According to BUPA study, at the start of 2023, more than three-quarters of Brits were concerned about their health, with weight, mental health, and lack of exercise being the biggest issues.
Although there is a propensity to view each of them as a distinct facet of our general health, research indicates that treating each component separately is not the best approach to health.
With this in mind PrecisionBiotics, a leading gut health supplement brand, looked at three aspects of health and asked UK citizens when it comes to their overall health, do they prioritise their mind, body or soul?
The message that most people frequently hear is that they may maintain their physical health, shed weight, and become healthier people if they “eat less and move more”.
However, a recent study has shown that other factors, like the condition of our gut, can affect both our physical and mental wellness.
For instance, researchers at Harvard Medical School discovered that stomach and gut discomfort brought on by poor health can act as a trigger for worry, stress, or melancholy.
The majority of survey respondents, according to PrecisionBiotics, stated they partially agree that having a healthy gut is better for your overall health.
However, more than half of the respondents are unable to tell the difference between probiotics, which are living bacteria that help to improve or restore the gut microbiota, and prebiotics, a form of dietary fibre that aids in feeding your gut.
The survey looked at how people prioritise their mental, physical, and spiritual health across the UK and discovered a diversity of responses.
When asked what constitutes good mental health, responses varied, with 71% of those over 54 citing managing stressful situations in a constructive manner as an indicator.
The most popular answer was sleeping well as a clear sign of having good mental health, 70% of 18 – 24-year-olds chose this option as a priority for maintaining good mental health.
However, same age group also indicated that they had the worst relationship with their mental health.
Lots of Brits referenced taking care of their physical health to also help their mental health, with those aged 45 – over 54s (51%) said they found regular exercise as important to improving their mental health.
The importance of spiritual wellness for retaining good health was ranked last.
Spending time in nature is how slightly more than half of respondents characterise taking care of their spiritual health. Only those over the age of 54 indicated gardening as their preferred spiritual activity, making them the only age group to do so.
The majority of respondents (46%) who were asked about spirituality reported feeling happier after engaging in spiritual activity.
The majority of people agreed that the most crucial factor in guaranteeing overall health is giving your mental health the attention it deserves.
