Indeed, there is no gift more precious than that of good health. It was once believed that health is merely the absence of diseases. But the more advancements we make in medical science and the more we know about the human body, we’ve come to realise it’s a narrow view of health. A seemingly healthy person, devoid of any ailments may still suffer from an unsound mind. That’s why the World Health Organization refuses to buy that definition of good health. Instead, it defines it as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.” Far from being a unidimensional concept, health comprises many layers and is a holistic concept. Dr. Manaan Gandhi from The Integral Ayurveda explains the six holistic secrets to staying healthy forever.

1 Listen to your body

These days, people practice fitness as a fashion statement. They follow “fit” celebs and ape their dieting styles. They chug down gallons of water because they read somewhere that it’s important to stay hydrated. But are they really listening to what their body needs? “It’s high time you stop listening to apps that remind you when to have water or take half-baked advice from some celeb. Take five to ten minutes out of your day to just listen to what your body needs. Eat when you are hungry and drink water when your body feels thirsty,” says Dr. Gandhi. Becoming intuitive about one’s own body is the first step towards good health.

2 Eat light

So much is written and spoken about nutrition that we forget the importance of the digestion for better absorption of nutrients. We burden our digestive system with foods that irritate it or are difficult to break down. But our body likes it best when we eat light foods that are easy to digest, an important truth the pro-salad brigades don’t understand. “Raw food like salads may be rich in nutrients since they are not subjected to heat, but it is notoriously difficult to break down. At the end of the day, the body doesn’t benefit from the nutrients because it couldn’t digest the raw food properly. That’s why it makes sense to cook or boil food, because the nutrients become readily available to the body because it’s easier to break down,” says Dr. Gandhi.

3 Eat according to the your geographic location, not your place of origin

Some may cite their robust Punjabi genes to justify eating copious amounts of ghee or cream. But if you reside in a scorching hot place like Nagpur, your Punjabi genes won’t prevent you from getting sick. “It’s a misconception that most people have – that they should eat according to their place of origin. You should rather eat according to your current geographical location,” adds Dr. Gandhi. So if you live in the tropics, have a diet rich in foods that cool you from the inside. If you live in the cooler climes, eat rich foods.

4 Sleep in total darkness

Good sleep is the cornerstone for good health. But not all of us are equally blessed when it comes sleep. We are in midst of a catastrophic sleep epidemic. Recent studies have shown that 60 percent Indians don’t think of good sleep as a priority. And lion’s share of the blame goes to our addiction to technology since the light from TV, computer and phone screens interferes with sleep. “The pineal gland, responsible for the secretion of melatonin and serotonin that modulates, is photoreceptive and is activated in total darkness. Even if there is a hint of light in the room, it can interfere with your sleep patterns. For good sleep, switch off the lights and keep your smartphones away,” says Dr. Gandhi. Here are some good habits for great sleep.

5 Keep your body and mind active

Remember the idiom “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”? It explains the importance of recreation for health. It’s great to have a hobby because it keeps you happy and stress free, contributing to overall wellness. But ideally, a good hobby should be able to stimulate both, your body and your mind, according to Dr. Gandhi. Engage in something that involves physical activity, which also stimulates your mind.

6 Be content

Buddha once said that health is the greatest gift and contentment is the greatest wealth. You cannot be truly health if you are not content. No matter how much you slog, at the end of the day, there will be someone who is more successful or richer than you. So there’s no point in berating yourself and being unhappy with what you have. It will only breed more stress. “The concept of ‘Santhosh’ or contentment is very important to holistic wellness. It is the only way to define the unhealthy from the healthy,” says Dr. Gandhi.

It's clear that the secret to good health and a long life doesn’t lie with pharmaceutical companies or physicians. These simple steps will help you understand that overall wellness requires a multi-pronged approach and the right attitude towards life.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 06, 2018 06:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).