Page 29 - INSIGHT 2021

Why Health Really is Wealth: SKIP ROPES, NOT MEALS!

A List of Things You Need to Start Whether it is because we are running late, feel moody, are engrossed in work; most of us students tend to

and Stop doing skip meals – most commonly, breakfast. In plain fact, skipping meals has many unpleasant effects on the
body.
Skipping meals slows down body metabolism which results in the production of energy by the breakdown
of glycogen into glucose. This glucose is primarily used up by the brain. Erratic eating habits can lead to
Compiled by Sarah Parwez, R Eloni Koren and Jay Kumar Sirmoria unhealthy weight gain. Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, creator of BetterThanDieting.com, and author of ‘Read It
(Members, Students' Editorial Board) Before You Eat It’ explains, "When people skip meals, they feel like they're owed something later in the day
so they tend to overeat at their next meal". Studies have shown meal skipping can dampen immune systems,
The ongoing pandemic has proved to be an eye-opener in many ways. Directing key attention to both public
can cause irregular menstrual cycles in women, affect mood, etc. Eating the right quality and quantity food
and individual health is a major takeaway (among several other lessons, of course). The conversation around
is as important as eating at the right time. As the age-old saying goes, "Eat breakfast like a king; lunch like
promoting good health and hygiene needs to continue and augment long after we overcome this pandemic.
a prince; dinner like a pauper."
Yes, maybe Science fiction from the ‘80s predicted our times to have flying cars and intergalactic space travel. Yet here we
stand, defending Science and health from its delusional sceptics and teaching others the intricate art of hand-washing!
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as, “A state of complete physical, mental and so-
cial well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” The SARS-CoV-2 has affected not
only the physical well-being of people but also infiltrated their mental health. Many of us with resourc-
“EXERCISE GIVES YOU ENDORPHINS. ENDORPHINS
es and access to a healthy lifestyle can admit that we’ve been complacent concerning health. As college stu-
MAKE YOU HAPPY”- ELLE WOODS, LEGALLY BLONDE
dents caught up in hectic schedules, health becomes a shelved priority. The academic battleground filled
(2001)
with insane stress levels and deadlines leaves very little space for self-care. Who’s got the time anyway?
Here’s the thing. Shifting towards a healthier way of living isn’t as hard or exhaust-
ing as finding last minute citations to that essay you have due in 15 minutes. Small chang-
Though we all know about the importance of exercise, it is not easy to roll up your sleeves and get down to
es tremendously impact our well-being, and making them NOW is what is important.
working out! Procrastination, laziness, inconsistency and the inevitable trap cycle of “I’ll start tomorrow”
Here, we’ve rounded up some basic things you’ve probably have heard of time and time again.
needs to be warded off. Staying indoors during the pandemic has already significantly reduced our daily
We delve into the scientific reasoning behind them and try to persuade you to practise them.
physical movements and activities.
The countless benefits of exercise include lowering the risk of heart diseases by reducing cholesterol levels,
A TOAST TO HANDWASHING! Type-2 Diabetes, and also risk of certain cancers like breast cancer and lung cancer. With age, bone density
weakens. In women, a decreased level of the hormone Oestrogen further worsens bone density and puts
them at a greater risk of arthritis and osteoporosis. Exercising has been proven to slow down this degener-
Growing up, we all must have seen the Lifebuoy hand wash advertisement and how Bunty’s soap was too
ation. It also boosts immunity by increasing B and T lymphocyte circulation and recruiting more immune
slow! Studies at Harvard Medical School suggest that washing hands for 15 seconds (try to sing Twinkle
cells such as macrophages. People who exercise regularly have lower instances of common colds and flu. It
Twinkle, little star in that duration!) reduces the bacterial count by 90%, and another 15 seconds reduce it up
also reduces stress, and causes the brain to release chemicals like endorphins and dopamine which are asso-
to 99.9% (perhaps you could go another round of the rhyme!).
ciated with “feeling good”.
Notice that it doesn’t say “kills the germs” but rather “reduces it”. Soap is made up of fatty acids, which has
The point of exercise shouldn’t be attaining a ‘particular’ look. You don’t need to follow an intense celebrity
a non-polar (hydrophobic) and a polar (hydrophilic) end. Most bacterial cell walls and some viral envelopes
workout. Introducing small yet impactful changes such as taking the stairs, walking wherever possible, doing
are made of a lipid bilayer. In essence, soaps form micelles around these germs and obliterate their cell walls/
stretches now and then, etc. can do a lot. While watching the intro on Netflix, you could give your eyes
envelopes, spilling out their contents and protecting you. Hand washing sounds like an obvious no-brainer,
some rest and do 30-seconds of eye exercises. Many workouts can be done from the comfort of your bed or
but according to a 2009 study cited by the CDC, only “only 31 per cent of men and 65 per cent of women
couch. Being sedentary is the enemy. Try to use your muscles; else they will eventually weaken due to lack of
washed their hands after using a public restroom”.
exercise. Perhaps, you could be the first person whose muscles become a vestigial part of the body!
Refrain from excessive handwashing too. “If you wash your hands too often, you are also removing the
healthy oils and good bacteria that defend against disease,” says Samer Blockmon, an Internal Medicine spe-
cialist at the Georgia-based Piedmont Healthcare system. In short, do so but not to the point whereby you
have itchiness, flaky skin, as well as pain and redness.

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