Mind and body – The Hindu

“Health? My dear, that’s what money is for,” my busy friend ascending the corporate ladder would quip. “Why worry about  little aches and pains when you have specialist doctors to fix the problem?” He genuinely believed that health was a commodity, something that could be purchased, repaired, or outsourced with enough financial muscle. He represents a large captive clientele for the hospital industry — their reliable revenue stream. 

We often speak of “my body”, a phrase that suggests absolute ownership and control. We believe our bodies are our personal property, to be used and enjoyed as we see fit. Yet, a closer look at biology and genetics reveals a truth far more profound and humbling: we are not the owners of our bodies. We are merely their temporary custodians, entrusted with a vessel built from a genetic blueprint thousands of millennia in the making. This body, a tapestry woven from the DNA of countless ancestors, is a loan — and it’s a loan with strict terms.

Our physical form is a masterpiece of evolution, the culmination of millions of years of adaptation, struggle, and survival. It is a biological archive, a library of traits passed down through a chain of millions of ancestors. Within our DNA lies the genetic code for our physical attributes, as well as our predisposition to certain diseases. It is a complex mixture of qualities, some advantageous and some detrimental. We may inherit the quick wit of a great-great-grandmother, the athletic prowess of an ancient hunter, or the propensity for heart disease from a recent ancestor. We are, in essence, a living museum of our genetic heritage, and this heritage is both our greatest asset and our most significant challenge.

The body is a programme “unspooling” according to its embedded genetic instructions. Without our conscious intervention, this script is inescapable. We can either fatalistically let go and let it play out its genetic blueprint, or we can choose to do something about it. This is where the concept of the “will” comes into play. We can forge our bodies in the fire of our will. That is done through a daily commitment to exercise, proper nutrition, and healthy habits. Physically, each day’s health has to be earned through a regimen of exercises. Unless you have exercised in the last 24 hours, the negative imprint of that day will catch up with us later when we least expect it. The debt of inactivity always comes due. Skipping today’s workout borrows from tomorrow’s health. Health is a daily tax; the penalty for non-payment is steep.

Our bodies are not our “friends” in the way we might think. They are not lenient companions who will tolerate our indulgences. Instead, they are strict disciplinarians who operate on a simple, unforgiving logic: cause and effect. A consistent lack of exercise will lead to muscle atrophy (use it or lose it) and poor cardiovascular health. A diet rich in processed foods and sugar will lead to inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and weight gain. The subtle shifts begin in our forties.  The spring in our steps turns into a noticeable drag. The mental agility starts to falter, replaced by a frustrating fog. The blood pressure readings begin their steady, upward march. The pre-diabetic diagnosis, which felt like a personal affront, is now an unwelcome permanent resident. The body keeps a meticulous ledger and will show no mercy for our dietary excesses and laziness. This is a tough lesson that many learn too late. They believe that they can outsmart or outspend the consequences of their actions.

No amount of money can save a body that is going downhill due to a lack of discipline. The world’s most expensive medicines and treatments are often just temporary fixes for problems that could have been prevented with simple, consistent effort. You can’t buy your way out of a lifetime of poor habits. The most expensive gym memberships, the latest health gadgets, and the most exclusive personal trainers are all worthless if you lack the will to use them.

We are the choices we make every single day on nutrition and exercise.  All other issues of our lives pale in comparison to a debilitating health issue. If we neglect to prioritise our health, our priorities will be dictated by hospital visits.

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