Maintaining Optimal Health

For one to be healthy, he or she will need to be optimal in both physical and mental health. As a matter of fact, the W.H.O defines health as the state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".

That is to say that for one to enjoy good health, he has to prioritise the various aspects of health by making the right choices in different aspects of his or her life.

For physical health, one can optimise it by;

• eating good food including fruits and vegetables; having the right diet goes a long way in ensuring that our body is not only nourished but also it provides our immune system with the ability to fight infections adequately. In addition, it helps to prevent some conditions like diabetes, malnutrition and obesity.

• drinking water adequately; water is sometimes overlooked by some people but this should never be so, drink adequately to stay hydrated and prevent dehydration or worse kidney injury.

• having adequate rest and sleep; rest is vital to give our body time to heal and recuperate from daily stressors. In addition sleep being the best form of rest should be optimal, ideally about 7 hours a day. The body is not a machine, even machines are allowed to rest. How much more out body.

• exercising regularly; it's important for us to move actively from time to time. It must NOT be a gym membership or marathon jogs. Even 10 minutes of dancing per day is enough to get your heart pumping and optimise blood circulation in your system.
  By so doing, the risk of obesity, diabetes, and many more are reduced.

• alcohol and smoking control; alcohol and smoking are usually implicated in many health conditions. An Individual who avoids both has reduced the risk of many illnesses by more than 50%.

Mental health being another important aspect of health also needs to be taken good care of by;

• Self awareness; know yourself very well- what you like, places you like, your abilities and your limits, etc.
  This is because, mental health problems usually stem from stressors, especially the psychological stressors that are not dealt with. OR someone who refused to accept their limits and becomes overwhelmed in trying to overdo.

• rest and sleep; are also very important for mental health just as in physical health.

• exercise; is also a mood booster. The after effects of exercise like good body outlook, improved physical health also contribute positively to an individuals mental health.

• address problems as they arise; one very important aspect of mental health is 'not bottling things'.
  When you encounter a challenge or problematic scenario, discuss it with those involved. Speak up and speak out. Tackle challenges head-on.
  But if the conditions are not favourable for you to follow this advice, for instance if a workplace boss is involved or a much more powerful person, then at least discuss the matter with a loved one. Unburden yourself so that the weight will be shared. This goes a long way in preventing mental health crisis.

The various aspects of health are intertwined. We should try as much as possible to make good choices and stay healthy.
I wish us all good health.