Eating Healthy Does Not Ensure Good Health

Whenever I consult friends regarding the maintenance of good health, I often come across suggestions of eating foods that are loaded with a lot of nutrients. “Have complex carbohydrates and avoid the simple carbs, eat less fatty food, eat more of greens and fruits, include some super-foods in your daily diet ….“ is what I get to hear. Yes, I do agree that eating healthy food ( I have my reservations about what you can call good or bad, as the effect of the same food on people is so individualistic. For example, dairy milk may be a super-food for some, while others may be allergic to it) is a prerequisite for good health, but certainly it does not ensure good health. Otherwise, all the people on this planet who can afford the finest food would have lived for a hundred of years   each and that too without any ailment. Isn't it?

Of course, this is not to say that people who have walked this earth for shorter periods of time were not healthy. Many persons who eat healthy are found to suffer from diseases that greatly reduce their lifespans. The reason for this is simple. Eating healthy food is not enough to maintain good health. There are certain other factors that you need to consider in the context of good health. They are as follows:

·         Food is not the same as nutrition - Food is what you eat, nutrition is how your body utilizes the food that you eat. Ideally, your body should extract all the nutrients present in the food that you eat and utilize them beneficially for your body. However, often, it is seen that this is not so. The body is not able to fully access, absorb or utilize the nutrients that are supplied by the food consumed. This may be due to a number of disorders that adversely influence efficient metabolism. Diseases such as diabetes and those of the gastrointestinal tract are just a couple of diseases that belong to this category. Therefore, to maintain good health you should ensure that your nutrition is flawless. Simply eating healthy is not enough.

·         Metabolic efficiency is a must for good health- Good nutrition not only involves eating healthy, but also maintaining good metabolic health. Ideal body weight maintenance, mind and body exercising are major players in maintaining good body metabolism.

·          Good health not only means freedom from physical illnesses - It encompasses emotional maturity and well-being, work proficiency, and mental efficiency, as well.

It is also important to note that healthy persons do fall ill like the rest of us, as they are not super humans! However, the difference between a person who is generally blessed with good health and the not so fortunate one is that the former falls ill less frequently and recovers from illness very fast. The illness also does not succeed in causing damage to his organ systems and body functions as such a person has a very strong immune system.