Ever heard of the phrase ‘too much of a good thing’? It is originally attributed to the famous English writer, William Shakespeare. The phrase simply means that an excessive amount of something that is most enjoyable or beneficial can also be harmful. This is true when it comes to your health.
Life is said to be short, which many have used to justify living each day to its fullest. This unfortunately comes with excesses that often turns out to be unhealthy. Almost anything you can think of can turn out harmful to your health if taken excessively.
I will expound in the paragraphs below. It would be worthy to note that water too when taken in excessive amounts, can be harmful.
When we talk about food, we all have our favourite dishes. Eating excessive amounts of food often leads to being overweight.
Once overweight, you become predisposed to various diseases, spanning from cardiovascular to complex metabolic syndromes. What you eat also matters. Some foods are healthier than others. But when taken in excess quantities, even healthier foods can tip over to the harmful side.
Better to eat just enough, and leave the rest for another day. The same applies to drinks. We all have different tastes and prefer certain beverages more than others.
They include soft carbonated drinks, teas, coffees, alcoholic drinks, energy drinks, and many other varieties.
Drinking anything that you enjoy, to a certain limit, may not necessarily be harmful.
But once you start overdoing it, health risks abound. A case in point is alcohol or soft sugary drinks associated with a long list of illnesses.
Physical activities are good for your health. Exercises help you maintain optimal heart function, keep your muscles and bones in good health, helps burn excess calories and keep you within a healthy weight.
Staying physically active also boosts your mental health, but once you become overly obsessed with physical activities, you can end up on the wrong side.
You can strain muscles and break bones by overdoing some exercises. Some have collapsed on treadmills in attempts to overcome their physical tolerance. It would be best to be somewhere at the mid-point, just enough to keep yourself in shape, and sturdy.
Our modern lifestyle throws many challenges to us, ranging from career development and life balance. Some have easily turned into workaholics.
The way out is to shift one’s focus on things they enjoy and even then, check whether one is over-indulging. If that is the case, and it is making you unhealthier, nip it in the bud.
Dr Alfred Murage is a Consultant Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist