THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIORITIZING HOLISTIC HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

If you are a member of our gym (No Limits Fitness), or any gym for that matter, it's fair to say that you prioritize your health to some extent. However, working out in the gym does not necessarily mean taking care of your health entirely. Various aspects of health come together to make wellness complete. In this article, we will break down all elements of health and how you can comprehensively achieve optimal health and wellness.

WHAT IS HEALTH?

1. Health as "not ill/diseased"

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health refers to a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. In other words, being healthy entails more than being free of a specific illness, as most of us have come to believe. Furthermore, this definition does not focus solely on the physical aspect of health but also includes the mental, emotional, and other dimensions of complete well-being (we’ll get into that later on). Don't get it twisted; being free from illness is certainly important, but it is not the sole indicator of overall well-being.

Imagine this scenario: you have no disease (well not that you know of), but you've noticed that for the past few weeks, you are not motivated to do any work, not even the simplest activities or things you previously enjoyed so much. Instead, you tend to sleep all day and be by yourself all the time. My question to you is this: Do you think in this state, you are healthy? Hopefully, your answer was no. Although you may be safe from a physical disease, mentally or socially, you may be battling something. Additionally, as you can realize in the scenario, being unwell mentally can affect the ability to care for your physical and social needs. Ultimately, physical, mental, and social well-being go hand in hand with complete health and wellness.

2. Health as “Physical Fitness”

As a gym lover, you probably have a better idea about the impact of fitness on health. Health as physical fitness is the state of well-being and optimal functioning of the body's physiological systems, muscles, and organs to manage or prevent diseases, fatigue, stress, and a sedentary lifestyle. 

Mostly, when we think of physical fitness, we relate it to looking "fit," being slim, or having a well-toned physique. For men, this might mean having a muscular figure. However, that is only

the tip of the iceberg when it comes to health as “physical fitness”. It encompasses various components, including cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and of course, body composition.

One way to achieve this is by regular physical activity. But what do we see today? People drive to the closest grocery store when they could have walked to get some exercise. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against driving to shorter destinations. The whole point I'm trying to make is that nowadays, people no longer prioritize physical activity, forgetting that it is an essential aspect of health. Moreover, technology and innovation, among other factors, have led to an increase in sedentary lifestyles. In fact, in June 2018, WHO reported that 1 out of 5 adults does not engage in enough physical activity, and this has led to a rise in health conditions like obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. 

3. Health as “Psycho-Social Well-being”

As the saying goes, a healthy mind leads to a healthy body. This ancient Roman proverb highlights the profound connection between the state of mind and overall wellness. Moreover, several research studies have proved that individuals with strong social and emotional resilience tend to have better overall health outcomes. Additionally, they go hand in hand; having a great social life provides emotional support, and reduces feelings of loneliness, thereby promoting overall well-being. 

Health, in this context, extends beyond physical fitness to being confident, positive, and able to cope with the ups and downs of life. It involves maintaining a sense of purpose and meaning in life, nurturing fulfilling relationships, and developing healthy coping strategies.

Furthermore, the impact of psycho-social well-being on our overall health cannot be overstated. Several scientific studies have shown how maintaining a positive mental and social life makes it easier to adopt other healthy lifestyles, such as exercising regularly, maintaining adequate nutrition, and getting enough sleep. Conversely, a poor mental state increases the risk of developing chronic diseases or compromising immune function.

WHAT ARE THE DIMENSIONS OF HEALTH?

There are five dimensions of health, namely; social, mental, spiritual, physical and emotional. If you seek to attain holistic health, all five dimensions are to be addressed; a change in one dimension directly or indirectly affects another. 

1. Social

The social dimension of health is associated with an individual's ability to create and sustain meaningful relationships. Additionally, it involves maintaining composure and acting appropriately in various situations. No one is an island; there are numerous relationships one needs to establish to be socially healthy. Firstly, the family serves as the basic social unit of relationships. Secondly, having a strong network of friends, a partner, etc., is also beneficial for one's social life. Furthermore, learning to cope with others such as coworkers, bosses, or neighbours is crucial. Think about this: what benefit is there in being at odds with everyone in your life? Absolutely nothing. Instead, such conflicts may rob you of peace of mind, making you paranoid and bitter. Eventually, loneliness may lead to sadness and mental disorders like depression and social anxiety. 

2. Mental 

 Often, people conflate the mental aspect of health with the emotional one. However, mental health directly involves the brain or cerebrum, while emotional health is associated with hormones and feelings. In other words, mental health encompasses how well your brain processes information and understands situations. Conversely, emotional health involves how you express the information you've just processed.

For some individuals, good mental health means the absence of disorders, while for others, it means the ability to cope with daily stressors and function appropriately. Besides being free from mental disorders, there are numerous benefits to a good mental state. These include stabilizing moods, improving attention and learning, fortifying social life, and enhancing physical health.

Other dimensions of health also directly affect mental health. For instance, exercising regularly helps improve sleep quality, relaxing the brain because it encourages the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.

3. Spiritual

When we talk about spiritual health, it pertains to understanding one's purpose or goal in life. Each individual discovers this purpose differently; some through faith in a higher power, while others define their objectives. Generally, individuals with a sense of purpose tend to lead better and longer lives than those lacking direction, hence the need to attain spiritual wellness. 

Furthermore, spiritual wellness involves having a set of beliefs or principles that guide your actions and provide hope and commitment. It helps you seek the essence of your existence. For optimal spiritual wellness, allocate time for solitude, practice meditation, and explore your spiritual core. Additionally, remaining curious—asking questions and being mindful of your surroundings and inner reflections—helps massively. When you listen to your intuition and adhere to your principles rather than succumb to external pressures, you take charge of your spiritual wellness and connect more with yourself. 

4. Emotional

As mentioned earlier, this dimension of health is similar to mental health, focusing primarily on how individuals respond to situations or experiences. Emotional health is the ability to express feelings effectively or react appropriately to circumstances. For instance, feeling cheerful upon hearing good news or feeling sad and crying after losing a loved one. It's important to note that crying doesn't indicate weakness; rather, it signifies strength and emotional well-being, as the saying goes, 'tears cleanse the soul.'

Other dimensions of health, whether directly or indirectly, impact emotional well-being. For example, individuals with major depression often experience persistent sadness, indicating a compromised emotional state.

5. Physical 

 This is the most common and tangible aspect of health, referring to a state of well-being where all external and internal body parts, including organs, tissues, and cells, function normally. For example, kidneys can excrete urine as they should, and eyes can see as clearly as day. This aspect represents the traditional explanation of health: the absence of illness, injury, or disease.

The three pillars of physical health are adequate nutrition, regular exercise, and sleep. All three work together to ensure normal bodily functioning. For adequate nutrition, ensure to always eat a well-balanced diet containing all six essential nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, fats/oils, minerals, vitamins, and adequate water intake. When it comes to regular exercise, according to the current physical activity guidelines for Americans, every adult should strive to get at least 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobics or at least 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity workout and two days of muscle-strengthening exercises. Lastly, sleep is the foundation of the human body; without adequate sleep, your body does not recover from stress, which can lead to your system shutting down. As an adult, try to get at least 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night.

Just like other dimensions of health, physical health is also affected by other aspects. For example, when you are mentally unhealthy, you may not have the capacity to take care of your health as you should.

WHAT ARE THE DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH?

Simply put, determinants of health are the various factors that influence our physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. If you seek to improve your health holistically, it's crucial to understand and address all these factors. 

1. Social, Economic, and Political Health:

This encompasses factors such as access to quality education, sustainable income, and employment opportunities as well as policies that ensure adequate housing, access to clean drinking water and nutritious foods, safe and convenient transportation, and access to healthcare facilities. For instance, living in poverty restricts the quality of food one should consume, which may lead to conditions like malnutrition. It makes it more challenging to access quality health care, leading to poorer health outcomes.

2. Cultural Health: 

Our cultural background and beliefs also influence our health behaviours and practices. A clear example of this is Monaco. Since 2023, Monaco has had the highest life expectancy for both men and women, at 84 and 89 years respectively, followed by other eastern Asian countries, like South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and Macao. What do all these countries have in common? Culture. Their food choices, physical activity, and social life all aspects of health are deeply rooted in their culture.

In South Korea, for instance, there is a strong emphasis on social groups and communities to improve social health. Additionally, the traditional Korean diet mainly consists of plenty of fresh vegetables, moderate to high amounts of legumes and fish, and limited consumption of meat. Fermented foods like kimchi are also staples in their diet. All these foods are ideal for maintaining complete health and wellness. 

3. Population/Social Health vs. Individual Health:

Population health is defined as the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group. While individual health is the state of well-being of a singular person within a community. They are not mutually exclusive of one another; population health affects individual health, and vice versa. Moreover, If there is a pandemic within a selected population, it increases the risk of affecting every individual in the community at a certain point in time. Similarly, if one individual contracts a contagious disease, there is a risk of affecting everyone within that space

Bottom Line

As a gym-goer or fitness enthusiast, you have come a long way in improving your health, but that alone is not enough. You need to target health holistically, considering all five aspects of health, to achieve optimal health and wellness. These aspects of health are social, which addresses your connection and relationship with others. Mental, which concerns how your brain functions and processes information around you. Physical, which typically involves being free of diseases, infirmity, or injury. Emotional, the capability to express feelings appropriately. And lastly, spiritual, which entails staying in line with your beliefs, principles, and values. Addressing all these dimensions with the tips provided in the article will help you be the best version of yourself you can ever be: healthy, successful, and happy.

About the Author:

Chuck Miller

PERSONAL TRAINER @ NO LIMITS FITNESS

ONLINE TRAINING AND NUTRITION

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