Move over cricket! India is now waiting with bated breath for the 12th August episode of ‘Man vs Wild’- a series where Bear Grylls teaches everyday people how to survive in the wild. But, this is not just any episode. This one features India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The show promises a never-before-seen avatar of the immensely popular PM as he joins Grylls in the wild terrains of Uttarakhand’s Jim Corbett National Park. And the whole nation is agog and wondering whether Modi will tackle the wilderness with as much élan as he does barbed questions from his opposition and the media.
But more importantly, thanks to the show that PharmEasy is cosponsoring, India’s focus will now be on wildlife. And it couldn’t come at a better time because the whole world is slowly waking up to the fact that human actions are destroying their fragile ecosystem. While there is a long way to go as far as wildlife conservation is concerned, let’s discuss how animals are way smarter than humans are when it comes to their health and lifestyle and how we could learn a lesson or two from the animal kingdom.
All animals (nocturnal or diurnal) have a fixed sleep-wake routine. Even the cats that you see are sleeping away the whole day (almost). The amount of sleep they get meets the requirements of their body. The amount of energy they expend, their metabolism rates, and their sleep patterns are all delicately balanced. And they don’t challenge or disturb this equilibrium by staying up well into when it’s time for them to sleep and rejuvenate their minds and bodies.
This fragile balance has been pre-set in humans as well and it is regulated by our body clock or circadian rhythm. Maintaining it is the key to a long and healthy life. But unfortunately, we humans, being self-destructive, are defying the body’s natural sleep routine. And this is making us vulnerable to a host of health problems.
Emotions, bonding, teamwork and patience are some other important lessons that wildlife teaches us especially when one is with family and learns to explore the world. Mental health is a very important aspect one gains from such scenarios as learning from the wildlife.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
Every animal has a specific diet – be it herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores. And you will never see them deviate from their eating habits. Their bodies are engineered to digest and make the most of a particular food group.
Moreover, animals do not feel the urge to binge eat. You don’t see them indulging their taste buds and rapidly piling on the kilos. They restrict themselves to just the amount of food they need to keep their bodies running.
Therefore, we have to cut down on convenience and junk food as they can do irreparable damage to our health.
Animals teach us How to Live in the Now, While animals may be able to anticipate their future needs, they don’t worry about the future as fervently as humans do. People waste so much time obsessed with following “what will happen next” that we completely forget to enjoy the now. Stress is after all the main reason for todays diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart attacks, stroke.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Animals have to put in a lot of physical work to stay alive. Foraging and hunting are hard work. They have to run or fly for miles to procure their meals. They have to flee to save their lives too. So, essentially animals live very active lives.
Which is more than we can say about many humans. People who sit behind their computers for 8-9 hours at a stretch are hardly getting any exercise. And this kind of sedentary lifestyle is linked to several diseases.
Unlike our early ancestors, we no longer have to hunt and gather our food. So the only way to pack in some activity is through exercise.
Also Read: What is a Fever Dream? Understanding Its Causes and Implications
Surprisingly enough, there are plenty of animals that adopt measures to ward off illnesses. Many birds like sparrows roll about in the dirt to cleanse their feathers of germs and maintain oil balance.
So what you can learn from them is that you too need to safeguard your health. And the surest way to do it is by opting for regular preventive healthcare check-ups. They can detect any illness that is about to set in. And the sooner you start treatment, the greater the chances of absolute recovery.
Animals are more in sync with their bodies and nature than we are. Therefore to stay healthy, fit and in tune with the environment around us, let us adopt the practices mentioned above.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
