techniques are an excellent way to reduce stress levels and improve health.
Physical activity is beneficial because it can be used to increase the metabolism of stress hormones, lessening the detrimental effects. Physical activity is a requirement of humans, and all humans who do not move, contract serious disease and impairment in a short period of time. However, as with all things, balance is important, and there is no requirement in humans for intense physical activity in the form of sport or other recreational exercise. Daily life can provide all the requirements for physical activity, and digging, climbing stairs, walking, running for a train, carrying books, cleaning and other daily tasks are easily able to supply enough activity to maintain health. Therefore it is important to understand the difference between health and fitness, with sport and recreational exercise more likely to provide fitness rather than health. Exercise is a form of stress and so intense exercise, or exercise that is of extreme duration or frequency can provide a source of stress that causes a deterioration in health.
Exercise is beneficial at combatting stress because it increases the metabolism of stress hormones. However, intense exercise can be a form of stress.
Therefore both avoidance of stress and regular physical activity are a requirement of good health and can provide a synergistic improvement in lifestyle when accompanied by a healthy high quality diet. However, both the requirements of stress relief and exercise can be obtained through the use of relaxation and breathing techniques such as yoga or tai chi. Meditation and breathing are lost arts and traditional exercises that utilise these as core principles of their doctrine can significantly improve both physical and mental health. Meditation has been shown to be highly effective against stress, and both flexibility and strength can be improved through learning and practicing the ancient arts of tai chi and yoga, and their variations. A healthy diet is important in maintaining good health, but it only one piece of the puzzle, a puzzle that must be completed before optimal health can be obtained. Feeding the mind, soul, and the conscious and unconscious self, is just as important as feeding the body.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself
RdB
