TSS,Tuesday 1 February 2011
Money can’t buy back one’s well-being if it is thoughtlessly lavished on enjoying life in the material world
“Health is better than wealth” has long been debated in our schools. And the overwhelming favourite has always been health over wealth.
However, the pursuit of health has remained largely academic, as victory in the intellectual realm has not translated into real life practice.
If those with a steady income and having a roof over their heads, plus the use of a car are considered wealthy, many Malaysians would then qualify.
On the other hand, if only Malaysian adults who are free of lifestyle diseases or at their onset, are considered healthy, the number is in the minority.
The Malaysian adult population having diabetes has reached 15 per cent, those with hypertension 44 per cent and overweight or obese at 60 per cent.
Enjoying life to the full holds much greater appeal than laying the foundation for future health. Why take the trouble to exercise and sweat it out? Instead, one can just relax and watch a movie.
In the comfort of many homes, the main family activity is to be seated in front of the TV, and munching crispy chips or chocolate bars, washed down by sweetened or alcoholic drinks.
Those who often go out for a good time repeat the cycle of late nights, little sleep, chatting, drinking, smoking and eating their favourite food that get tastier with more fat, oil, salt, sugar, preservative and colouring.
These people would rather spend their money living out a wealthy lifestyle than eating cheaper home-cooked food and using the savings on supplements.
For them, spending time and be seen in mamak bistros and cafes is considered chic and be the envy of others.
Granted, living a healthy lifestyle is not easy, but it pays rich dividends. Those plagued by ill health discover too late life is no longer meaningful to live. Worst, they may suffer a prolonged torture.
For various reasons, not all who stick to a proven regime remains healthy. One can have adequate daily exercise and sleep, abstain from alcohol, tobacco, drugs, have reasonably balanced meals, and consume popular supplements.
Apart from mental stress, the other factors that sabotage our endeavours to live a healthy life are our hormones and genes.
In many cases, however, professionally prescribed medication or proven supplements can overcome these quirks of nature, if one is determined not to give up the fight.
These products, though effective, are above the normal price range of those that appear similar and are easily available in the market.
However, many Malaysians would be reluctant to spend money on such premium products unless they are already very sick.
When healthy, they would not think twice paying for a bigger TV, house or car, but these things would soon be worthless to a dying person.
If they have invested on their own health, life would have been much sweeter even if everything they own were smaller.
Unfortunately, most people will continue choosing to spend their money on wealth over health.
YS Chan
Kuala Lumpur
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