Nana Diot always maintained that laughter was the best medicine, right up until the point at which she died from a common chest infection, having refused antibiotic treatment in favour of an ‘Only Fools and Horses’ boxset. I do agree with my gran’s outlook that happiness is an essential component of healthiness. Our physical wellbeing is obviously important, but it should be seen more as a gateway than the final goal.
It is all very well being fit, but if this fitness doesn’t allow us to enjoy life, it seems of dubious benefit. Whilst it is true that it is difficult to find contentment between the sheets of a sickbed, most of us would also find little joy in spending the rest of our years on a protein shake and sit up diet, irrespective of the ‘abs’ it may allow us to maintain. Where Nana and I do not see eye to eye, however, is in how food can help us find this healthiness or happiness. To her a chocolate biscuit was a first line intervention for a grazed knee or sort throat, whereas I prefer to focus on prevention over treatment.
To me food is not an immediate cure for anything other than hunger, but it can be a foundation for a happy life. By all means eat the right foods to improve your health, but make sure you are enjoying yourself at the same time. Be sure to think of that before you tuck into your third steamed fish and dry quinoa salad of the week.
By the way I have nothing against fish or quinoa, I was just using an example.
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