World Health Day on April 7 spreads awareness around the significance of a healthy lifestyle. Ayush Anand feels it all needs to start from the grass root level. The Banni Chow Home Delivery actor explains his point of view.
“The importance of health should be ingrained in the minds of children from the very beginning. It should be mandatory for students in school to select and play a sport every day,” he says.
Health is not only limited to physical fitness but involves mental well-being too. “I have a different take on this. I believe mental health and physical health go hand in hand. Some say that you can’t look good unless you feel good, however I believe that you can’t feel good until and unless you look good. One can’t change one’s features, height, or complexion but one can focus on their health by exercising at least one hour a day and paying attention to one’s nutrition,” he adds.
In our fast-paced life, and erratic work schedules, one’s health goes for a toss. “I make it a point to workout 90 minutes a day and six days a week. Also, I am pretty strict with my diet. I have not had any cheat meals for 15 years now. I believe if a person cannot give one hour to their body then their life is a waste. If Barack Obama can, then everyone can. Health is wealth because if health is unwell then you can’t enjoy anything, not even your hard-earned money and wealth,” says the actor.
Some of the lifestyle changes that one needs to make like eating better, joining a gym etc can be costly. Ask if he is willing to cut back on a few things so that he can make room in his budget for these important expenses, and Ayush adds, “As an actor being healthy is a professional demand. Having said that even if I was in a different profession I still would have taken my body seriously as I believe your body is the only place you reside till you are alive. And, maintaining your health is not expensive at all. You just have to move your body for one hour daily. You can do it in the gym, in the park, play a sport, dance, do yoga or even exercise at home. Secondly, I believe maintaining a good diet is also less expensive as you cut out on junk so that saves you a lot of money.”
The actor does not believe in “fad diets like Keto and all”. He explains, “I believe there should be a healthy balance of protein, carbs and fats in your diet as each of them play a crucial role. I was 90 kgs when I was 15 years old and I had a tough time shedding the extra kilos initially as you need a lot of patience and discipline. You also need to take one day at a time and make it a habit and incorporate it in your schedule. So exercising for me is like brushing my teeth and bathing. I have to do it every day, and can’t live without it now.”
Sharing two things that he follows and two things he avoids for health reasons, Ayush adds, “I drink at least three liters of water daily, and work out for at least one hour every day, five days a week. Things I avoid are smoking and negative thoughts,” he ends.
