Cape Town - Few people will disagree that the pace of our lives has become hectic. We barely find time to meditate or reflect on a balanced lifestyle and focused spiritual enrichment.
Most of us spend our days or larger part of our lives working to sustain a desired lifestyle or maintain one chosen for us by loved ones. The dramatic shift of lifestyle to a high paced, “maximise your time” mindset is not without casualties.
More fast foods and preserved foods, with minimal product knowledge and methods of food preparation, have contributed to a significant rise in physical and psychological issues. Massive profits were witnessed in the fast foods as well as the health industry over the last five years – due to the sequelae of obesity and the metabolic syndrome.
The effects and risks of the metabolic syndrome have shocked the world with resultant social and community responsibility growing. This is where we need to thrust our efforts in rigorous attempts to move paradigms and stigmas around the role of a balanced lifestyle.
Eating, sleeping and exercising are three equally important ways of dealing with stress. Our weighted focus on any one aspect can disturb equilibrium.
There has been a surge of focus and energy in schools and antenatal classes as well as corporates to exercise good choices daily and make a concerted effort to grow and eat fresh produce or support initiatives that do. Preventative health and health promotion are part of any leading corporate strategy.
There are several stress coping mechanisms:
l Breathing techniques, quality of sleep, exercise and diet are the cornerstones of stress reduction.
l Life skills like effective time management, communication and goal-centred living remain crucial.
l Mild stress can be useful to kick-start action and provide the initial energy for tough tasks.
l Chronic stress can have detrimental physical and emotional outcomes – paralyse your ability and lead to underachieving.
l Planning ahead and setting boundaries are invaluable.
l Stress is a treatable condition, not a life sentence.
l Cortisol is the stress hormone released by the body. Too much can lead to many health issues like obesity and peptic ulcer disease.
* Dr Darren Green, a trusted figure in the field of media medicine, is a University of Stellenbosch graduate who adds innovative spark to health and wellness issues. He features on 567CapeTalk.
If you’ve got medical problems, contact the doctor at dr@darrengreen.co.za, 021 930 0655 or Twitter @drdarrengreen.
The advice in this column does not replace a consultation and clinical evaluation with a doctor.
Cape Argus