Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital 
(Contribution by Medicine Deptt.)
Q. Do I need to follow a healthy lifestyle if I’m not sick?
A. A healthy lifestyle is not mere absence of disease or infirmity. It is about reaching your potential for looking and feeling great. Being healthy is a lot more than being “not sick”. It’s about waking up feeling good and being full of energy all day long. It is getting the best from your body and mind. It is about getting your tissues and cells to function at their best and thereby you get wonderful results that you can feel. You will feel it in your physique as well as your mind and emotions. When your body is healthy, everything goes better.
Q. Is it something I can put off till later? How early is soon enough? How late is too late?
A. It is never too late to start but the sooner the better. We face an unprecedented epidemic of diseases of civilization – Asthma, Arthritis, Alzheimer’s, Attention Deficit Disorder, Arteriosclerosis, Diabetes, Hypertension, Cancers… it is estimated that cancer now will be diagnosed in one in three people in their lifetime. Many of these diseases were almost unheard of a few generations ago. By moving to healthier options we can create a healthier body. Then, instead of being focused on treating the symptoms of diseases, we can create real health.
Q. Does it take a lot to time?
A. The time taken is about the same as an unhealthy lifestyle. You will spend some more time growing your sprouted seeds, and making dressings and juices. But you will get it all back in extra energy and vitality that same day. Most countries in the world record 2-4 hours per day of TV watching per adult. Thus most people can easily make some time to create a healthy lifestyle.
Q. I don’t have time for this. Can I just continue with my ordinary lifestyle?
A. That can cost you a lot to time lost to lack of energy or down time with sickness or reduced number of years in your lifetime. Take the time to create healthy lifestyles and eat healthy food. It is a investment.
Q. What is the simplest way to get started?
A. : Make half your plate green uncooked food, like leaves of all descriptions. Add rainbow coloured uncooked foods like peppers, shredded carrots, tomato etc. Make a fresh dressing. Get a juicer and make green juices from Cucumber and celery with added cabbage leaves and ginger or other herbs for taste. Eat fresh ripe fruit.
Q. My folks don’t want to do this and say that I am crazy to eat this kind of food. What can I do?
A. While social pressure can be a real factor; we all have to decide what is best for ourselves. Even if sometimes that makes others uncomfortable. 99% of the time others will come to respect your decision and your determination. Usually you will end up helping them to improve their health. The result you get will speak volumes to them. Let them move at their own pace towards a healthier way of life.
Q. What is the best way to ensure that I keep to a healthier lifestyle?
A. Spend lots of time in the fresh fruit and vegetable section of your supermarket. Avoid processed and heavily salted foods and snacks. If youlife with others who do not wish to follow a healthier lifestyle, then create your own storage space for your healthier food. Get exercising; being active makes it easier to do all the other healthy habits. Thirty minutes of brisk walk three times a week is enough to set you on the road to a healthier you and keep diseases at a bay.
Q. What can exercise do for me?
A. Making exercise a regular part of your daily routine will have a positive impact on your health and your quality of life as you get older. Staying physically active and exercising regularly can improve mood and relieve depression, and prevent or delay some types of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Long-term regular exercise can even improve health for some older people who already have diseases and disabilities. Being physically active can also help you stay strong and fit enough to keep doing the things you like to do and stay independent as you get older. For example, improving endurance can make it easier to work in the garden. Increasing muscle strength can make it easier to lift a grandchild or climb stairs. Improving balance helps prevent falls, and being more flexible can help you reach for items on kitchen shelves.
Q. What is the difference between exercise and physical activity?
A. Exercise is a form of physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive like weight training, tai chi or an aerobics class. Physical activities are activities that get your body moving such as gardening, walking the dog and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Including both in your life will provide you with health benefits that can help you feel better and enjoy life more as your age. Combining both can get you more for your buck – maximize return from the time put in.
Q. How much should the average adult exercise every day?
A. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more. Want to aim even higher? You can achieve more health benefits if you ramp up your exercise to 300 minutes a week. For aerobic activity or 75 minutes a week or vigorous aerobic activity. You also can do a combination of moderate and vigorous activity.