In the last year or two, we have seen a surge in the health-conscious public. Celebrity magazines have forever been obsessed with the weight gain and loss of various celebs, and not just female ones, and that hasn’t changed. But the focus has slightly shifted due to the shift in perceived beauty. Back in the eighties, the supermodel era kicked off – and only got skinnier in the nineties with Kate Moss sporting a BMI of 16.
The mental complications that are caused by this negativity can be profound and has led to a rise in self-harm, self-mutilation and even suicide in teenagers over the last decade. Under 16% of teenage girls say that they are happy with their bodies, and of that 16%, only 4% said they wouldn’t change a thing about the way they look. Body issues don’t just affect teenagers; it’s a problem that that continues throughout people’s lives, with more people choosing to visit places like the plastic surgery institute to help them feel better about themselves. And this doesn’t just affect western culture. Iran has been named the nose job capital of the world, with over seven times more procedures a year than in the UK.
There are still many diet fads out there that might not be the best idea for your body, particularly if you’re a yo-yo dieter. And with the rise of shredded action figures, men are facing the same issue as women with regards to body image issues. But there are also hundreds of healthy diet plans that work with your body and combine exercise and the right food to help you lose weight quickly and healthily. As well as plenty of workouts that can give you your ideal body.
As well as the media creating issues with people’s perceptions of their bodies – it goes a lot deeper. The mental complications that are caused be this negativity can be profound and has led to a rise in self-harm, self-mutilation and even suicide in teenagers over the last decade. Under 16% of teenage girls say that they are happy with their bodies, and of that 16%, only 4% said they wouldn’t change a thing about the way they look. Body issues don’t just affect teenagers; it’s a problem that that continues throughout people’s lives. These issues might not be able to be fixed by exercise and eating right, however, which is why cosmetic surgery has risen hugely in recent years. And this doesn’t just affect western culture. Iran has been named the nose job capital of the world, with over seven times more procedures a year than in the UK.
The obvious aim to live a healthy lifestyle is to have a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and look after any physical or mental ailments. Yet the bar of how serious should you be about your health has never been set in any permanent way. There is no minimum guide, nor is there a maximum. Which then asks the question – is there such a thing as too healthy?
There are many people out there who would shout one way or the other, but there are sound arguments for each side – with many elderly women commenting that they passed the 100 year mark by drinking a glass of red wine a day, and one fantastic Scottish lady giving the advice of eating your porridge and avoid men to achieve longevity. And then, of course, you have the scientific fact that the human body can’t stand too much abuse from one way or the other. It needs things like sugar and fat, but can’t take too much. It can take a glass or two of wine, and it is proven that this can be beneficial for the body as long as it’s in moderation. But too much alcohol at once can shut it down. Drugs are a no-no – even medicinal drugs can have a negative effect on the liver over time. Eating too much of certain vegetables can change the natural composition of the body, but not enough can cause things like anaemia and scurvy.
The body can survive amazing and harrowing difficulties, but it can also crash at the slightest misbalance. You can live a perfectly fine life eating whatever and exercising as much as you want – obviously, the extremes should always be avoided. But in answer to the question ‘how seriously should you take your health?’ the answer is; enough that your body functions well and you’re not putting yourself at risk, as a minimum. And as a maximum; as much as you want to – as long as ‘healthy’ maintains your goal, and not the most muscular, thinnest, or the champion of a fad.
The health of your body can easily be split into sections that you should look at and figure out for yourself just how healthy you want to go through implementing some of these facts and suggestions into your everyday life.
Exercise
As we have said, exercise is really important for the proper working of your body. Without it, your body literally tries to shut down through muscle wastage. It is recommended that you indulge in half an hour of exercise which raising your heart rate, per day. Although, to get your body working properly, and to give your body the natural influx of endorphins – which is great for both your physical and mental health – you should be aiming for an hour workout three times a week, that includes some cardio and some weight usage. Using weights doesn’t have to mean going to the gym and using a bench press. Doing exercises like pilates and yoga uses your own weight as the force you are working against. And yoga is a great exercise to connect you to your mental state and get it looking as healthy as your body.Diet
A balanced diet can be achieved by everyone, regardless of allergies and dietary preferences. The traditional food wheel that every kid learns at school can easily be adapted for vegetarians, vegans, and people allergic to main foods like dairy and wheat. The replacement of food might have to be in a higher quantity than stipulated on the original wheel, but that can be expected. In saying this, by cutting out a major food group, either by choice or not, you do decrease your access to much-needed vitamins. And where a vegan will have no problem getting their protein from nuts, the amount they have to consume of one to equal the other isn’t always a feasible amount. And if you can’t have dairy, your calcium intake is never going to be as high as it would otherwise be – particularly if your body has been used to higher levels in the past. In these situations, there is no harm in taking a supplement vitamin in addition to your normal diet.Medical
You need to keep on top of your bodies inner workings as much as you do the way it looks. The exercise and balanced diet will certainly help, but not everything can be cured by kale and a run. No matter who you are, you can still be hit by cancer. Obviously, there are things that you can do that will increase your risk, but for the most part – you either get it or you don’t. Many will be thinking – well what’s the point in being healthy then? And the answer comes in two; the first is that if you do get cancer, then the healthier you are, the better chance you have of beating it and having a quicker recovery. And secondly; you might get cancer anyway. However, there are hundreds more diseases that you will completely thwart, like diabetes, heart disease and gout. You should take any appointments you have with the doctor very seriously. However, there are hundreds more diseases that you will completely thwart, like diabetes, heart disease and gout. You should take any appointments you have with the doctor very seriously. Things like vaginal swabs for cervical cancer, mammograms for breast cancer, and prostate exams for prostate cancer should never be missed. They are an annual appointment, and so you have plenty of time to move them if need be. As well as regular doctor’s check ups you should also keep up with your regular eye tests and hearing tests with your chosen practitioner. If an optician recommends that you wear glasses, you need to take their advice seriously. Maintaining stellar eye health will come down to your diet and how you protect your eyes on a daily basis. This includes wearing your glasses when you need them and protecting your eyes with sunglasses when you’re outside.
