The four healthiest “states” of the body are not just being well-fed and warmly clothed, nor simply being fat like a ball or thin like a monkey.
In the path of health preservation, there is a set of “micro-health” principles. If you want to live a long and healthy life, start with four “micro” aspects: maintaining good physical health and mental well-being. Today, let’s learn to grasp the “degree” of health.
1. Slightly Overweight
Having too much body fat can increase the burden on various organs, while being too thin is insufficient to resist cold and protect against viral infections. Being slightly overweight is the healthiest state.
Stronger Resistance to Cancer
Late-stage cancer patients who are slightly overweight tend to have a stronger ability to fight cancer, surviving longer after treatment.
Enhanced Immunity
Being slightly overweight can help enhance immunity to a certain extent, resisting diseases. People with a bit of extra weight are less likely to develop acute infections, and the prognosis for surgical procedures is often better.
Longer Lifespan Advantage
The advantages of being slightly overweight are even more pronounced among middle-aged and elderly individuals. Compared to those who are underweight, individuals who are slightly overweight at the age of 40 tend to live 6 to 7 years longer.
This is because having a bit more subcutaneous fat helps store energy, resist cold, improve immunity, and protect vital organs, thus delaying aging.
2. Slightly Hungry
Slightly hungry means being about 70% full, characterized by: not feeling completely full in the stomach, a reduced enthusiasm for food, slower eating pace, and a habitual desire to eat more, but quickly regaining focus when food is taken away. Maintaining this slight hunger long-term can ensure nutrient intake while helping to control weight and keep the mind clear. Here are three tips to help grasp the feeling of slight hunger:
Appropriate Intermeal Timing
The interval between meals should not be too long; ideally, it should be maintained within 4 to 6 hours. This can prevent you from overeating during the next meal due to prolonged hunger, leading to excessive calorie intake.
Control Eating Speed
Eating too quickly can hinder digestion, increasing the burden on the digestive system, while eating too slowly may waste more time. Therefore, we must control our eating speed and chew thoroughly to allow the digestive system to absorb food more efficiently.
Less Refined, More Coarse
We are no longer in a time when food was scarce; consuming too many refined foods necessitates incorporating more whole grains to restore the digestive system’s vitality and can also help reduce overall food intake.
Avoid Distractions While Eating
Many people have habits such as watching TV or using their phones while eating. Unbeknownst to them, multitasking during meals can make it hard to notice when they are full; by the time they realize it, it may be too late to curb any overeating.
3. Slightly Cool
The current season is great for feeling a slight chill in the air, which allows the body’s immune system to function at its best, enhancing disease resistance and improving sleep quality.
During this time, the body’s pores should close to prevent getting cold. If one dresses too warmly, sweat glands will reopen, and a slight carelessness may allow cold air to penetrate the body, making it difficult to expel. As winter approaches, overall resistance may weaken, and one may often feel cold in their extremities.
Our bodies have the ability to regulate temperature; if one always adds clothing when feeling cold, the body will become progressively weaker, and resistance to cold will decline.
4. Slightly Sweaty
Some people believe that sweating more signifies better health, indicating normal expulsion of viruses and waste, and thinking that sweating through exercise effectively aids weight loss. However, excessive sweating is not good; it can lead to various indicators becoming abnormal, and only burning fat contributes to weight loss—sweating merely expels water from the body.
