Make health and wellness a priority
…and reap the rewards – Health and wellness are the keys to a happy, fulfilled and productive life. How well – or not – our bodies function, has a direct effect on every aspect of our lives, from careers and relationships to physical capabilities. Fact is: we operate better and more productively as communities and nations when we are healthy.
However, instead of striving to be as healthy as possible to avoid the stresses, strains and costs of illnesses, as a nation, we seem to have made ample space for disease and illness, more often than not opting for expensive treatments and chronic medication, which are not only unnatural, but come with their own set of side-effects.
This is the message from Liberty Medical Scheme brand ambassador and health and wellness expert Lisa Raleigh, who cautions that the adult generation’s bad habits are being repeated: South African kids, on a whole, are the 5th most obese kids in the world; 22% of children aged 1-9 have a BMI greater than 25 and 28% of adolescent girls in South Africa are obese. At the same time, South Africa carries a heavy disease burden, with many of the illnesses being lifestyle related.
“The inclination of South Africans to combat illness and disease by reverting to medication rather than working towards maintaining their health and well-being and enjoying the benefits, is the very reason why Liberty Medical Scheme is actively promoting the notion of healthy living in many different ways such as educating members in this regard and supporting health and wellness expo’s and events,” says Liberty Medical Scheme Executive Principal Officer, Andrew Edwards.
“We are well aware of the fact that early detection will help our members stay healthy and that healthy living, in turn, ensures, general well-being. Therefore the Scheme’s options are designed to encourage healthy living with a variety of preventative care benefits such as diagnostic tests and screenings. Moreover, a number of these preventative care benefits are paid from members’ major medical benefits rather than from their medical savings account,” says Edwards.
Lisa also reckons that South Africans should increasingly focus on healthy living: “All too often there tends to be a mentality among South Africans that life is out of their hands, so they actually wait for disease and illness to hit. Simply finding the right medication to match the ailment is what they do about it. This needs to change, for our own sake as well as for the country’s,” she stresses.
Lisa`s advice for a healthy life is simple: Eat clean and train hard. The tough reality of it is that it’s hard work. It takes discipline and plenty of willpower. People that aren’t ready to make that kind of effort are the ones looking for quick fixes and miracle diets. Those looking to change for the better will make health a priority. And remember, it’s usually the sum of small efforts that constitutes success.”
BOX
Liberty Medical Scheme’s Five Tips for Healthy Living
- Above other things, put exercise at the top of your daily ‘to-do’ list. Physical activity needs to be reintroduced as a lifestyle, not a chore. In addition to extra-curriculum activities, weekends need to include physical activity, such as hiking, cycling on the beach, setting up a badminton net in your garden, or even walking to nearby destinations instead of driving.
· Get educated on what you should be eating – and watch your portion sizes. If you battle with your veggie intake, try juicing them.
· Cook more meals at home. Eating home cooked meals is healthier for the whole family and sets a great example for kids about the importance of food. Restaurant meals tend to have more fat, sugar, and salt. Save dining out for special occasions.
· Challenge the norms. Unfortunately we can’t trust how products are marketed, and we need to learn to interpret ingredients lists and tables of nutritional content. Health claims in no way guarantee a healthy product.
· Make a variety of healthy snacks available instead of empty calorie snacks. Keep plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grain snacks, and healthy beverages (water, milk, pure fruit juice) around and easily accessible so you and your family become used to reaching for healthy snacks instead of empty calorie snacks like soda, chips, or cookies.
