Healthy living
The kind of food we eat today plays a very important role in our health and overall well-being. Sadly, many of us focus only on taking medications when we are sick, forgetting that the most important foundation of good health is the type of food we consume and our daily lifestyle. It is true that a lot of health problems we face today, including serious illnesses like dementia, diabetes, and high blood pressure, are not only caused by ageing but also by how we live and what we eat.
When I look at the type of food available in the market today, I can not help but worry. Most of what we eat is no longer natural. Farmers now use fertilisers and various chemicals just to ensure a bountiful harvest. While this may increase the quantity of food, it reduces its quality and makes it harmful to our bodies. I have experienced this personally. There were times I bought fresh vegetables and pepper from the market, and within a day or two, they had withered or gone bad. However, when I plant the same vegetables in my backyard without using any chemicals, they stay fresh for weeks. This alone tells me how much chemical is being used on the ones sold in the market. These substances may look harmless, but over time, they accumulate in our bodies and lead to different health problems.
Another thing that concerns me is the use of preservatives in food. Many food manufacturers use different kinds of chemicals to preserve their products so they can stay on the shelves for months. They will boldly write the expiry date on the package, but how sure are we that these dates are accurate? Human beings are naturally selfish, and many business owners care more about profit than about people’s health. As long as they are making money, they will continue producing and selling these items, even when they know the harm they are causing. This is why our markets are flooded with fake and adulterated food and drugs. It has become like a plague in our society, and sadly, many innocent people suffer the consequences.
The truth is that many of the illnesses we see today were not as common in the past. Our grandparents ate natural, unprocessed food, and they lived healthier and longer lives. Today, almost everything we consume has been processed or altered in some way. Instead of focusing only on medication when we fall sick, we need to take a step back and think about prevention. Good health starts with what we put into our bodies every single day.
We must be deliberate about our well-being. This means making conscious decisions about the food we eat and choosing healthier options whenever possible. It might not always be easy, especially when unhealthy options are cheaper and more available, but the effort is worth it. If we want to live long and enjoy a healthy life, we must value humanity over money and stop treating food simply as a business. Our future health depends on the choices we make today.