5 (Maybe Not Surprising) Things That Affect Your Health

As a human optimization strategist (that's what I am calling myself now), I find it important to raise awareness on health beyond the scope of "exercise more and eat better." There is more to physical health than that statement simply puts it. Many people are unaware that these things affect their health. Instead, they often blame and shame themselves. I say no more! Let's explore 5 things that physically affect you.

1. Mental Health

Think about a time when you had a bad day. It might have been caused by a small incident or a significant life event. Now, recall another time when you felt incredibly overwhelmed. Imagine those emotions, but without the external reasons behind them. This is what it can feel like for someone experiencing anxiety, depression, or chronic stress. It's a sense of pure exhaustion, a craving for comfort, and a tendency to avoid tasks that seem demanding. It's very easy to choose ultra-processed foods instead of preparing a nutritious meal. It's easy to skip physical activity in favor of staying in bed. The nervous system may start to perceive everything as a threat to survival. Over time, this can place a heavy burden on one's well-being, not just mentally and emotionally, but physically too. It's easy to say, "They're unhealthy because they lack the desire, willpower, dedication, and patience to make significant changes." However, this isn't always true. Some people need much more support in other areas of their life before they can concentrate on their physical health.

2. Poor Sleep

Whether it's a newborn baby, a fluctuating work schedule, anxious thoughts, or a noisy household, poor quality sleeps slowly creeps into obesity if not managed early on. Many processes the body goes through occurs when one is sleeping. In addition to that, if you're always tired, how do you muster up the energy to cook or exercise? Because the body is extrememly fatigued, it craves quick energy. This causes the human hosting the body to eat fries, pizza, candy, and other sugary items. Let me save you a $500 trip to your PCP. Get. Better. Sleep.

3. Environmental/Societal Issues

Accessibility is crucial. We often advocate for "eating healthier foods!" while simultaneously limiting access to these healthier options based on location. You can almost tell when you've entered a disadvantaged neighborhood because there might be just one grocery store surrounded by 17 fast food outlets and 11 liquor stores. In contrast, suburban areas boast Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, sit-down restaurants, and parks. Moreover, have you noticed the cost of healthy foods? With only $75 to spend on groceries for the entire month, it's challenging to buy organic chicken, cage-free eggs, and fish fillets. The fast-food menu offers a hamburger and fries

for $7, while the grilled chicken salad costs $11. I doubt they even have a salad on their "dollar menus"! Accessibility is vital. It's not easy to choose healthier options when they're unavailable or unaffordable. Politics are everywhere. Whether it's a war, a strike, or policies that exclude certain groups, everyone is affected. If farmers decided to quit, how would we eat? If there's a drought, how will crops grow? If the government has a major disagreement with its main supplier of certain products, how would that impact prices and imports? Again, it's easy to say "It's simple, just do this." That might be true for you, but not for everyone.

4. Genetics

Not everyone is fortunate enough to win the "genetic lottery." Consider a scenario where seven children are born to the same parents. It's possible that one out of the seven might be entirely different from the other six. For example, there might be one child with a larger body among six smaller ones, or the reverse. This individual might struggle with their weight throughout life, believing something is wrong with them, when in fact, it's simply due to genetics. They might never be a size 6, and that's perfectly fine. It doesn't mean they're unhealthy. This applies to conditions like obesity, diabetes, mental health issues, acne, being severely underweight, and more. This is known as a genetic predisposition. While epigenetics (environment) can influence genetics, making it not solely about genetics, they do play a significant role. The important thing is to understand your own genes and how to leverage them to your advantage, rather than trying to emulate those around you..

5. Lifestyle Habits

These jobs! In the age of technology, many people spend 8 or more hours sitting. This slows down metabolism, reduces activity, tightens hips, and increases body fat levels over time. After a long day at work, you come home and do what? Sit some more or lounge on the couch. It's a full day of doing nothing, physically. Add this in with a drinking habit, smoking, or sugar addiction and you've got a severe health decline.

Self-Awareness Is The First Step

Perhaps you didn't know these things affected your health. Perhaps you did. Regardless, it's not what you know, it's what you do with the information. I encourage you to prioritize your mental health, embrace your genetics, stay up to date on your local politics, sleep more, and add in some healthier habits.