World health Day 2012 - Bridge the gap between healthy living and an unhealthy lifetsyle

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In this fast paced world, technology has allowed us to build a little world of our own choice, where we are closer to those far away, and in the process, getting distant from our own selves - OUR OWN HEALTH.

Rapid urbanization has not only given comfort, style, and accessibility, but has also made sure that there is less physical movement in our day to day work, resulting in a lifestyle which is comfortable yet unhealthy. This unhealthy lifestyle not only increases physical and mental stress, but also makes us vulnerable to chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiac problems, cancer, etc.

The World Health Organization estimated that the total number of people with diabetes will rise from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million in 2030 and mortality from diabetes and heart disease costs India about $210 billion every year and is expected to increase to $335 billion in next ten years. Also, by 2020, chronic diseases are likely to call for 7.63 million lives in India compared to 3.78 million in 1990. Therefore, there is an earnest need to maintain balance between a frenzied lifestyle and healthy living in order to achieve holistic wellness.

To learn and follow healthy living is not a difficult task. Let us see how we can be SMART in customizing healthy living for ourselves.

Start the day with a nutritious and healthy breakfast. It can consist of whole grains, low fat dairy products, and fruit. Breakfast not only starts the day off right, but also lays the foundation for lifelong benefits - weight control, lower cholesterol, better concentration, and productivity.

More fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in the diet. These are not only packed with nutrients, but also have great taste. Dietary fiber found in fruits, vegetables, and grains gives early satiety, controls weight better, lowers cholesterol, slows sugar absorption in blood, improves digestion, and helps prevent constipation.

Dark leafy green vegetables - high fiber & vitamins

Moderate to high activity - benefits for heart health

Actively active. Just a few steps (10 minutes thrice a day) can keep you fit. Walk, cycle, or skip - it can be done at your own pace. It keeps the heart and lungs healthy and tones the body.

Replenish water supply to the body to ward off dehydration symptoms. Water flushes toxins out, carries nutrients, and provides a moist environment for ear, nose, and throat tissues.

Trim your fat intake to keep your weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels within normal limits. Eat good fats

These SMART basics are not only beneficial for everyone but are also short cuts to ensure a blissful life.

So let's pledge SMARTly and make this World Health Day, April 7th, 2012 an occasion to begin anew.

Dietitians at NutritionVista.com

References
http://www.whoindia.org/
http://www.who.int/

NutritionVista

User Comments

07 April, 2012 | Poonam | Reply

Ageing comes with its own set of challenges. The number of aged persons has increased dramatically over the years. Are we ready to face the challenges of old age and the increasing numbers of age related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, cancer and diabetes?
According to the WHO, "the functional capacity of an individual's biological system increases during the first years of life, reaches its peak in early adulthood and naturally declines thereafter. The rate of decline is determined, at least in part, by our behaviours and exposures across the whole life course.These include what we eat, how physically active we are and our exposure to health risks such as those caused by smoking, harmful consumption of alcohol, or exposure to toxic substances."
The theme for this years World Health Day is,"Good health adds life to years". Let us all make a beginning today to ensure a long, fruitful and healthy life!

07 April, 2012 | Message from WHO | Reply

Healthy ageing is linked to health in earlier stages of life
Undernutrition in the womb, for example, may increase the risk of disease in adult life, such as circulatory diseases and diabetes. Respiratory infections in childhood may increase the risk of chronic bronchitis in adult life. Obese, or overweight, adolescents run the risk of developing chronic diseases, such as diabetes, circulatory disease, cancer, respiratory and musculo-skeletal disorders, in adult life.

08 April, 2010 | Vijayalakshmi Iyengar | Reply

Hello Anjali
The WHO website link: http://www.who.int/en/
You can visit the website and find out who to contact in your city.
Thanks
Vijayalakshmi Iyengar
Dietitian: NutritionVista.com

08 April, 2010 | Anjali | Reply

Hello Vijayalakshmi,
Can you give the link to their site.
Will see if a few of my friends and I can do something together.

08 April, 2010 | Vijayalakshmi Iyengar | Reply

Hello Anjali
All green herbs or leafy vegetables have plenty of iron, folic acid, Carotene especially Beta carotene (which is converted to Vit A in the body), Vitamin C etc. They also have a lot of Phyto-nutrients and/or Anti Oxidants which helps prevent or cure health problems. Eating even a little amount everyday helps but optimally it is important to have around 1 cup of green leafy vegetables (raw salads) per day or ½ cup as cooked vegetable.
Thank you
Vijayalakshmi iyengar
Dietitian: NutritionVista.com

08 April, 2010 | Vijayalakshmi Iyengar | Reply

Hello Sandhya,
Yes we should encourage children to think healthy and eat healthy and growing vegetables could be one of the ways. It is also true that there is a window or a period of a few days when the vegetables have optimal nutrition and that is at its peak when they ripen on the tree. Subsequently it begins to lose nutrients. So the fresher they are eaten the more nutritious they are
Thank you
Vijayalakshmi Iyengar
Dietitian: NutritionVista.com

08 April, 2010 | Vijayalakshmi Iyengar | Reply

Hello Suman, Anjali, and all our readers/ well wishers
Thank you for your valuable input. It is people like you who make our job worth while. There are many areas we can work on, starting this day, the list is endless.
In fact the global goals campaign focuses on
•1000 cities: to open up public spaces to health, whether it be activities in parks, town hall meetings, clean-up campaigns, or closing off portions of streets to motorized vehicles.
•1000 lives: to collect 1000 stories of urban health champions who have taken action and had a significant impact on health in their cities.
The campaign is asking people to register an event or their city, why don’t you register in that and collectively let us work for a better tomorrow.
Thank you
NutritionVista.team

07 April, 2010 | Katja, UK | Reply

Are there foods that create warmth in body - make heat in body?
Are there such thing as winter food and summer foods??
Thank you,
I will go for bike ride today.

07 April, 2010 | Anjali | Reply

I live in an apartment so only have Tulsi (basil), coriander and curry patta growing. What vitamins are in these herbs? how much do I need to eat to benefit from these. Does it really help when all you are doing is eating just a tiny bit at a time.
Will try growing fresh tomatos, tho I dont know if they will grow in a small pot on my balcony

07 April, 2010 | Sandhya, Hyderabad | Reply

I think we should encourage our children to grow certain basic vegetables, like tomatoes or beans, lettuce or radiches. These are easy to grow from seeds and are healthy.
My 13 year old daughter and I plant atleast tomatoes every year. Last year we had them coming out of our ears and gave around to a lot of people.
Is it true that the longer you take to eat a vegetable from the time it is cut from the stem, the more you lose nutrients?????
Why and how? Is this true for tomatoes too?
What about those vegetables that need to ripen, we have to cut those earlier, I let them sit in a warm place for a couple of days.

07 April, 2010 | Anjali, Calcutta | Reply

Cheers Suman.
Well said!
Are you going for the walkathon this Saturday?
Bring some neighbors, specially the ones needing exercise.
See you Saturday

07 April, 2010 | Suman, Calcutta | Reply

Hi NutritionVista... You should add in, that we should also look out for the environment today. Walk or bicycle to work instead of taking the car.
Plant a vegetable garden and help not only the Earth, but our health as well.
Eat fresh, home grown fruits and vegetables to maximize nutrition and not packaged and stale foods.
Breathe in the fresh air, be happy and enjoy Life!

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