By Parikshith Sharma

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well”, this seemingly simple quote from Virginia Woolf’s ‘A Room of One’s Own’ succinctly describes the role that food plays in keeping with a healthy lifestyle.

But what exactly constitutes a healthy lifestyle? Is it having high physical activity levels? Or is it keeping a healthy body weight? Or instead is it keeping a healthy diet? The answer may very likely be a combination of all three.  A healthy lifestyle not only necessitates keeping healthy physical activity levels, but also having a healthy mindset along with a healthy body.

So, how does one go about keeping a healthy lifestyle? Does it not seem too time consuming? Does it not seem too draining on one’s body? Why, one may perhaps even consider it to be too much of a chore to go about achieving it.

However, that would imply that such a lifestyle does not have any positives, which is far from the truth. A healthy lifestyle can not only prevent the possibility from suffering from potential chronic illnesses but also helps in having a healthy mindset. Keeping a healthy diet not only helps the immune system but also strengthens it, leading to overall health and well-being.

But surely, leading such a lifestyle would end up racking a huge bill wouldn’t it? Not really. If anything, it is actually quite cost effective. A healthy lifestyle does not really require one to purchase expensive exotic ingredients or subscribe to imported supplements or enrol with a high-end gym. All a healthy lifestyle requires is a determined mindset. For instance, instead of ordering food two-three times a day from your nearby pizzeria or restaurant, cook. Go to your nearby vegetable market, scour through all of the produce presented by the vendors and think about the dish you wish to make, pick out vegetables which are in season as they would not only be cheaper but also far fresher than any other produce available. And if protein is what you are concerned with pick lentils, soyabean, eggs or even chicken. In a country like ours, lentils are not only readily available, but are quite inexpensive as well when compared with the price tags of protein supplements.

But what about improving physical fitness levels, wouldn’t one need to join a gym? Not at all. Instead I would recommend that you invest in a good bicycle and take it out every other day for a run. Not only would that drastically help in increasing your stamina levels but would also help in providing a full body workout.  And if a bicycle does not sound enticing enough as a workout routine to you, opt for a skipping rope. A piece of instrument which has been proven to stand the test of time as one of the most effective exercise routines, the skipping rope not only targets your lower body muscles but also facilitates weight loss, muscle toning and increasing your overall stamina. There are dozens of full body workout routines available on the internet for you to follow which would not even cost you a single rupee.

But if you still feel that there still isn’t enough incentive for you to choose a healthy lifestyle, then I bring your attention to the latest guideline issued by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA). As per the guideline, insurance companies are mandated to incentivize healthy lifestyle among policyholders and as such policyholders will be rewarded for their efforts of keeping up with healthy life choices with tangible rewards.

So, go ahead. Take the plunge. Eat healthy, stay healthy.