Good health is holistic health

Published on 25th May, 2022 at 02:27 pm

Your health doesn’t start and end with physical nourishment and activity. Read on to find out how you can maintain your health, lower your risk and enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle holistically.

Ask 50 people to define what a ‘healthy lifestyle’ is, and you’ll likely get 50 different answers. It’s because there’s no single way to be healthy. Historically, healthy behaviours included not smoking, trying to maintain a healthy weight, eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and fibre and, of course, exercising on a regular basis.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), ‘health’ is not just about avoiding disease. It’s the state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely being free of disease, or having an absence of any infirmity. We know not all diseases are preventable, but a large percentage of deaths, particularly those from coronary heart disease and lung cancer, can be avoided.

Being healthy should be part of an overall lifestyle, because it can help prevent chronic diseases and long-term illnesses. When you look at the behaviours and habits that form part of a healthy lifestyle, it’s easy to see how challenging they are in our current world, which is saturated with high-pressure work environments and the demand for convenience to cater to this. Existing challenges make it that much more important to take care of ourselves so that we can do the important things in life – whether it’s learning, taking care of family, enjoying the outdoors, or whatever is important to you.

Almost half of critical illness claims are for cancer and heart disease

Every year, Sanlam Group Risk analyses the disability and critical illness insurance claims received during the previous year to understand the prevalent causes of claim events.

The results for the 2021 year confirmed the trends observed from the previous year: cancer and heart diseases are still the most prevalent reasons for critical/severe illness claims. Combined, they make up almost 50% of all critical illness insurance claims.

Lowering your cancer risk starts with these steps.

For disability claims, musculoskeletal diseases are also a leading cause of claim events. Why is this significant? Your musculoskeletal system includes bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissues, which work together to support your body’s weight and help you move. Injuries, disease and ageing can cause pain, stiffness and other problems with movement and function.

The importance of a balanced health approach

The good news is that you don’t need to change everything at the same time in order to start your health journey. We all know the importance of good physical health, but being mentally healthy can make all the difference in tackling life’s challenges. You can have a healthier body if you take care of your mind, because a healthy person recognises the importance of managing stress, getting good-quality sleep each night, and not sitting too much.

Creating a healthy lifestyle therefore doesn’t have to mean drastic changes. However, it is important to keep in mind:

• To maintain a healthy lifestyle is to do what is right for your body;
• Do everything in moderation, all the time; and
• Your body needs time every day to rest and heal. Your mind and body will feel better if you sleep well.

As a Reality Access for Sanlam Group Risk member, your family has a host of benefits that help you stay healthy, both physically and mentally. Your children have a free online education benefit to support their learning journey. You also have a Discount Coupons benefit to help keep your grocery bill low and fill your trolley with healthy foods. Explore our Wealth Sense portal for educational content to broaden your knowledge on topics such as personal finances, careers, health and more.