Health is Wealth

We realise the value of good health only when we don't have one. Unless there is a set-back, we take good health for granted.

In our pursuit of career and wealth, we tend to ignore health. It is said that"Health is Wealth" and it took me sixty years to realise how true is this statement.I knew of a very rich and sick cotton merchant. He was very frequently in and out of the hospitals for some treatment or other.When I met him one evening, he told me that he would very gladly exchange all his wealth for good health. He was tired and sick of spending time in the hospitals. This is true of all sick and wealthy people. They realise the importance of good health only when they are forced to visit hospitals.

Though I am obese, I have enjoyed good health all these years.I have very rarely suffered from common ailments like cold,fever and head-aches. I therefore feel that I am in a position to say a few words about health.

1)It is necessary not to eat for full stomach on a regular basis. Once I met a relative of mine who was 92 years old, Even his teeth were in tact. When I asked him the secret of his longevity and good health,he told me that he was eating four times a day, but only very limited quantity. He stopped eating when his stomach was half- full. He advised me to avoid spicy food and eat only upto fifty percent of my capacity every time. Eating this way also helps one to keep the mental faculties sharp.

2)It is necessary to go to sleep atleast two hours after dinner. When I was in Singapore, I knew of some Chinese friends who would eat their dinner by 7 p.m.One Mr Sia lived beyond 95 years by following this discipline. Till the end, he was doing all his chores without any help from others.

3)Avoid reading too much of medical journals. When we read about some disease or other, we, unconsciously, associate some of the symptoms mentioned in those articles with some symptoms we may have. This would not only confuse us but also force us to think that we may be suffering from some disease.We should not arrogate to ourselves the role of a doctor.

4)Avoid taking too much of medication,particularly anti-biotics, unless it is very necessary and recommended by doctors.

5)Never ever let the mind to become dull. I have always believed in the saying that "the body follows the mind". If the mind is cheerful, half the battle is won when we are facing a medical problem,

6) Whenever there are symptoms like high fever and pain for more than two days, we should consult a doctor. For any deeper problem, the first manifestaion is fever folllowed by pain. When my younger brother was suffering from very high fever for more than a week, he ignored the same. Later on, after tests, we found out that he was sufferrng from hodgin's disease.

Smoking and drinking on a regular basis should be avoided. Scriptures say only blessed people get "vinathianyena jeevinam,anahasyena maranam" (life without blemish and instantaneous death). I firmly hold the view that so long as we are alive and kicking, we should take care to maintain good health.Even in death, we should not become a burden to others.