“Healthy” Choices Can Be the Worst
March 2, 2009
With America’s chronic obsession with being healthy, one would imagine this nation to be one of healthy individuals all in excellent shape. In amidst of this fixation on being fit, however, the ideal fitness level became less about health and life expectation and more about appearing thinner.
Ironically, it is this obsession with staying fit that has driven many Americans to very unhealthy habits. Oftentimes, you will see someone going to the gym, carrying a diet soda bottle in his or her hand. Likewise, energy drinks have become very popular amongst teenagers and young adults. What exactly is the point of exercising to stay health if the person is willing to have a large intake of chemicals that ultimately will harm his or her body?
Another popular choice are the “healthy” and low-fat meals Americans purchase from the freezer aisle of their nearest grocery store. Products like “Lean Cuisine” may seem like a healthier choice by name, but choosing to buy and indulge in products with preservatives is very dangerous for one’s body.
Although being physically fit is very popular in today/s media, the significance of this physical state has completely been completely lost. The entire point of being healthy is not just to look similar to the latest celebrity sporting Cosmopolitan’s cover, but to extend life expectancy. If someone spends hours running on the treadmill only to chug a Monster drink to get through the night’s homework, his or her healthy habit is negated.
Bad sleeping habits are also a major health concern, especially for teenagers and young adults. Although the effects seem minor and easily reversible, sleep deprivation, for long periods of time, have been proven to significantly shorten a person’s life span. Sleep deprivation is completely detrimental to one’s health and it should be of great concern. Getting a good night’s worth of sleep is just as important as a healthy breakfast. Stress is also a major factor that affects one’s health.
When a student has three tests the next day, the last thing on his or her mind is how this is affecting the body, but adapting to stress for long periods of time can cause serious damage to an individual’s emotional health.
Most of the important healthy habits do not require careful observation or strict limitations, but only a good dose of common sense. If, for instance, someone is eating food or a snack with a taste that gives no indication of what its ingredients may be, that choice may not be the best one. Of course, even though there are other aspects to maintaining good health, having a healthy, balanced diet is still important. However, eating healthy consists more of the occasional canned fruit, sugar-packed Yoplait yogurt, and Chewy granola bars.
If someone’s body is suffering exhaustion to the extent that sickness occurs more often or that person becomes more emotional, these signs should be a fair warning of bad habits that may cause serious consequences. Maintaining a healthy body is not just about following the standard rule of low-fat foods and regular exercise, but an awareness that everything that enters or is exposed to the body will affect everyday functions. If people took the time to pay attention to the warning signs that their bodies give and what their limitations are, America would be, in general, a healthier nation.
