Sci 163 - Physical and Mental Health

Physical and Mental Health

Marie Sinarath

University of Phoenix - SCI 163

May 29, 2017

Being healthy is not just about what you eat.  It's just the tip of the iceberg.  There are more components that contribute to your overall health.  But it is safe to say that no matter what time of year it is or what your overall fitness level might be, there is no doubt that it's important to take some precautionary measures to protect your overall health.  The problem that with this topic is that it is such a broad topic and it can be tricky to determine exactly what is meant by this.  Fortunately, with some careful planning and a basic understanding of what is needed to establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle, one can find that it is relatively easy to incorporate one's new found knowledge on the subject into their everyday life to protect their overall health.  

One of the biggest concerns that many people have in regards to their health has to do with their weight.  Weight management is dependent upon only two factors.  One factor is the number of calories being brought into the body and the other is the number of calories being burned off by your daily activities.  In a nutshell, the foods that you eat bring in calories and naturally, your body will burn them off.  In order to burn off more calories, one needs to simply engage in other physical activities like sports or exercise.  For me, both of these factors weren't at all difficult to start and maintain.  Growing up, I've been involved with a variety of sports.  The challenge came after I had children because it was hard to find the time to get in a cardio workout, let alone a minute to myself.  Now that they are older, they try to do what I do and I have no problem with that at all.  Another thing that I am thankful for (that I got from my parent's) was that they were used to eating five or six smaller meals throughout the day.  I remember in elementary school how my friend's thought it was weird that I didn't follow their breakfast, lunch, dinner routine.  Now I realize that by eating smaller meals throughout the day, it helps me from overeating and that I have more energy than my counterparts that eat three meals.  

When thinking about health, mental health is often overlooked.  Physical fitness gets plenty of attention but for good reason. A healthy body can prevent conditions such as heart disease and diabetes and can help you maintain independence as you age (American Heart Association, 2015).  Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness and shouldn’t be neglected. Including mental dexterity exercises into your daily routine can help you reap the benefits of a sharper mind and a healthier body for years to come.  It’s no surprise that the more you help your body, the more you help your mind.  Physical activity increases the flow of oxygen to your brain. It also increases the amount of endorphins, the “happy” chemicals in your brain.  For this reason, it’s not surprising that people who are in good physical shape also tend to enjoy a higher level of mental agility.  Engaging in a strong physical workout can help you battle depression and gain a more positive outlook on life.  It’s also a great way to beat stress, which can harm you mentally and physically.  Mental exercise is just as beneficial. According to a study in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", certain memory training exercises can increase “fluid intelligence,” the  ability to reason and solve new problems (Whitbourne, 2010).