Holistic approaches for health education and health promotion

Abstract

Modern approaches: moderate physical activity, a functional food-rich diet, reduction of body weight, control of blood pressure and blood lipids by drug therapy, cessation of tobacco and alcohol use, for health promotion and prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have only partial benefit on future risk of these diseases, despite the high health budget in high-income countries. Holistic approaches to health education and holistic health may provide better health and may be more successful in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and other chronic diseases. There is evidence that psychosocial stress, late night sleep and late night eating, as well as sleep deprivation, deficiency of nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and flavonoids can have adverse effects on brain-body mechanisms, resulting in obesity and insulin resistance, leading to CVDs and other chronic diseases. However, active prayer, kirtan krea, verbalization, yogasan and meditation, along with Mediterranean style-functional food-rich diet as well as nutraceuticals and herbs may be protective against NCDs. © 2017 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.