Unit:6

Health and Exercise

You May Scoff…

Comprehension

B. Answer the following questions.

a. In what sense are the holidays a time of excess? When can a person gain weight?

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Answer:

The holidays are a time of excess as people eat and drink more than usual.

A person can gain weight when he/she overeats and underexercises.

b. According to David Allison, which factor contributes to excess obesity?

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Answer:
According to David Allison, the factors such as light ( changes in the amount of time spent in light or dark environments), viruses (infection with adenovirus-36) and epigenetics (genetic modifications brought about by any number of environmental cues) contribute to excess obesity. (This information hasn't been included in the text.)

c. What, according to Dhurandhar, can be the way of preventing fatness?

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Answer:
According to Dhurandhar, vaccination against infections can be the way of preventing fatness.

d. What is the relationship between chill and obesity? How can saying ‘om’ help reduce fatness?

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Answer:

Chill (cold) helps burn calories,then decrease obesity.

Saying ‘Om’ helps reduce fatness by taking control over the urges and stress-related eating of high-calorie food.

e. Why is it necessary to be careful while buying plastic packaged fatty foods?

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Answer:
It is necessary to be careful while buying plastic packaged fatty foods because they contain endocrine disrupter chemicals that can leach into food and drinks, and cause the expansion of waistlines.

f. Why does Nelson suggest avoiding blue wavelengths of light at night?

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Answer:
Nelson suggests avoiding blue wavelengths of light at night because these are known to be especially disruptive to the circadian system.

g. How does breathing polluted air affect one’s fatness?

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Answer:
Breathing polluted air affects one’s fatness as polluted air activates (chronic) inflammation and disrupts the body’s ability to burn energy.

h. What is the link between sleep and weight?

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Answer:
Sleep deprivation boosts body weight.

Critical thinking

a. What do you do you to keep yourself fit? What food do you avoid and why?

Everyone desires to live a healthy life. But they hardly put in any efforts to make it happen due to their busy time table. In my part, I believe in saying ‘There is a will there is a way’. I strictly follow healthy habits to be physically and mentally fit. Brisk walking in the countryside every morning and playing games are my favorite things. My daily meals include all the nutrients my body requires. Additionally,‘early to bed and early to rise’ has played a vital role for my sound health.

Despite my busy schedule, I fully avoid junk foods. I know they are easily available and with high satisfying value. There are various issues with junk foods. They replace other nutritious foods. Fats from junk food trigger the brain to want more food and worsen our appetite and digestion. An increase in consumption of junk food is directly associated with the increase in obesity, heart diseases and blood pressure.

b. Healthy citizens are the greatest asset of a country. What can a state do to keep her citizen healthy?

The best profitable investment a nation can make is to invest in the health of its citizens. Our ability to grow as a country is strongly linked to our health. Having an educated and skilled workforce is not adequate. Physical and mental well-being are essential for the productivity. When people are sick, the consequences extend beyond the well-being of the nation affecting families and communities.

The greatest natural wealth a nation has is its people, and its success relies on how they are cared for. Our healthcare system effects our ability to take part in the global economy. It also makes a significant contribution to economic progress, as healthy population lives longer and are more productive.

The countries which do not give emphasis on the health of their citizens are proven to have poor growth rates. For a nation, to climb the success ladder rapidly, its people need to be perfectly fit and healthy. Quality healthcare system has to be accessible and affordable for everyone, not an unreachable dream.

Both the state and the individuals have an equal role in ensuring the health of a nation. However, to improve public health, a government should be more responsible and can make important efforts. It should provide quality and nutritious food for its citizens. An adequate local public health infrastructures should be assured. Healthy communities and healthy behaviors should be promoted. Prevention of the spread of communicable disease should be necessary. People should be protected against environmental health hazards. There should be the provision of easy health services. Health centers and hospitals should be established in the remote parts of the country.

Writing

a. Yoga can be good to stay physically and mentally healthy. Do you practise any yoga? Write an essay on the benefits of yoga.

Yoga

The term ‘Yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit root ‘'Yuj’, meaning to unite. So, yoga is the amalgamation of mind, spirit and body. Realizing the importance of yoga, UNO has declared June 21 as ‘International Yoga Day’. While doing yoga, one can involve in a series of physical and mental exercises. At the physical level, yoga comprises various postures that aim to keep the body healthy. The mental techniques of yoga include breathing exercises and meditation to discipline the mind. Yoga is the finest form of exercise to keep the body and brain healthy.

Practicing yoga is advantageous to maintain the sound physical health. It helps to protect us from several fatal diseases. It also helps in weight loss. Following different postures of yoga increases flexibility and muscle strength. It stabilizes the blood pressure in our body, and lowers the risk of heart diseases. Doing yoga relaxes us, to help us sleep better. Increasing metabolism and boosting immunity are the worthy outcomes of doing yoga.

Yoga is highly beneficial for mental, emotional and social development. Regular practice of yoga permits us to feel increased mental energy, a boost in alertness and enthusiasm. It is helpful in increasing connection and focus. The practice of yoga is a good method of reducing stress level and tension. Breathing exercise in which one can learn to control movement of different part organs of body and connects body with soul. Participating in yoga eases loneliness and provides an environment for support. It connects us with a supportive community.

Yoga is one of the most valuable body exercises in the world which has a rich ancient history and traditions. It helps to improve one’s life significantly by increasing physical and mental strength. Now, yoga has been a life style for millions of people in the world. It brings good health and a peaceful mind for those who do yoga on a daily basis.