STAY FIT…STAY HEALTHY http://www.kochousephchittilappilly.com

1. STAY FIT…STAY HEALTHY
I’ve received a number of comments on my earlier post ‘Health is Wealth’. This shows that there is
indeed an element of concern, among us, regarding our health. But concerns apart, are we really doing
anything about it?Our longevity has improved. But, we are so often afflicted by ‘life style diseases’ and
too dependant on medicines. We lead ‘longer” lives. But are we really ‘healthy’? Our earlier generations
were much healthier when compared to us. My grandfather is learnt to have lived till 80. I hardly
remember him but it is said that he relied only on ayurveda, when afflicted with any illness. My father
also led a very healthy life.Times have changed. Our lives have been made simpler by the machines. We
no longer need to draw water from deep wells or walk long distances. Instead there are pumps and
bikes. I recall the comment of Mr. Anil Kumar, to my earlier blog, who spoke of his father walking from
Edappally to Mattancherry, daily. Physical activity was so ingrained in the lives of our forefathers that
they really needn’t exercise for the sake of exercise. But, that is not the case with us. Our minds buzz
with ideas and are active but physically, we lead sedentary lives.In many cases, we abuse our body. Our
body is fragile. It requires food, exercise and rest, all in the right proportion. An inadequacy of any of
these three ingredients results in illness. In fact, many readers commented that stress at work has
seriously eroded our health. We cannot really rest when our minds are vexed. Worry, tension and
anxiety play a vital role in making a person unhealthy. You might have noticed that those who are
mentally strong and are able to keep a cool head have better health when compared to others. The
Maharishis of ancient India knew the importance of having a peaceful mind for maintaining good health,
which is why, yoga, meditation and relaxation techniques were developed. Similarly, we have weaned
away from organic foods to foods rich in fat. I have always wondered why it is so that the tastiest foods
are often the richest in calories. On a lighter note, ‘Maybe one day, we would invent foods that are rich
in taste but low in calories as well’.I feel that the problem lies in our inability to maintain a ‘balance’ in
life. Yes, we need to work hard but not at the expense of our health. We should enjoy good food but in
moderation. Exercise should be a part of our lives as much as work and entertainment is. Even in the
midst of our busy lives, let us take our morning walks, commune with nature and have some quiet time
for ourselves before we rush out to face the day. Right from my younger days, I’ve been very particular
of and concerned for my health. It has held me in good stead and I’m quite proud of the fact that I was
considered fit enough, after several rigorous tests, to donate a kidney at the age of 60……….Stay fit;
Enjoy life!