DRESS TO IMPRESS or DRESS TO LIVE?

Ever since the pandemic the saying that “Health is Wealth” has taken on a whole new meaning. There is truly no true wealth like that of a healthy person. We often speak about maintaining our health through changes in our lifestyle; but there is one area of our lifestyle that we often don’t think much about when it comes to how it affects our health.

That is the area of DRESSING.

The worldwide design industry is esteemed at $1.7 trillion starting around 2022. The design market had a development pace of 5.46% in 2017 and was projected to hit 6.2% by 2020. The US design industry is esteemed at around $369.39 billion. The design market in the US is estimated to develop by 12.4% through 2022. The design business represents 2% of the worldwide Total national output (Gross domestic product).

It's bewildering to envision this apparently perpetual exhibit of attire things that exist in storerooms all over the planet, which is the reason the design business is a particularly broad, beneficial and extraordinary business. But, in truth everyone needs clothing – from the newborn to the person in the casket. So how does dressing affect our health?

Here are a few key areas.

1. Respiration

The free flow of oxygen into the lungs is an essential part of our survival and often taken for granted until it is difficult to obtain. Case in point – Sars Covid. As oxygen enters the lungs it is diffused to the blood for transport to all the cells and organs of the body. In this process waste material such as carbon dioxide is also removed. This aids the blood to remain clean and pure and in so doing promote healthy skin and brain.

However, when someone wears a clothing that restricts the free movement of the lungs, in terms of, inhaling and exhaling, this limits the amount of oxygen that is taken into the lungs and impairs the removal of waste products. Thus, ashy skin and skin breakouts are promoted. We then make other expensive purchases to try and fix those problems without fixing the source. Life is in the blood is how the saying goes; but today I say, “A Healthy Glow is in the Blood”.

2. Digestion

Some people speak of constipation as being the mother of all diseases, and that may or may not be true. But what cannot be disputed is that what I wear will affect my digestion. Together your intestines, small and large, are roughly around 15 feet or more long. As per a 2014 study, the complete surface region of your digestive organs is about a portion of the size of a badminton court. All of that is in your abdomen. What do you think happens when I try to move from a size 14 to a size 4? Yes, you guessed it!!! The 15 feet long tract will be compressed and displaced. This impairs the blood flow to and from the intestines which slows down digestion and impairs the removal of toxins and waste as well.

No wonder why you just can’t stand to be in the room with someone’s flatulence. Toxins galore! Many of us have Gastroesophageal Reflux because of these same poor lifestyle practices. And if we are not careful to make changes now, we may remain constipated and then Hemorrhoids (aka Pile) follows. Colorectal cancer is on the rise, and though there are several factors that attribute to this condition, let us not downplay the benefits of proper lifestyle practices to decrease these conditions.

3. Circulation

In all the other areas we mentioned about the blood, so let’s deal with it specifically here. Every part of the body is influenced by this system. Like a freeway or a supply chain, the blood circulatory system provides the logistics of nutrients, oxygen, waste products, and a conduit for other crucial tasks. As such we want to ensure that it is kept in optimal condition. The body and these channels are influenced by changes in temperature and their functions may be altered thereby. That is why the body has a core temperature. The veins which return blood to the heart are not as sturdy as arteries that take blood from the heart. When the body, especially the limbs are exposed to changes in temperatures the flow of blood taking these life-giving nutrients may be impaired. This may happen when the legs are left bare and exposed in the colder night airs or when too much covering is focused around the chest area causing a rush of blood to that area. This causes congestion and other illnesses and eventually many may have circulatory related diseases.

Furthermore, if the clothing over these extremities is too tight then they may have a tourniquet effect and impair the return of blood to the heart and liver for the excretion of waste products.

Overall, we promote eating to live and exercising to live. It’s now time to raise awareness on Dressing To Live. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. May our closets promote health of body and mind.

Dress to impress or Dress to live? I say, Dress to Live and impress by doing so!

Disclaimer: No part of this article is meant to replace consulting a trained and licensed physician with regards to your health conditions.