6 Minutes
How health affects the different aspects of human life.
Health is a term we use to describe the overall status of an individual. Human health involves various aspects and components from physical to mental and psychological. Health can affect our lives significantly and can literally be a matter of life and death. And even when it is not, health still stands as an integral part of life as it determines the efficiency of our mental and physical functions. Despite its apparent importance, many of us tend to neglect health as we try to gratify our needs and goals. However, what many people fail to grasp is that health is the key to all successes or pleasures we might pursue in life. From healthy diets and good sleep to exercise and self-care, the manner by which we maintain our health can change our productivity at work, our social relations with others, our mood and mental state, and in brief our entire life. Even those who understand the importance of health might have a distorted concept of what health means. Researches all around the world have been conducting studies that further prove how health should be the number one priority in our lives.
Sleep: the rest we need for a better life.
Sleep is a crucial aspect of health and is conveyed as so to us as toddlers, students, and adults. The human body, like other animals, exerts considerable amounts of energy throughout every day to maintain the different functions of the body. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the average human needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep per day. Nonetheless, according to a study in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 1 in 3 American adults do not get enough hours of sleep in their nights. This deprivation can be detrimental to health as it can cause high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure or stroke. Other potential problems include obesity, depression, and impairment in immunity and lower sex drive. Such complications can lower work productivity, decrease sociability, and damage your overall happiness and wellbeing. Sleep quality and duration can be affected by many factors such as caffeine consumption, drug and alcohol consumption, anxiety and depression, insomnia, and several others. According the CDC1, the National Institutes of Health2, the National Institute on Aging, there are several tips for getting better sleep. These include Creating a Sleep-Inducing Bedroom, Optimizing Your Sleep Schedule, Crafting a Pre-Bed time Routine, and Fostering Pro-Sleep Habits during the Day.
Food: the importance of nutrition
The human body is an intricate machine that needs maintenance and sustaining. Different systems and different functions demand specific nutrition and macros to function normally. The modern day food industries and cultures have caused the widespread of poor food quality and eating habits. People are now eating more processed carbs, more trans fats, and more sugars. In addition, the absence of several nutrients such as fiber and iron has led to the increase in health issues, such as digestive diseases a study released by Journal of the American Medical Association. The in 2017 found that more than 40 per cent of all the deaths in the United States in 2012 related to cardio metabolic diseases were with suboptimal eating habits. Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian of Tufts University and the research team reported that Of 702,308 adult deaths due to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, 318,656 (45%) were associated with inadequate consumption of certain nutrients widely considered vital for healthy living, and a high intake of other foods that are not. Several other studies have showed a direct relation between food and mental health. Food can also affect sexual heath and fertility as some foods can lower hormones and diminish sex drive, while others can enhance both.
In a research conducted by Veenhoven, R.Will, titled Healthy Eating Make You Happier? Veenhoven found that healthy eating meant higher happiness for the individual. The brain is a body organ just like any other and it needs nutrients to achieve optimal function. Eating healthy food promotes the growth of “good” bacteria, which in turn positively affects neurotransmitter production. Some food is known to boost serotonin such as bananas and dark chocolate.
Moreover, food cultures play an important role in the general wellbeing of individuals as one study reported that people who follow a Mediterranean-style diet (a diet high in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, beans, cereals, grains, fish, and unsaturated fats such as olive oil) experienced lower levels of depression. Cogniful aims to spread a healthier food culture among its clients in order to improve their physical and mental health.
Mental health: how people neglect it and why they should not.
Mental health is one aspect of human health that is greatly overlooked. Many people adopt healthy physical habits such as sleep and healthy eating, yet they suffer because they place little or no focus on their mental health. Modern life styles tend to place a lot of pressure on the human brain, and just like the body, this brain needs rest and care to maintain its heath. Neglecting mental health can lead to further complications such as anxiety and depression. People with poor mental health look for ways to drown their pain through bad habits such as drug consumption, compulsive eating habits(binge eating), and other behavioral addictions.
The National Institute of Mental Health Disorders estimates that around 1 in 4 American adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. Many of these people do not seek professional help due to several reasons including lack of awareness, fear of social judgment, and financial issues. In the National Comorbidity Study, for example, 47 percent of respondents with a mood, anxiety, or substance-use disorder who said they thought they needed mental health care cited cost or not having health insurance as a reason they did not receive that care. In addition to not receiving professional help, many people fail to take care of their mental health in their daily lives. It is important to relax from time to time and leave a space for peace and rest.
Health in a nutshell, is an integral part of our life. To be healthy is to be productive, happy, and satisfied. Through simple habits such as getting enough sleep, eating healthy food, exercising, and meditation, we can take care of our body so that it can continue to serve us as we like. Awareness about health is a topic that many health experts are trying to highlight. Our message at COFNIFUL is greatly about health and wellbeing, and how these two can help you achieve growth. We can help you integrate necessary habits and teaching into your day and aid you in overcoming obstacles. We will share with you our knowledge and experience to offer you a guaranteed and easier way towards optimal health.
References
How to Sleep Better – Sleep Foundation
Conner TS, Brookie KL, Carr AC, Mainvil LA, Vissers MC. Let them eat fruit! The effect of fruit and vegetable consumption on psychological well-being in young adults: A randomized controlled trial.
Veenhoven, R. Will Healthy Eating Make You Happier? A Research Synthesis Using an Online Findings Archive. Applied Research Quality Life (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-019-09748-7
US Department of Health and Human Services Healthy people 2010: understanding and improving health. 2nd ed. Washington, DC US Government Printing Office 2000.
Pearson WS, Dhingra SS, Strine TW, Liang YW, Berry JT, Mokdad AH. Relationships between serious psychological distress and the use of health services in the United States: findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Int J Public Health. 2009;54(Suppl 1):S23–9
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/mental-health-disorder-
How dietary factors influence disease risk | National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Sleep deprivation: Impact on cognitive performance
1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep | CDC Online Newsroom | CDC