THE EAGLE'S ASCENT ( A Sure Path To Success)

THE EAGLE'S ASCENT ( A Sure Path To Success)

HEALTH TIPS:

As you pursue excellence and financial freedom, the need to maintain a healthy attitude should never be over-emphasized. “Health is Wealth”.

This is true! I made mention of the benefits inherent in maintaining a good attitude towards health but on a brief note.

Here we go! Health Tips and Benefits; Good food, fruits, and regular exercise could contribute to healthy living. We often take exercise for granted while we pursue our dreams.

Note that your dreams and aspirations will suffer a setback when you break down.

➢ Exercise Regularly;

Research shows that regular exercise keeps the body fit and healthy at all times. Making exercise part of your life would do you better than harm.

This is a simple experiment! You may not need a doctor or personal trainer to get started. It is a personal decision to keep fit. Studies show that early-hour exercise helps keep our metabolic rate in a higher gear and as a result, calories are burnt continually all day. The truth is that you must discipline yourself to achieve this. Notice that it’s always difficult to wake up as early as 5’oclock let alone wake up to exercise after a stressful day. With discipline and willingness, you can achieve this if you so desire. You could start by walking, jogging, running, press-up, playing football, playing handball or baseball, etc. Just do something, anything that can make you sweat. Just do it, don’t rush it, and take it little by little so you won’t break down so soon. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. So, get started today!

➢ Junk Foods Could Do More Harm Than Good;

In the last few decades, already-made foods, and canned food has penetrated the nooks and crannies of our society. Such meals are gotten in malls, shops, and roadsides and served in restaurants, offices, and canteens. I oftentimes reason why these foods are called “JUNK” Going through my dictionary, I discovered that “JUNK” refers to something extra and useless.

It is worth mentioning that the consequences of these JUNK foods on your health are alarming irrespective of the number of times you consume these foods on a daily, weekly, or monthly.

Junk foods have a major role in your deteriorating health condition.

Note these facts;

◇ Junk Food May Cause Fatigue;

Although a lot of joy and satisfaction is derived from consuming these foods but on the other hand, they lack the necessary nutrients like proteins and carbohydrates in the right proportion to keep your body energized and healthy. Eating junk foods always leads to fatigue.

◇ In Teenagers, Junk Foods

May Lead To Depression;

Research shows that hormonal changes take place in teenagers, which makes them susceptible to mood swings and behaviour changes. While healthy diets play an important role in maintaining hormonal balance. The fact that junk foods lack the essential nutrients, makes teenagers and individuals alike who consume these foods vulnerable to depression at an increased rate of 58% according to research.

◇ It Leads To Indigestion;

Those who are used to fatty junk foods experience indigestion. This is because junk food is oftentimes deeply fried. As a result, the oil from the food gets deposited in the stomach causing acidity and irritation of the stomach lining because of its spicy nature. These foods lack the fibre that activates digestion.

◇ Junk Foods Cause Fluctuations

​​In Blood Sugar Levels;

Junk foods have high refined sugar which puts metabolism under stress. My knowledge of biology made me understand that refined sugar causes the pancreas to secrete more amount of insulin to prevent a drastic spike in your blood sugar levels. Because junk foods lack sufficient levels of carbohydrates and proteins, the levels of blood sugar drop suddenly after consumption.

◇ It Affects the Normal Function Of The Brain;

Recent research suggests that bad fats (Trans fats) from junk food tend to replace healthy fats in the brain and interfere with its normal signal mechanism.

◇ The Risk Of Heart Disease Is Increased;

Junk foods increase cholesterol and triglyceride levels. These are the major risk factors for the development of heart diseases.

Moreover, fats from junk foods accumulate over time in your body to make you gain weight, the higher the risk of suffering a heart attack.

◇ It Can Damage Your Liver;

High levels of Trans fats found in junk food can cause the deposition of fats in the liver which can cause liver dysfunction.

◇ It Increases The Risk Of Cancer;

A study published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention revealed that consuming too much fast food that is high in sugar can increase the chances of developing colorectal cancer. Other research shows that men who eat more fried foods had an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

The questions begging for an answer are; how often should we consume junk foods? Is there a need to consume junk food? Can we live without fast food? The obvious truth is that junk foods are harmful to our health.

There is a need to discipline yourself to minimize the rate you consume these foods or better to avoid them completely.

➢ Pursue Your Passions;

Set time aside to practice whatever makes you happy. It could be playing football, watching football, listening to good music, or whatever that enriches your free time. This is one way of easing stress and tension. Just create a little time for leisure. This is important! It helps the mind, body, and brain relax, think and refresh.

➢ Be Aware Of Stressful Factors In Your Life;

Stress is unavoidable. It is normal to feel stressed out whether you’re running late to catch up on an official appointment or rushing to meet a friend.

However, you can reduce your stress level and learn to manage and react properly. Beware of things that stress you out, and make adjustments.

➢ Maintain Healthy Eating Habits;

To get all the nutrition the body system needs, you must eat a balanced diet at all times. A balanced diet is not just a portion of good or well-prepared food but rather classes of food in the right proportion. So, to maintain a healthy life to carry out our daily activities as we pursue excellence, we must eat a balanced diet always. A balanced diet keeps you mentally alert and nourished at all times.

➢ Drink More Water;

Water helps flush metabolic wastes to keep your metabolism in top shape. Tap water often contains chlorine and fluoride which reduce the health benefits of drinking water. Purified and safe water is simply the best!

➢ Get Enough Sleep Especially At Night;

Research suggests that adults should get 7 to 8 hours of sleep daily, whereas school-age children should get at least 9 to 10 hours. Sleeping is a good way of preventing overheating. Funny! Isn’t it? But this is true!

A study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that men who only slept for 4 hours consumed an average of 500 calories more than those who slept 8 hours.

➢ Don’t Be Addicted;

Quit smoking beat drug addiction, and if possible, stop drinking alcohol completely. Avoid other behaviour that can endanger life like over-speeding, fighting, unsafe s*x, etc. All these can shorten your life span.

➢ Practice Good Personal Hygiene;

Good personal hygiene can save you a lot of trouble in terms of health. Wash your hands thoroughly each time you come in contact with a sick person, use the bathroom, etc. The outbreak of Ebola and Corona Virus (Covid19) awakened the consciousness of good personal hygiene. The awareness was much that both old and young embraced it. Through personal and individual efforts, Ebola is a thing of the past in our country today! And Covid-19 is following suit.

■ MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION;

It is often said that the right decisions can make or mar an individual.

Every day, people are inundated with decisions both young and old, big and small. How people arrive at their choices remains a personal affair. It won’t be wrong to say that a lot of factors influence decision-making irrespective of our personal goals. We oftentimes decide many things in life. It may be career decisions, financial decisions, or personal decisions which may include medical choices. Quite often, the decision-making process is fairly specific to the decision being made. Some choices are simple and seem straightforward, while others are complex and have a multi-step approach that may require a guardian and follow-up.

As I mentioned earlier, a lot of significant factors that include but are not limited to the following may influence decision-making:

➢ Past Experience;

Past experiences especially bitter ones have a way of influencing our decision-making positively or negatively.

Past but bitter experiences can hold an individual back. It is an enemy of “Right Decision Making” just like a failure; it restrains us from trying or initiating new ideas. According to Juliusson, Karlson, and Garling (2005) experience influence, the decisions people make in the future. It stands to reason that when something positive results from a decision, people are more likely to decide similarly, given a similar situation.

On the other hand, people tend to avoid repeating past mistakes. This is significant to the extent that decisions made based on experience are not necessarily the best decisions.

It is worth noting that in financial decision-making, highly successful people do not make investment decisions based on past sunk outcomes, but rather by examining choices with no regard for past experiences. This approach oftentimes conflicts with what one may expect.

➢ Individual Differences;

Individual differences may also influence the right decision-making.

Research indicates that Age & socioeconomic status influence decision-making.

Age is only one individual difference that influences decision-making. According to De Bruin et al. (2007), people in lower socioeconomic status groups may have less access to education and resources, which may make them more susceptible to experiencing negative life events often beyond their control; as a result, people in this category make poorer decisions based on past decisions. This is more practical than theoretical. In our society today, people who lack access to information or formal education suffer in decision making which oftentimes affects them negatively in business and other life endeavours.

Remember no one is an island; seek people’s opinions and advice in making critical decisions.

Believe On Personal Relevance;

Another influence on decision-making is the belief in personal relevance. When people believe what they decide matters, they are more likely to make the right or wrong decision.

As human beings, we all have our values, beliefs, and attitudes. Values are principles, standards, or qualities that an individual or group, or people hold in high regard.

These values guide the way we live our lives and the decision we make.

Values and beliefs can influence positively or negatively. A lot of people have distinguished themselves by embracing the right values and beliefs which oftentimes results in the right decision-making. Personal belief and value could be positive or negative, but positive belief in personal relevance leads to positive decision-making. That personal goal you set today can only be actualized by making the right decisions.

I once read a book titled “The purpose-driven life” by; Pastor Rick Warren after reading this life-changing book, I realized that a lot of people in societies today are frustrated due to a lack of purpose.

It does not mean they don’t have a purpose in life but they live life without personal goals. They live their lives repeating the same thing, making mistakes without seeking change.

Such people suffer defeat and failure in the long run simply because they believed so much in personal relevance even when they are on the wrong track. They refused to learn, take advice, accept correction, and embrace change.

➢ Before You Make a Decision Consider

​​The Following Things:

When you conflate the steps of decision-making into one muddled discussion, you may end .