Definitions of Health
The technical definitions of health have changed over time, and the general definitions vary from person to person. The most popular definition of health is health is the state of being free from illness or injury. However, this definition is very limiting and does not take into account the various dimensions of health and their interaction with each other.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This definition from WHO has not changed since 1948 and identifies the physical, mental and social dimensions of health, but still neglects the spiritual and emotional dimensions.
The health definitions listed above could easily be modified in order to be a state of full well-being. However, they may also be generalized to suggest that wellness is a state of full physical, mental, social, emotional and moral well-being, not only the lack of sickness or infirmity.
Today, if you asked anyone, they would have varying definitions of health, but many would concentrate on the physical component of health and think of it as the lack of illness or disability, as well as the mental facets of health. People also left out the social, emotional and spiritual aspects.
Dimension of health
There are five (5) dimensions of health: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social. These five (5) dimensions of health provide a full picture of health as a change in any dimension affects the others.
Physical Health
The physical component of health relates to the physical aspect of health. It applies to the conventional meanings of health, such as the lack of sickness and injuries. Physical health varies in quality along a spectrum where there is a mixture of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease or hypertension at one end and a person who is in ideal physical condition (think health, not fitness) at the other.
Physical health can impact other aspects of health, as a deterioration in physical health can lead to a decline in other types of health. For example, a person who unexpectedly gets the flu is always socially isolated so as not to infect others, fails to concentrate on researching or learning something new, and can feel depressed as a result of their isolation.
Mental Health
Mental health refers to the cognitive aspects of health. Often mental health is related to, or requires, emotional health, I want to differentiate between the two. Mental health is more a function of the brain, whereas emotional health refers to a person’s mood often attributed to their hormones. Mental health then involves a variety of mental health problems, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. It refers to the capacity of a human to use his brain and think. This may be to solve problems or to acquire knowledge, but it focuses on the cognitive part of an individual.
Mental health care impacts the other facets of health. Improved mental health can benefit from increased physical activity, and positive mental health can contribute to increased self-esteem as mental wellbeing increases. Greater self-esteem leads to greater faith in social settings which can cause us to ask more questions about life leading to improved spiritual health.
Emotional Health
Emotional health is about the mood of the individual or the general emotional state. It is our capacity to correctly understand and communicate our emotions. It contributes to your self-esteem as well as your ability to control your feelings in order to retain a realistic outlook on circumstances. The connection between emotional and mental health is apparent and, as such, certain disorders contribute to both, such as depression and anxiety.
Emotional health impacts the other aspects of health as a person with a high self-esteem is more positive in social environments, makes friends faster and also does well in physical activity.
Spiritual Health
Spiritual health concerns our sense of the overall purpose of life. People often find this purpose in a belief system or a faith system, while others create their own purpose. A individual who has a life purpose is said to be healthier than those who do not see a life purpose.
Spiritual health is also quickly influenced by emotional and mental health, as finding a meaning in life will motivate you to achieve your goals. Finding a life goal will also enable people to keep a proper outlook on life and overcome challenges. People who are spiritual also meet regularly around their spiritual objective, which helps to improve their social health.
Social Health
The social component of health relates to our capacity to establish and sustain positive relationships with others. Positive social health involves not only having relationships, but also working properly within them and upholding socially accepted expectations. The basic social unit of the relationship is the family, and such relationships have the biggest effect on a person’s life. Other main interactions include personal friends, social networks, educators, and youth leaders.
Social health impacts the other facets of health in a number of contexts. Poor social life may cause an individual to doubt their role in life or to feel lonely and unwelcome. Such emotions can demotivate people from physical involvement and lead them to depression.
Functions of food
Food is very important to life. We should always have enough food to be healthy and productive. But the food we consume should also be nutritious and rich with all the nutrients our body needs. We can select from a wide range of foods and consume them on a daily basis, during the day, every day of the year. Don’t ignore that we should all love the food we eat; it should look amazing, smell nice and taste good. Without adequate nutrition, children and young people cannot fully develop their potential, and adults may have trouble trying their best.
Food provides our bodies with what they need to:
- stay healthy and heal themselves;
- prevent and fight infections.
- stay alive, be active, move and work;
- build new cells and tissues for growth;
Basic Facts about Nutrients
| Nutrient | Functions | Good Sources |
| Protein | Helps us to grow, develop and repair muscles and tissues. Some protein foods such as milk and eggs give us strong bones and teeth. | Marula nuts, eefulwa, ground nuts, pumpkin or !nara seeds, mopane worms, beef, pork, goat, fish, chicken, eggs, dried beans, peas, mielies and lentils, cheese, omaere and yoghurt. |
| Carbohydrates | Provide energy for the body. There are three kinds of carbohydrates: sugar, starch, and fibre. | Mahangu, sorghum, brown bread, rice, macaroni and other noodles, mieliemeal, sugar, honey. |
| Fats | Provide energy for the body and carry certain vitamins through the body. | Marula nut, ground nut, butter, margarine, cooking oil, seeds. |
| Vitamin A | Needed for healthy eyesight and to prevent night blindness, (xerophtalmia). | Egg yolks, liver, butter, omaere, yoghurt. Deep yellow or orange fruits and vegetables, dark green vegetables: ombidi, pumpkin, butternut, carrots, spinach, rape, broccoli, pawpaw. |
| Iodine (mineral) |
Iodine is for the thyroid gland (in the neck area), which regulates growth and many body functions. A lack of iodine can lead to an enlargement of the thyroid gland called a goitre. | Iodised salt, seafood and foods which are grown in soil that contains iodine. |
| Iron (mineral) |
Iron helps the body to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body. A lack of iron can lead to the disease called anaemia. | Mopane worms, beef, goat, pork, dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach and ombidi, brown bread, beans. |
| Niacin (vitamin) |
Helps the body to get energy from other nutrients and helps keep the skin and nervous system healthy. A lack of niacin leads to pellagra. | Whole grain cereals, meats and seeds: Brown bread, groundnuts, pumpkin and !nara seeds, sorghum, mahangu, meat, and chicken. |
| Water | Water carries nutrients in the body and waste products from the cells and helps control body temperature. When the body does not have enough water, this can cause dehydration (drying out) | Water, milk, fruit juice, soups, tea and vegetables with high water content such as lettuce, apples and potatoes. |
