Health
THE SILVER LINING Taking Control of Your Health in 2021
The year we have had is of truly biblical proportions. There have been unprecedented restrictions on our daily life, such as the current third lockdown which has, and continues to have, a dramatic effect on our health. To help us understand the long-term impact, we invited Dr Ranulf Crooke, performance and longevity medical professional and founder of Crockett and Crooke Ltd, to share his thoughts about how we can take a proactive approach to supporting optimal health and discovering a new quality of life, to help us achieve our greatest potential, even in challenging times. This pandemic has affected every corner of society, in different ways, but in ways that all parts of society have been put to the test. But what are the lessons we have learnt? What stories will we be telling our children and our children’s children for years to come? It is clear that our health is the most valued investment we make. But what is health? Health is defined by the World Health Organisation as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Too often we dwell on the former of these states and not on the latter two. Frequently, it is not until we suffer the consequences of disease or illness that we are spurred into action to address any modifiable behaviour that might undo some of the
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damage that has been done. How much control then do we have over our health? Continuing a biblical theme, man has been surrounded by temptation since the dawn of time. Adam and Eve tells the story of man’s downfall through succumbing to temptation. We live in a modern society, surrounded by temptations. These have engineered our own downfall. It is easier (and in some cases the only option) to make poor food choices rather than healthy ones. It is more convenient to drive to work or use the escalator than walk or take the stairs. We can stay up late at night working, surrounded by artificial light. These temptations don’t just have a negative effect on our physical health. We are on constant stand-by, thirsty to soak up the latest news and personal messages.
