Blog

Dietician Sheela Seharawat

Diet and health and wellness

The term health and wellness are used synonymously and interchangeably. However, it is important to understand that they are two different terms but both of them can be attained with a balanced diet. The former cannot exist without the latter. The triple terms – diet, health and wellness are relevant topics in the current upheaval of this competitive era. People have become conscious of their diet, health and wellness.

Diet – Eating Right
Diet is the sum of food and drink consumed by human beings in terms of its qualities and composition. It is also about portion of food eaten at certain interval of time. It has a direct effect on health. It is related to nutritional intake or eating habits that influence your body and mind. A balanced diet completes the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) requirement of vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, carbohydrates and fat. Diet is inter-related to quality of life and its longevity based on health. Diet has a direct impact on the weight of a person. Poor diet is responsible for health risk and chronic diseases. The choices food determines body’s energy level and youthfulness.

Health
Health is basically about efficient functioning of living organism, adapting and fighting bacteria, virus, microorganisms or foreign agents that enter the body which have the potential of causing diseases. Health relates to protecting the body from diseases and infections that damage the cells in your body. A healthy mind lives in a healthy body. Therefore, health is a broader perspective of encompassing mental, physical and social state in a good condition. According to 1948 WHO definition of health is “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Wellness
Wellness encompasses well-being; a condition in which someone or something is thriving or doing well. According to The National Wellness Institute, wellness is defined as “a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential.” In fact, wellness is a continuous improvement in the quality of life. It is more than being free from ailments. Wellness constitutes seven dimensions of holistic development in the spheres of emotional life, physical life, social life, intellectual life, spiritual life, occupational life and environmental state. Wellness is a sense of control over yourself in all spheres of life. It is about setting healthy goals and achieving them.

Health and wellness are correlated terms. Eating a healthy diet reflects healthy body and wellness. The goodness of consuming the right food influences alertness of mind, strength of body, weight control and improves mood. Healthy diet is all about discipline and habit whereas wellness is about attitude and lifestyle. Healthy habits not just enrich your life with positivity but also contribute to longevity of life. The collaboration of healthy eating and healthy habits are the key to wellness. Together, health and well-being are the central components of quality of life and development which is impossible to reach without a balanced diet. Thus, it can be said that a person with good health leads to complete wellness.