#HEALTHTALK 01: When is Right for Good Health Practices?

Welcome to the maiden edition of #HealthTalk on The Paul Anunaso Blog.
I'm your host, Lilian. #HealthTalk is all about your nutritional and clinical health.

Today, we are going to be looking at when it is right to make good health practices, the relationship the food you eat has with your health, and the relationship food has with medicine.

According  to the WHO, health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.

Have you thought about when it is right to make good health practices? There are myths and facts about how to stay healthy. Maybe you practice some of the myths unknowingly.

If you grew up in Africa, you must have heard one or both of these sayings: 'dirty no de kill Africa man' or 'water no get enemy '. Africa's afrobeat and highlife legend, the late Fela Kuti, sang a song titled "Water no get enemy".

But, truth remains that dirt kills, and water, when taken with dirt in it, or when not taken enough in the body, endangers it and makes it easier for opportunistic infections to develop.

In Nigerian jollof rice, the rice is a rich source of carbohydrates. Fat is gotten from the oil, vitamins and minerals are gotten from the salt, pepper, vegetables and other condiments used in making it, and meat is a source of protein

When is Right for Good Health Practices? 

• Studies have shown that good health practices should start during conception.

• After birth, it is necessary to continue keeping to the rules involved in personal hygiene. Always give your baby a refreshing bath, and let them grow knowing that while good health is a precious gift from God, it is also the result of maintaining good health practices. 

• Good health should be practiced even when there is no disease outbreak such as we have today from the novel coronavirus 

• Good health should also be practiced during the periods of disease outbreak. We should follow the prescribed preventive measures, in order to curtail the spread of Covid-19 virus in the world. 

• It is adviced to go for regular medical check ups, and to also get immunized against communicable diseases. If you have symptoms like those of the Covid-19 virus, please go and get yourself tested immediately. Sometimes, early detection of a disease is the surest way to survive it.

• Practice good health to increase your life span. Make your health your priority. 

Nutritional health is key to clinical health

Food and Health 
Food is any substance that doesn't cause any harm to your health when ingested. Yes, you read that right: if it can cause harm to your body system, it is not food. It should be digestible, absorbable and utilizable by your body.

Did you know that healthwise and biologically, you are what you eat? You are a product of the food you've been consuming; just as you're a product of all your past choices in life.

Your body needs the basic food nutrients everyday; and that is the reason why we have something called 'recommended dietary intake' (RDI) or 'recommended dietary allowance' (RDA) for different people.

If you eat right, you will be healthy. But when you eat wrong, it endangers your life.

Food is the fuel your body needs in order to function well. You should make sure the fuel you put in it isn't adulterated with poisonous substances like junks.

Good food keeps you away from the doctor.

Good food is void of junk. I mean snacks and fizzy drinks; but is rich in food nutrients.

Garlic’s antioxidants and antibacterial properties can clear up your skin by killing acne-causing bacteria. Some data shows rubbing raw garlic over pimples can clear them away. Be aware, though, that it could cause a burning sensation on your skin, and that it has an unpleasant smell.

Food and Medicine 
Have you wondered why our ancestors lived long? Have you tried to trace their feeding habits?

Medicine is any substance that can prevent, treat and alleviate the symptoms of diseases. Good food prevents, treats and alleviates disease symptoms.

From past years of study, food has proved itself to be the best medicine.

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, knew this and coined the saying "Let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food."

In today's nutrition, we have discovered that the best time to start eating well is from 0 - 5years of age. Any child that loses the essential food nutrients at this age is endangered to poor health in the later life.

Babies need breast milk for at least their first 6 months of life. It is best when continued till 24 months after birth.

Feed your children with food rich in nutrients. Avoid junk food; it's not good for their health.

Did you know that natural food is healthier? They are the type that our ancestors made use of, and they lived long healthy lives.

Did you also know that some of the food we eat today have contributed to the emergence of some of the diseases we have?

Eat food, not because of it's taste, but because of what it gives.

Eat food, not because of it's quantity, but because of the quality of nutrients it has.

Eat food for the well being of your body. Say no to eating 'poisons' in the name of modern food.

Don't eat food because it was imported. Eat it only if it will add value to your health.

Eat to live; don't just live to eat.

Breakfast is the best meal for the day. As much as you can, don't skip it. When you skip breakfast, it opens your appetite for consumption of junks and high energy giving food.

Finally my friends, let's put on the attitude of eating good food to live, and not just eating to fill the stomach as we may have been practicing before.

Let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food.


Lilian Uchechi Eze is a Nutritionist-Dietitian. She is a teacher, writer and content developer at The Paul Anunaso Blog, and can be reached at lilian.thepaulanunasoblog@gmail.com