There is a popular saying that health is wealth. This is something many people can relate to because no one wants to spend every waking moment in a hospital bed. People would rather be out there living their best lives, going on fun dates, travelling, going sightseeing, spending time with family, building a solid career, and the like. While this is everyone’s desire, for some reason, not everyone is lucky enough to live a long and healthy life. But is luck the culprit here?
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people suffering from terminal illnesses, particularly in Africa and other developing regions of the world. The reason is not far-fetched. With increased civilisation and industrialisation, there has been a change in lifestyle, from labour-intensive to relatively laid-back office jobs. There have also been modifications in our diet from high-fibre, vegetable-filled meals to processed, baked, sugary meals. The trend is now less physical activity, with more carbohydrate and processed sugar intake. This has put us at an increased risk of developing chronic illnesses like diabetes mellitus, several types of cancers and even kidney problems. Of course, our health system is not the best, so facilities for early diagnosis and screening are not readily available.
Another big issue, especially for females is the obsession with beauty, to the extent that almost anything advertised as a beauty-enhancing product is used on the skin, regardless of the source and chemical composition. Many young Nigerian ladies use all sorts of skin products, commonly referred to as “organics”, a lot of which are nephrotoxic (harmful to the kidneys). You may wonder how products used on the skin get into the body and eventually, the kidneys. The answer is simple, through the blood. Blood flows to every part of the body, including the skin. The contents of our creams, powders and cosmetics seep through the skin, get into the blood and are taken to the kidneys to be filtered off and eliminated in urine. The issue, however, is that many of these contents are harmful to the kidneys, and upon getting to the kidneys, damage them, while being cleared from the blood. Hence, the an increase in the number of young people with end-stage kidney disease, requiring a renal transplant.
This is just to mention a few of the health problems our generation is facing because of some of the choices we have made. Good health does not come on a platter of gold. It is available only to those who are willing to pay the price to live healthily. Will you make the right choice today? If you will, here are a few tips that may be of help to developing a healthy lifestyle that will translate into good health:
- DRINK WATER REGULARLY
The recommended daily water intake is about 15 cups for men and 11 cups for women. This is important because the body is made up of 70% water and this volume of water is needed to be maintained to ensure optimal functioning of the cells that make up our organs. So, in order not to stress your cells, give them enough water.
- EAT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES REGULARLY
Vitamins and minerals are essential for optimum immune function, rapid wound healing, fighting infections and maintaining the skin. In fact, rather than eating chocolate, soft drinks, alcohol and the likes, fruits and vegetables are recommended.
- AVOID SMOKING
Smoking is on the increase in many parts of the world for numerous reasons, mostly linked to peer influences -it seems like a cool thing to do- not necessarily because there are any known benefits. It is a risk factor for any and every kind of cancer, and for people who already have an underlying genetic predisposition to some cancers, there is an even greater risk.
- AVOID ALCOHOL
Significant consumption of alcohol is deleterious to health. It could lead to dependence and gastrointestinal disturbances. When combined with smoking, its likelihood of causing cancer significantly increases.
- DO NOT USE HARMFUL CHEMICALS ON YOUR SKIN IN THE NAME OF BEAUTY PRODUCTS
Ladies, before you try out a product on your skin, discuss it with your dermatologist. Do not make beauty decisions based on hearsay or comments online. Your kidneys and health are precious.
- EXERCISE REGULARLY
The importance of regular physical activity and exercise cannot be overemphasized. Make working out a part of your routine. Set an alarm. Go for jogs. Try out skipping. Hit the gym. You will be impressed by how significantly your health improves.
- ADOPT HEALTHY EATING HABITS
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Skipping breakfast puts you at an increased risk of developing peptic ulcer disease. While eating too large portions of food is not advised, skipping meals entirely may not be such a good idea either. Rather than skip meals, you could replace them with a healthier alternative, such as a fruit or vegetable. Ensure that each meal is a balanced diet and has an adequate blend of all the classes of food, and not just carbohydrates. Also, avoid eating late and late-night snacks.
From all that has been said, it is obvious that good health and healthy living is a decision we make and not something we expect to happen to us because we are good people. It is not a game of luck, but a choice. Choose to live a healthy life today.