WELL BEING

Health is influenced by so many different facts and embraces mental,

emotional, spiritual and social well being.

Well being describes our happiness, confidence, physical condition and

general outlook on life. It is about feeling good and taking care of

yourself.

Well-being and healthy living go hand-in-hand. Healthy living goes beyond

eating a balanced diet, taking regular exercise and avoiding illness.

Of course, many aspects of our health are beyond our control and are related

to factors such as family history, genetic make-up and the natural consequences

of growing old. That said, there are steps we can take to improve our health

so that we lead more active and fulfilling lives and increase our chances

of living longer.

By avoiding activities such as smoking and excessive

drinking, we can significantly reduce the risk of certain diseases e.g heart disease,

some types of cancer and respiratory problems and improve the quality of

our lives. By getting involved in routine monitoring of cholesterol levels and

blood pressure, we can make necessary changes to our lifestyle before

these potential problems become serious.

 Better lifestyle habits can help you reduce your risk for heart attack.

Many people are overweight. Carrying too much weight increases your risk

for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, stroke,

some cancers, gallbladder disease and arthritis in the weight-bearing joints

(like the spine, hips or knees). A high-fibre, low-fat diet and regular

exercise can help you lose weight gradually and help you keep it off.

High levels of stress can lead to cardio vascular disease problems and

 increases the risk of conditions as diverse as colds and flu,

 Depression and insomnia.

Stroke, diabetes and damage to your arteries can be linked to what you eat.

Fibre, fruits and vegetables can help reduce your risk of some cancers.

Calcium helps build strong bones.

If possible eat

2 to 4 servings of fruits and 3 to 5 servings of vegetables a day

 6 to 11 servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta a day

 2 to 3 servings of low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt and cheese a day

2 to 3 servings of meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, egg whites or nuts a

day

Lots of fibre (found in whole-grain breads and cereals, fruits and

vegetables)

Try to avoid Saturated fat.

Saturated fats include animal fats, hydrogenated vegetable

fats and tropical fats (coconut and palm oil). A high-fat diet increases

your risk of heart disease, breast and colon cancer, and gallbladder disease.

Sodium, found in table salt and some foods, increases blood

pressure in some people. Don't cook with salt, avoid prepared foods that are

high in sodium and add salt sparingly, if at all, when you're eating.