RAJ GANPATH
How often have you heard the term “fitness freak” or
“health nut” used to describe someone who is interested in fitness or is
looking to get healthy? A few years back this used to be true. People
were either uber interested in fitness or they lived normal lives. That
is, you were either consciously healthy and fit or normally healthy and
not fit. Today, it’s not quite the same really.
Let
me explain. A few decades ago, before pesticides were a part of produce,
before chickens were mass produced, before cows were milked till they
dropped and before food manufacturing and marketing companies started
making billions at the cost of consumer’s health, normal was not bad. It
was pretty good actually. A normal person ate mostly home cooked real
food, did something physically active multiple times a day, was
protected from chemicals in food, slept a good seven-eight hours and, in
general, did most things that would promote healthy living.
But
is that the case today? Well, absolutely not. A normal person today
eats predominantly foods that are skinny in nutrients, hardly does
anything physically active, is exposed to hazardous chemicals in
everything from food to water to air, lives with a chronic sleep deficit
and, in general, is forced to live doing things that are sure to harm
her/him in the short or long term.
Not convinced?
Let’s take a quick look at what “normal” really is today.
Normal is...
- becoming diabetic at the age of 45.
- gasping for breath after climbing two flights of stairs.
- popping antacid pills five times a week.
- craving candy at 4 p.m. on a random Tuesday.
- eating low-fat, sugar-filled cereal for breakfast while believing you’re doing something healthy.
- living a life that is filled with stress.
- being on medication for hypertension or PCOD or both.
- living with a sleep deficit and recurring headaches.
- being overweight.
- not being able to tie one’s shoelaces without sitting.
- falling sick at least once every year.
Normal is unhealthy.
It’s
unfortunate, but true. And there is only one way to fight this. You
don’t have to become that so-called fitness freak or health nut. Just
care about your health. Understand what goes into your mouth. Move as
often as possible. Say no to pesticides. Keep sugar away except for
celebratory occasions. Play a sport or exercise consistently. Don’t
store processed foods. Eat real food. Choose organic.
But
one way or the other, take that first step. Make a conscious effort
towards leading a more healthy life. Because today, moving forward is
the only way to not move backwards.
(RAJ GANPATH, Metro Plus, The Hindu, 09:08:2013)
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