One may wonder what the term 'Culture of Health' means. In simple terms, it means inculcating a daily routine that promotes healthy lifestyle practices within one's environment. Over and again, we learn how undoubtedly a healthy lifestyle contributes to wellbeing; yet this is one area many continue to fall short.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is both preventative and curative; research points to the better quality of life, longevity and cost savings that adopting a healthy lifestyle offers. To institute a culture of health, one needs to be aware of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. There are four integral elements :
o quality and quantity of the food one eats and drinks,
o intensity, quality and time one spends moving one’s body parts,
o duration of sleep daily and over time, and
o periodic health checks especially as one ages.
Adopting a culture of health within one’s space will mean being mindful of this lifestyle until it becomes habitual. If this is achieved, the benefits are enjoyed in the present and future of one’s daily living. Some of these benfits include a healthy body and mind furnished daily with robust energy and endorphins, prevention of many infectious, non-communicable and chronic diseases, early diagnosis of diseases, prevention of worsening outcomes of chronic diesases or condtions, and healthcare cost savings amongst others.
To institute a culture of health in one’s lived in space such as home, school, office, organisation, community and anywhere; one needs to establish an enabling environment where adopting a healthy lifestyle is easy and attainable including:
o stocking up 80% of meals and drinks that are nutritious, meal prepping in advance, establishing mealtime windows, using the appriopiate cookware and dishes e.t.c.,
o engaging in up to 150minutes moderate to high intenstiy physical activity each week,
o establishing a night time routine that promotes up to 8 hours of sleep on most nights,
o setting up appointment reminders for essential health checks particularly as one piles on years of living.
Finally, one must establish a culture of health with intentionality and dedication, more so because prevention is the most attainable and affordable means to optimal wellbeing. Adopting a culture of health certainly is one to aspire to as the rewards are evident sooner and later.
AnneAide Consulting offers a robust 'Culture of Health' service that assists corporate organisations, communities and individuals incorporate the culture of health in shared and lived in spaces. Reach out to us via our contact details for us to journey with you in establishing a healthier organisation and you.
Dr Anne Olowu, is a Public Health Physician and a Health Promotion expert with varied work experiences across Africa. She is the Lead Public Health Consultant at www.anneaideconsulting.com She writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
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