There is a lot of information on nutrition and lifestyle. Experts believe that even in circumstances when one is dedicated to a healthier lifestyle, sticking to the plan poses a big challenge. Gerald Ruzindana, a nutrition and body wellness expert at Amazon Nutrition Cabinet in Kigali, says a lifestyle choice is a personal and mindful decision. This, he says, is a behaviour that may increase or decrease the risk of suffering from common diseases and ailments more specifically, for circumstances whose behaviours can impact the causative factors to either reverse or preventable diseases. “Healthy lifestyle choices in our everyday lives can benefit us physically and mentally, and choosing healthier habits will lead to a longer and happier life,” he says. In most cases, experts note that people have on many occasions been advised to adapt to certain lifestyle adjustments depending on dictating situations, but failed to stick to this advice simply because they tend to miss the bigger picture of setting goals for both short and long achievements. What to put into consideration Ruzindana says that it’s best to understand that dieting should not be considered a prescription, rather, a plan for healthy living in such unprecedented times when the health sector is struggling with vast attacks, from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCD’s). Good health choices become mandatory, noting that what you eat on special occasions is insignificant compared to what you eat day in and day out. “This is a typical example that explains how what you decide to eat on a regular basis is dependent on what is required on your body not how tasty or easy to prepare. “What kills you first becomes a habit, occasional unhealthy diets are not the ones to blame, instead what we consume daily is what needs changing and adjustment,” Ruzindana says. Joseph Uwiragiye, the head of the nutrition department at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), says going easy on those sugar cravings on special occasions has an insignificant impact on your usual life style. Factors that influence healthy lifestyle choices Lack of a concrete solid goal, Ruzindana notes, has been the biggest issue for many throughout his career as a wellness expert. Many people want a new lifestyle without a clear objective. He says some have narrow perceptions like fitting in a wedding dress, others try to get back in shape after the breastfeeding period, among others. This, he says, makes one miss the ultimate sustainable goal and that’s why falling back becomes inevitable. Uwiragiye says another aspect is social economic factors, noting that most people in the middle-income bracket say they are exposed to unhealthy diets, but this is not true because unhealthy diets are in all scopes and statuses. Also, many individuals have not yet explored the advantage of seeking professional nutrition and wellness guidance. This, experts explain, is so because people tend not to find any significance in consulting an expert, and they end up with wrong strategies that fail them eventually. For a healthy sustainable lifestyle achievement nutritionists say one has to consider some generic approaches such as sleeping patterns, eating tendencies, stress management practices and adjustments, levels of physical activity, among others. According to Ruzindana, by dedicating your life towards living with a positive attitude and walking one step towards a better lifestyle, you will attain good health and wellness.
