Health is a great asset to all people - this is particularly important for those who have reached the 'third age'.  Hence, keeping our body healthy is an essential topic for this new stage of our lives. The two main focuses for maintaining our health are physical fitness and positive mindset. How can we strengthen ourselves both physically and mentally? The key is to strengthen our "hearts"!

The "heart" mentioned here has dual perspectives - "physical" and "psychological".  Generally speaking, if the physical side of our hearts is healthy, we will be physically strong; if we are psychologically healthy, our minds will be active. Hence, strengthen our psychological wellness will enhance our body wellness and they are indeed part and parcel to each other.  How can we strengthen ourselves both physically and psychologically? The key is to be energetic, eat well and sleep well.

Three Important Tips to Keep Body Healthy

"Be energetic" requires recognition of the purposes and setting goals of our lives, as well as having suitable types and adequate amount of exercise. Exercising keeps us alive. Without physical exercise, both our bodies and immune systems will suffer. Having sufficient exercise helps us stay healthy and energetic. "Eat well" refers to a balanced and appropriate diet. The reference points are our body weight and body function indices (such as blood lipids and cholesterol level). To eat well, more vegetables and less meat is the clue. "Sleep well" means an appropriate amount of sleep. If we do not have enough sleep, our health will be adversely affected. Yet sleeping too much will have counter effects on our bodies and deprives us of momentum.

To ensure that we can be energetic, eat well and sleep well, these three elements must interact with one another or else we may not be able to strengthen our hearts physically and psychologically at the same time. For example, many people in their "third age" become less energetic than before. Subsequently, they fail to eat well and sleep well.  Why do they choose to stay inactive? It is because many of them might have experienced great pressure from their livelihood, families and careers during their "first age" and "second age" that they just want to de-stress in their "third age" by staying inactive as far as possible. Such decision is in fact a misunderstanding of stress. In fact, stress may on one hand be induced by too much work and life burden; on the other hand, having an idle lifestyle and lacking personal goals might also be the stress creator. Hence, the way to live out a rewarding "third age" is to be able to identify one's own goals and meaning of life, be energetic and be happy. By doing so, we can certainly be energetic, eat well and sleep well.

Those who stay healthy during their "third age" usually have a positive mindset and attend to their psychological wellness that leads to an energetic life, physical wellness, and good sleeping condition for further strengthening one's immune system and building up strong walls against pressure. Recently I was interviewed by the media to share views on health maintenance. Please visit the following website for further reading:
www.mingpaohealth.com/cfm/Doctor1.cfm?issue=20111128

Dr Wong Chung Kwong, JP
Chairman of Honorary Advisory Board
Whole Person Development Institute