Pursuit of Wellness: A Holistic Approach

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Sanio David

Department of Chemistry, St. Joseph’s college (Autonomous), Jakhama


Wellness and illness are very closely related although they seem different. Man is born with a beautiful in-built repair mechanism system that enables to correct most, as long as he lives. “Do not try to live forever, you will not succeed” said Bernard Shaw. Our efforts to stay healthy should not aim at the impossible state of immortality. Most illnesses start in our minds only to grow in the body, catalyze by tobacco, alcohol, wrong food habits, and pollution in our environment. Consequently, a holistic approach to healthy lifestyle has to account and the following has to look in all aspects of our life.

 

Our Mind

Man is different from the rest of species on this planet as his brain and all other organs could be influenced by the mind. Recent data on the important role played by the human mind in the causation of major illness like heart attack and cancer have revived our interest in the complexity of the working of the human mind. The American Medical Association in its recent has published a large study on the relation between life stress and their role in the causation of artery disease. Since many illnesses originate in the mind, time has come to introspect of keeping the mind healthy to have good bodily health. How to keep the mind healthy? A healthy mind can be achieved by eating food in moderation, avoid lies, hatred, and backbiting, forgiveness even your enemy, and above all love everyone as your dear and near ones.

 

Our Diet

Many life threatening chronic diseases are linked to poor diet, including obesity, diabetes, malnutrition and several types of cancer. “The food we eat and how we produce it determine the health and the planet, and we are currently getting this seriously wrong” said Tim Lang, a professor at City University of London. The essence of healthy living is avoiding extreme food intake. There must be a choice of food in diet. Vegetarian food is healthier since human basically is vegetarian evolutionary as well as socially. It is advisable to break into 5 to 6 small meals a day out of which 2 to 3 could be fruits. The quantity of meals must decrease as the night approaches and avoid deep-frying foods.

 

Tobacco and Alcohol

These are the two deadly enemies of mankind. Thanks to Richard Doll, a British physician who for the first time linked tobacco smoking caused lung cancer and increased the risk of heart disease. Many people believe the idea that a small amount of alcohol, especially red wine, is good for health and is a heart tonic. The truth is however very far from the belief. Although there is no unambiguous evidence to say that small amounts of alcohol are bad for health, yet also there is not even an iota of evidence to say that small amount of alcohol in any form is good for health. What we eat and drink will be response by our system. Therefore, it is always wise to take care while taking things which are alien to our body system.

 

Regular Exercise

One of the most important parts of the lifestyle modification is regular exercise. This has become very crucial for today’s generation especially white collar professionals and sedentary housewives. Simple daily walks for about an hour would be the best that could happen to our health and this has the ability to keep us healthy as possible and avoid much fatal illness. Overexertion and heavy exercise are not healthy. One must enjoy the pleasure of daily exercise and it should not be an obsession.


Many are aware and conscious about health yet we fail to follow and practice. It is a continuous active process which does not takes place overnight and required consciousness of making choices towards a healthy and fulfilling life. Our ignorance and momentary pleasure can lead to abyss. Our mind is the driving force for wellness as well as illness. In conclusion, one could understand that our body works as a whole and not in bits and pieces.