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The Human Body: A Pursuit to Healthy HappinessBy

David Mariche-BanosComposition 102

Professor SchultheisApril 20, 2012

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David Mariche-BanosProfessor SchultheisComposition 102April 20, 2012

The most fascinating yet intricate work of art is the human body. For a soul to live in

happiness and well-being, it must fully understand and appreciate the sculpture constructed of

body and mind. As written by British philosopher John Locke (1880), “a sound mind in a sound

body is a short, but full description of a happy state in this world” (p. 59). The product is

complex in its physical composition, and even more challenging to comprehend when examining

its mental configuration. When evaluating the artistic creation of human health, several

components of it are examined and often argued to have a strong association to predestination or

biogenetics. The two factors that compose it though, body and mind, are consistently being

influenced by each other and by the reality that surrounds them. Although health can be linked

to being genetically based, the varying influences of diet and fitness to any human body can have

a tremendous impact on its physical and mental well-being.

Art has a whirlwind of philosophical and psychological interpretations, but its function

on giving life a purpose never fails to be exposed. An important revelation to human life can be

seen in the link that ties physical activity to psychological health. Newton’s third law of motion

states that any action will bear a reaction, but the responses of a human mind due to physical

activity seem to always remain concealed in their own world. The path to a fit mind is not paved

through mental exercises alone; physically walking a path for cardiovascular purposes can also

enhance brain function. As stated by Dr. John Medina, the director of the Brain Center for

Applied Learning at Seattle Pacific University, “physical activity bathes neural tissue in oxygen-

rich blood, increasing the production of chemicals that improve memory, attention, and problem-

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solving” (Matlack, 2009). Neurological studies by Dr. Medina show improvements of a person’s

mental skills due to his or her involvement in physical activity. The benefit of a strong physical

body is having strengthened mental abilities. This potent combination can allow a soul to live a

limitless life that is capable of undertaking all physical and mental tasks.

Completing a mission right the first time will assure the outlook of success. A task that a

majority of the current population is currently facing involves the challenges of mood disorders.

The amount of clinical depression and anxiety disorders in the United States alone is

overwhelming, and for this reason, experts are searching for answers to provide a happier nation.

Psychologists can all agree that the solution for mood disorders flourishes with the aid of

medication and counseling; yet an overlooked method of recovery is therapy by fitness. For

those that seek alternatives to the “drugs are the solution” approach that much of society has

become accustomed to, exercise-training programs are simple treatments. It changes the brain in

ways similar to antidepressant medication. In a handbook published by the American

Psychological Association, a study that tested the effects of endurance exercises without

medication compared with anti-depressant medication alone for treating patients with major

depressive disorder concluded that both groups had significant improvement in depression

scores, but the participants in the exercise-only group had a lower relapse rate than did the

participants in the medication group (Dubbert, 2004). Fitness is an effective, viable, and

economically worthwhile approach for patients suffering from clinical depression. It is a method

of assured success that can also be used as a suitable adjunction towards anyone’s plan for

victory.

The benefits of being physically active conquer far beyond the cerebral world; they

extend to the external corporeal world too. Staying physically active will help fend off unwanted

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physical illnesses. In a society with increasing rates of physical illness such as cancers, ulcers,

and heart diseases, it is becoming vital to progressively understand and discover the benefits of

staying physically active. A health letter published by Harvard Medical School states that the

reasons for people to exercise should be considered because “muscles that are used to working

stay more receptive to insulin, the hormone that ushers blood sugars into cells, so in fit

individuals blood sugars aren’t as likely to creep up” (“Harvard Heart Letter,” 2006). It is

evident then that the consistent use of a human’s muscles when participating in physical activity

will help prevent, ameliorate, or delay diabetes. Through three recent studies, Harvard Medical

School also concluded that, “if you’ve had colon cancer or breast cancer, physical activity

reduces the chances of it coming back” (“Harvard Heart Letter,” 2006). In order to gain an

advantage in the inevitable break down of their bodies, humans must not only consider physical

activity; they must also take action by maintaining muscle movement.

It is simple physics; a body in motion tends to stay in motion. A human’s transient

lifespan is dictated by his or her need to stay physically active. If a soul’s body becomes less

lively, it can be assured that the body is headed in a direction towards death and not continuous

life. A study conducted by prominent doctors, such as Dr. Patricia Hebert (1993), and published

by the American Journal of Public Health examined the association between recreational

physical activity among physically capable older adults and functional status, and the findings

suggested that the primary benefits of consistent physical activity reduced the risk of functional

decline and mortality (p. 1443). The need to survive is proven by the body’s need to stay

physically active. Having a sedentary body will only decline the progressive continuation of its

existence.

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Life’s explanation is not dependant on physics alone; it is also understood and influenced

by its organic composition. Several aspects of diet will interact with human body chemistry to

give it a positive physiological effect. A fundamental understanding of diet can affirm that

humans need the basic categories of nutrients that are found within food, also known as

macronutrients; fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, in their diet in order to obtain energy, recover

their bodies, and carry out biological functions. Boston-based sports nutritionist Nancy Clark

asserted that, “in building muscle, an organized planning of fats, carbohydrate, and protein intake

in your diet is critical” (Weisenberger, 2011, p. 6). Contrary to the popular belief that all fats are

bad for the body, unsaturated fats, the good fats, are a major source of fuel for the body that aid

in absorbing certain vitamins and minerals (“Fat, Carbs, and Protein,” p. 5). The misbelief that

all foods are the same and are merely there for survival is deceitful. Foods and their components

have a functional effect. Physique transformation does not occur exclusively at the gym; it starts

in understanding the ingredients found within the foods and their involvement with the human

body. Smart meal planning will determine the effectiveness of an individual’s physical training

and can be used to optimize his or her results. Diets directly affect how well a human body

performs.

Physical performance effects are observed, but mental performance effects are

experienced. The influences of diet on a human body can benefit mental performance just as

much as they benefit physical performance. People should apply cognition when making their

food choices because particular food components have a direct significant impact on the tool

they use to make those decisions, their brain. Having awareness of a diet’s chemical nutrition

and how it operates with neurotransmitters can alter a person’s mental experience. Nutrition

consumptions, or avoidances, affect the performance of mental activity and can influence

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psychological diseases. Multiple studies published by neurosurgical professors who were also

experienced with previous studies that pertained to exercise and its considerable effect on brain

functionality at the University of California, Los Angeles have also suggested that certain aspects

of diet might change how patients coped from, or increased resistance to, brain injuries and

psychological diseases (as cited in Brownlee, 2006, p.136). Davison and Kaplan (2012)

confirmed this in their study published by the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry by revealing that a

correlation between higher levels of nutrient intakes and better psychiatric health is evident and

warrants further consideration in the treatment of people with mood disorders. The chemical

composition of all foods will react with the wirings that control both physiological and

psychological functions in the human body. Mental health improvement is not contingent on

physical actions alone; a human can also eat their way to fabulous mental health by consistently

being on the lookout for foods that possess special nutritional attributes that will keep their body

and mind vibrant and strong. Foods contain essential elements for survival found within them,

and they can have extreme mental health benefits when used wisely.

Though industrial energy methods have been improved, the use of quality human body

fuels has been ignored. Current foods, no matter how healthy they can be, are lacking the

necessary amount of nutrients for a body’s well-being. It is becoming next to impossible to get

in all of the micronutrients that bodies need on a daily basis because nutrient levels in foods are

falling as a result of multiple factors. For that reason, routinely swallowing pills for

supplemental needs has never been more prominent and accepted. The powers of pill

supplements that contain essential multi-vitamins and minerals can tremendously benefit a

human body by filling in nutritional gaps and augmenting human health. Annette Dickinson,

vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition,

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asserted that “the medical and scientific communities are rapidly accumulating powerful

evidence about the role of nutritional supplements in both health promotion and disease

prevention, and there is compelling evidence that consistent, long-term use provides the strongest

benefits” (as cited in Howe, 2003, p. 69). A regular and defined deliverance of multi-vitamins

paired with basic minerals is proving to be a sound investment in the long-term benefits of

health. A deficiency of these vital components could limit physical progress and cause many

mental health problems. Enhancing the quality of a person’s diet by enriching its nutritional

content will aid in preventing diseases and increasing food’s functional effect.

When thinking of pills, some inevitably think of them as drugs; a chemical substance

used to alter the physical or mental well-being. One of the most widely used drugs in the world

though is caffeine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system and a component of coffee, tea,

chocolate, and soft drinks as well as pills for the benefit of losing weight, combating drowsiness,

and improving concentration. When consumed in small doses, the benefits of caffeine are

satisfying. According to coordinator of recreational fitness and wellness at Princeton University,

Matt Brzycki (2007), when consumed at high and long term doses “it has the potential for many

side effects such as anxiety, jitters, tremors, inability to focus, gastrointestinal distress, diarrhea,

dehydration, insomnia, irritability, and withdrawal headaches” (p. 63). Both the positive and

negative effects of caffeine should be considered because it acts on the brain and skeletal

muscles, and not everyone responds biochemically in the same way. As any other drug in the

pharmacological world, caffeine serves a purpose with many secondary medical effects.

Everything in life serves a purpose. A function of life can be seen in the pure benefits

that water has for the human body. Hidden within its transparency, but yet clear to see, lies the

fact that water is life. It can easily be regarded as being one of the most vital resources humans

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need in their diet to enhance their health, but most importantly to survive. Not consuming

enough water will cause dehydration for the human body. Symptoms of mild dehydration

include headache, fatigue, and impaired physiological responses; dehydration has also been

associated with an increased risk of urinary stones and cancers of the urinary tract and bowel

(Kleiner 1999; Thomas et al. 2008). Water is the most abundant constituent of the human body

and regular fluid intake is essential for it to work properly. According to the British Nutrition

Foundation (2008), it makes up more than half of a person’s body mass and it serves to regulate

digestion and dermatological complications (Lunn & Foxen, p. 336). Every human body needs

water. Much like a car’s need for gasoline, people must provide their soul’s incubator with what

it needs to thrive. Neglecting its need for water will cause deteriorating consequences.

People never ignore how others think and behave because those are key factors when

choosing social relationships. It all comes down to evaluating the qualities that make someone

distinctive. A change of lifestyle that promotes diet and fitness enhances far beyond the

biological and psychological worlds; the lifestyle can also develop and improve someone’s

personal character. Successful people have a positive character that is judged by how they

handle themselves and the stressors that work against them. The gym is a breeding zone for

successful people because it produces individuals that are devoted to their goals and that have a

priority in life to be the best person that they can be. People that are legitimately dedicated to

practicing a healthy lifestyle are imposed with life lessons that are transferrable towards all areas

of life. This lifestyle teaches that the application of genuine effort, commitment, discipline,

sacrifice, fortitude, and perseverance all pay off in the long run. A healthy lifestyle is one that

encompasses positive vibes, and others take notice when someone is living within an optimistic

atmosphere that is filled with positive energy.

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Quality of life and work productivity depend upon positive mental energy. A scientific

definition of mental energy, developed by workshops sponsored by the North American Branch

of the International Life Sciences, is “the ability to perform mental tasks, the intensity of feelings

of energy and fatigue, and the motivation to accomplish mental and physical tasks” (Barbuto,

2006, p. 697). It is a three-dimensional construct consisting of cognition, mood, and motivation.

The practice of proper diet and fitness regimens can improve mental energy. These

performances develop positive traits because people naturally feel better about themselves after

completing a task that they initially imagined to be impossible to complete. Health enthusiasts

gain confidence, self-esteem, optimism, and motivation. As cited by Guiliana and Ornstein

(2009) in their article Fit for Success, “a number of studies closely tie consistent exercise to

increase mental performance and productivity” (p. 241). These traits can also benefit

physiological health because being optimistic has been associated with immune up-regulation

(Cohen et al., 1999). Accomplishing tasks creates a spiral effect of productivity that naturally

breeds more success due to the increased confidence gained through achievement.

Understanding the connection between body and mind is exciting because positive affects of

human behavior will have a strong impact on its energetic performance and prolonged survival.

Body and mental health are conceptually identical and are linked at the deepest levels.

They determine a life of delight or a life of distress. Greater physical activity is associated with

better health status, and it should be clear that there are dangers connected with being inactive.

Along with strengthening skeletal muscles to benefit the human body, physical activity will also

strengthen the muscles of mental skill to help the brain. When someone sculpts their body to

their personal desire, it raises their self-esteem and confidence levels. It can also resolve mood

disorders and prolong human life. A soul should learn how to love its body because the body

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gives the soul a place for it to reside. It is the soul’s responsibility to ensure that it is a place

worth living in by providing it with what it needs to stay and feel alive. Being more aware of

food intake, its elements, and its benefits can do this. A healthy and well-built body sets the

foundation of a person’s love for success.

Loving life is something that cannot be faked. It requires a great degree of happiness that

depends upon superior health. The connection between quality health and a healthy lifestyle is

more than just an association; it is a culture that needs to be embraced. This manner of living

teaches that a healthy body is a healthy mind, and a healthy mind is a healthy body. The routine

inclusion of healthy foods paired with proper fitness in a person’s lifestyle can improve his or her

quality of life, and those conscious of this phenomenon realize that they have the power to

change their life. Knowledge is power, and positive power is positive energy. Accomplished by

self-talk and self-coaching, fitness can develop a success-oriented mindset that is helpful and

transferred throughout all factors of life. People who exercise have a distinctive attitude that is

characterized by the realization that they have the power to change their life. All thoughts,

feelings, dreams, and ideas are physical in their universe. If it is dreamt and committed to, it

turns into a realized physical thrust in the universe. A person’s world is how it is because that is

how he or she wants it to be, and that is the beauty of a healthy life. An individual has the ability

to create a life of art that is filled with beauty based on the healthy decisions he or she makes.

He who makes good decisions is on a pursuit of happiness.

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