Setting a standard for healthy Living!
Leading a health life may be difficult for many people because it is a life of discipline. We have seen according to Health Demographic Surveys that a number of people are dying from overweight to heart-related diseases.
Unfortunately, covid19 made it worse for these individuals as WHO propounded that about 80% of Covid deaths were because of lack of fitness. Diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular conditions and mental health issues continue to afflict a growing number of Zimbabweans. It is estimated that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 31% of total deaths in Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe WHO 2015) and by 2019 the numbers had gone up to 39.26% (World Bank Collections 2019). We can imagine by 2021 as we wait for 2021 DHS and WHO findings. According to Newsday, 43% of Zimbabwe`s workforce suffer from overweight and stress illness. Zimbabwean companies face the cost of $300 million annual wages and productivity through mental health, stress-related illness, and lack of fitness resulting in absence from work (Newsday 2016). Therefore, there is a need to change the way we live as individuals as a way to live a good quality of life and so avoid early deaths.
Nutrition
There are some factors that need to be taken into consideration as a way to lead a healthy life. Nutrition is the first and foremost area that contributes to good health or diseases. One, therefore, needs to know and what to eat and what not to eat. In short, processed foods, white starch/carbohydrates, alcohol, smoking, fizzy and sugar drinks must be avoided or limited. This serves one from having metabolic disorders and insulin resistance. What we need to eat to stay healthier is organic foods and most importantly brown starches.
Exercise
Movement is vital for a human life. We are meant to move. Our health just like nutrition depends also on exercise. Exercising helps us to have a healthy weight. It provides us with so many benefits from experiencing good sleep, a strong immune system and many more. Knowing how to exercise is vital. Before dedicating time for training Functional & medical assessment must be done first helping us to understand our fitness level, our fitness goals leading us to know which type of training suits our fitness level and goals. It helps also to avoid injuries as at times we need quick results whilst in most cases, our fitness level is at zero out of ten. We need to always exercise safely, efficiently and effectively. Exercise has been proved to have many benefits. Most importantly it is a tool for good health and mental health. Therefore, to lead a healthy lifestyle we need to dedicate time daily. WHO recommends 150 minutes per week to attain general fitness.
Sleep
It is difficult to be healthy when we deprive our bodies of getting enough sleep. Sleeping plays an important role in our life. It helps our bodies to heal, recover and refuel. Lack of it causes diseases and poor performance in our daily tasks. Research recommends about more than 4 hours every night. In the wellness and fitness spectrum sleep plays an important role that completing exercising and nutrition. Exercises destroy muscle tissues and through the right nutrition, nutrients are fed to the muscle. That process of muscle recovery and growth takes place in its complete cycle when we give the body enough rest. Without getting enough sleep it is difficult to lose weight and to gain muscle. Sleep deprivation is a recipe for illness and serious depression.
Lastly, to lead a healthy lifestyle we have seen that it takes good nutrition, exercising, getting enough sleep but most importantly mental and emotional well being is the driver behind. Each day we face challenges and we are also guaranteed that we shall forever face some and more. We need to be in a healthy mental and emotional state. There is need to train our minds in a way that we can handle pressure and uncomfortable situations. One must be able to solve our own problems without being left helpless. It also implies having a community of friends and family with whom we can share our journey with and who can also support us in time of need. Stress has to be our friend otherwise it can become our worst enemy if not handled with care. It is difficult to be healthy when we struggle emotionally and mentally. Mental health matters. These are some of the few things that can help us to lead a healthy life.
Taku Muzzo
Certified Holistic Health & Wellness coach
Certified Nutrition & Fitness coach
