[WATCH]: Celebrating World Health Day 2022 with Purpose

For World Health Day 2022 we celebrate our planet and the wondrous things it provides for us. Acknowledging its importance and the need to keep it happy and healthy in order to keep ourselves happy and healthy.

The History

The World Health Organisation (WHO) established World Health Day as one of its first official acts. With the 7th of April chosen as a commemoration for the day the constitution of the World Health Organization entered into force. On this day in 1948, 61 countries signed in agreement for the inception of the organisation. The following year, the first celebration took place, making the 7th of April 2022 the 73rd annual World Health Day.

World Health day is now one of 11 official global health campaigns marked by WHO, along with

• Tuberculosis Day
• Chagas Disease Day 
• Blood Donor Day
• Antimicrobial Awareness Week
• Immunization Week
• Malaria Day
• No Tobacco Day 
• Hepatitis Day
• Patient Safety Day 
• AIDS Day    

The Theme for World Health Day 2022

This year’s theme is “Our Planet, Our Health” and focuses on the importance of our natural resources and their sustainability. From the plants that feed us to the air we breathe. 

Our Air and Earth

The World Health Organisation points out that “Our political, social and commercial decisions are driving the climate and health crisis. Over 90% of people breathe unhealthy air resulting from burning of fossil fuels.” While “Pollution and plastics are found at the bottom of our deepest oceans, the highest mountains, and have made their way into our food chain.”

As individuals, we can help by making changes in our lives to minimise the need for things that harm the planet. For example, small things like walking or cycling to work in order to use less fuel. Using less plastic and single-use items like disposable masks. Minimising your overall consumption and waste creation will make more of a difference than you realise.

Our Food

No plants mean no nutrition, even the animals that we use to sustain us require plants to survive. So the reality is that we need to create a happy and sustainable environment in which our planet can thrive.

Now, to get this right, we need to consider what we are consuming. If we can adapt our lifestyles to promote sustainable nutrition then the world can start focusing more on sustainable cultivation. Simply swapping out certain things in our diet could make a huge difference. For example, look at mushrooms. Many scientists and nutritionists agree that mushrooms are among the most nutritious foods in the world. Plus, they are sustainable and actually feed and protect the earth as they grow!   

“Mushrooms, extraordinarily, are able to restore soil and many eco-scientists proclaim mushrooms as one of the answers to climate change”

The South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association (SAMFA)

Like many plants, mushrooms are super high in fibre, which most humans are not getting enough of. Even though fibre plays a vital role in our health and well being. Mycologist and fourth-generation herbalist Dr Christopher Hobbs states that more fibre in our diets could help cut chronic illness by around 60%! So, at the same time as promoting sustainability, eating more plant foods could seriously benefit our own health. 

If we consider mushrooms again, they are also a great source of protein and B vitamins. This means that you can easily substitute some of the animal products in your diet with mushrooms and be doubling up on your nutrient intake. Animal products, such as meat, dairy and eggs have zero fibre in them, and while I am not saying everyone should be vegan, we should all consider consuming more plants and fewer animal products.

Ideas to Eat Sustainably

If you have a bit of a routine with how you eat and live it can be especially difficult to change it. At no fault of our own our brains tend to become stuck inside the box it is comfortable in, making thinking outside of it harder. So, to kick start your mind with new ideas, here are some great recipes for healthy, sustainable meals.

• A spicy Chakalaka House Salad with red chillies
• Get in your greens with this Broccoli Salad
• Spicy Gem Squash Stuffed with Spinach and Rice
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes Baked with Olive Oil and Rosemary 
• Authentic Cape Malay Fish Cakes
• Snoek with Sweet Potatoes and Touch of Citrus
• Yummy Sweet Potato Brownies