COMBATING LIFESTYLE DISEASES
- Health and wellness sector keeps witnessing paradigm shifts once in every 8-10 years. What is healthy in terms of eating, drinking, exercising and lifestyle modifications is not something that can be universally defined because of many factors that control a good healthy metabolic system in each individual.
- BMI and weighing scales are a redundant way of looking at your health. We all are falling prey to that. We have started looking more at the quantity of what we weigh, what we eat and what we spend (energy). We need to change that outlook –and focus on the quality.
- Your metabolism, oxygen & water retention, strength in muscles & bones, pulse rate, energy levels, stability and balance etc are the real indicators. That is the quality we need to focus on. Similarly, the quality of energy (calories) intake and the quality of energy spent (how we burn those calories) is more important. It’s all about the biochemistry and not the mathematics.
- Latest researches across the globe suggest that when it comes to the cardiovascular health, cholesterol is a stale story and I have spoken about it in many platforms including my YouTube videos. Similarly, glucose levels in blood can’t merely decide if one is pre diabetic or diabetic. We are stuck with parameters like cholesterol levels in blood and fasting or PP glucose levels which do not tell the whole story. Having elasticity on the artery walls, low insulin in blood, strong heart muscles and good hormonal balance for a smooth metabolism are the latest research pointers.
- Fat soluble vitamins like Vit A, D, E and K are critical factors when it comes to our health. Minerals like calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium are the key players. A strong liver, healthy kidneys along with a healthy gut, which is considered the new centre of metabolism (and not the brain), should be our focus areas when we try to understand good health and a happy mind. Sleep and stress management which effect the balance of key hormones like cortisol and insulin are important issues to address too.
- And while we all endeavour to become fitter, it’s more important to first become healthier. Healthy India has to come before we talk of Fit India. Yes, it’s time to take charge of your health.
