Well-being… for a better quality life
When we talk about health, we generally mean a state characterized by the absence of disease, the concept of well-being is much broader. It includes not only physical well-being but also a right mental balance and excellent physical performance.
For years, conventional medicine has focused, almost totally, the attention on the prevention and treatment of organic disease, relegating to a secondary role the importance of psycho-emotional balance and the possibility of optimizing physical performance, fundamental aspects in the concept of wellness globally understood.
At birth, it is as if we were given a beautiful “supercar” (our body) shiny and flashy, ready to travel the miles of life. Still, we do not care, carelessness, haste or anything else we get used to going with it to a reduced regime, adapting most of the time unconsciously to mediocre performance and content with the fact that “so much walking”.
In fact, with the right amount of attention and care, we could live our journey at “full regime”, facing life in total safety, freedom and well-being. Something simple to say a little less to achieve because we are not given the instruction booklet of this “supercar” nor that of the maintenance to be done, so sometimes we use our luxury car as if it were a small hatchback.
However, it is never too late to become aware of the possible improvement in our quality of life, making small changes to bad habits and unhealthy attitudes. When it comes to well-being, it is essential to provide a few practical, simple and above all, achievable indications in everyday life. My 3A rule: Nutrition, Physical Activity and Adequate Lifestyle could help us in this. A: as proper nutrition.
It is a fundamental aspect; food is our fuel and must be introduced at the right time and in adequate quantities. The diet must be varied and balanced, vegetable and seasonal meals are preferable (at least five daily portions of fruit and vegetables) reduce the consumption of red meat in favour of white meat and fish. Pay attention to seasonings, to be used in moderation, excellent extra virgin olive oil and the use of spices at the expense of excessive consumption of salt. The Mediterranean diet fully meets all these requirements.
Particular attention to the quantities that must be moderate remember: breakfast as a king, lunch as a prince and dinner as a poor man! A: as physical activity. We were born to move, regular physical activity (at least thirty minutes a day) reduces blood pressure values, prevents diabetic disease and its complications, regulates the metabolism, keeps body weight and heart problems under control. The rule is: find the physical activity that is most enjoyable (swimming, dancing, running or other) to make this moment as pleasant as possible. The rules are essential for our well-being, avoid the use or better the abuse of smoke and alcohol, recover the circadian rhythms. Get up and go to sleep at the same time, fixed times for the three main meals and two snacks and drink plenty of natural water. I suggest one and a half litres two per day. Expose yourself to the sun useful for our bones but adequately protected to avoid damage to our skin. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes appropriate to the season, accept the ideological comparison with other people to grow in knowledge and reduce stress levels.
As we have seen, achieving well-being or being well is not an easy task. Still, neither is it impossible, it requires goodwill, perseverance, determination and when it is necessary the help of a good doctor able to motivate specific changes in life and encourage the person on the path taken. Well-being is a right of everyone, not the privilege of a lucky few; we are in a historical moment in which the whole of humanity has become aware that a change is necessary. Let us start from us the great revolutions always start from small individual choices. Let us love each other!
by Doctor Ezio Scarpanti
