Healthy Living

Health is described as physical and mental well-being and freedom from disease, pain or defect. However, such descriptions only superficially define the actually meaning of health. There may be many occasions when individuals are not necessarily ill or in pain but may be overweight, stressed or emotionally unstable. Health is a quality of life involving dynamic interaction and interdependence among the individual's physical state, their mental and emotional reactions, and the social context in which the individual exists. There are many factors that influence your health, but three major components contribute to general well-being: Self-awareness, a balanced diet and, regular physical activity.

In order to lead a healthy lifestyle, it is essential that individuals constantly monitor their health. This involves not only physical, but also mental and emotional aspects of the body's functioning, as they relate to the home, school, work, and leisure environments. If necessary changes are made sooner rather than later, then a stable, balanced and healthy lifestyle will be more consistently maintained. In fact, the World Health Organization says being healthy is feeling that there are few physical or emotional impediments to doing things in your life that you would like. For example, there are many people who are suffering from chronic illnesses who are healthy because they are able to maintain their creativity and vivacity when others cannot. It is evident that self-awareness encompasses the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of health.

The foods we eat are also major players in the quest for healthy living as they provide us with a variety of essential nutrients required for normal bodily activities. Many foods are packed with good energy, like complex carbohydrates and protein while others are loaded with fats and sugars which only pose as short-term energizers. However, as our "fast-food" society continues to stay busy and on the go at all times the realities of the old adage "you are what you eat" begins to fade. Forgetting about the importance of a balanced diet and eating fattening foods begins to clog the heart with cholesterol and fat which results in a slowed metabolism. This is why over 70% of our society is overweight today.

Contributing to the slowed metabolism mentioned previously is the absence of regular physical activity. Physical fitness is a necessity in order to live a long