Health, Wellness and Well-being

“Health is a state of body.

Wellness is a state of being…”

Wellness in a Nutshell

First off, it’s important to understand that your health and well-being is a personal responsibility, significantly influenced by your daily choices and behaviours. Research consistently reinforces the notion that proactive measures, such as maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and prioritizing mental well-being, can profoundly affect our quality of life. Achieving and maintaining good health is a lifelong journey that will most likely require making a few small, gradual tweaks to your daily routine. It’s about discovering what works best for you and fitting it into your life in a way that feels doable and enjoyable. I won’t claim that this path is always easy, but if you follow the advice offered here, and persevere, you will soon be on your way to a healthier and happier version of yourself…

What is Wellness?

Wellness can be defined as the active, ongoing process of making choices that lead to a healthy and fulfilling life. In simple terms, it’s a way of living that focuses on keeping you healthy, rather than just reacting when something goes wrong. It is also important to keep in mind that your body, mind, and spirit are all connected, and you need to take care of each part to be truly well. We tend to think we are healthy when we don’t have any obvious health issues, but wellness is more than just not being sick. It’s about working towards the best possible state of health and preventing problems before they start, or can get worse.

Wellness encompasses multiple intricately connected dimensions, including: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, occupational, and financial. If you neglect any one of these areas for too long, it can have a negative impact on your health and overall quality of life. When all these areas are balanced, it allows for a sense of harmony and well-being.

Health, Wellness, and Well-being

Although health, wellness, and well-being, are closely related concepts, each have a slightly different focus area. While there is some overlap, wellness emphasizes the choices we make to improve our lives, well-being refers to how we personally feel and experience life, and health is concerned with our objective physical and mental condition. Together, they provide a comprehensive view of an individual’s overall state and quality of life.

Basic Principles of Wellness

Seven basic wellness principles have been identified from studying how people recover from illness. These principles are common among those who tend to bounce back well from health challenges:

Wellness is holistic: Instead of just focusing on symptoms, it is important to take care of your body, mind, and spirit as a whole.
The self is the only true healer: Health professionals can guide you, but your own body, mind, and spirit (including placebo response – e.g. release of neurotransmitters) are what actually do the healing.
Wellness is your responsibility: Rather than blaming yourself when you get sick, see it as a chance to learn how to be healthier. And don’t forget to give yourself credit when you feel good!
Positive thinking gives you power: Negative thoughts can make you feel helpless; while positive thinking helps you find solutions and take control of your health.
Wellness is an active process: Don’t wait for good health to come to you or rely on someone else to fix your problems. You need to be actively involved in your own health journey. If you’re unsure how, seek advice from a trusted holistic health provider, but be wary of wellness misinformation and quackery.
Focus on outcomes, not problems: Don’t get stuck on what’s wrong. Once you identify a problem, shift your energy towards finding solutions.
Prevention eliminates the need for treatment: It does not take much time, money, or energy to prevent health issues, but treating them can often be very expensive. As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” (Benjamin Franklin, 1735).

Wellness Culture

Wellness culture is a broad social movement centred on health, self-care, and holistic well-being, typically highlighting areas like nutrition, fitness, mental health, mindfulness, and alternative therapies. Although it encourages positive practices, an excessive focus on wellness can paradoxically lead to anxiety, guilt, or even harmful outcomes when wellness is pursued excessively. Wellness culture may also reinforce the notion of healthism – the belief that individuals are solely responsible for their health – potentially shifting focus away from systemic issues. In recent times, wellness has evolved into a major industry, driven by social media, influencers, and lifestyle branding, all promoting the idea that individuals should constantly optimize themselves to live their best lives. Furthermore, a growing connection exists between elements of the ‘wellness industry’ and the spread of misinformation and pseudoscience, particularly in the realm of conspirituality. While wellness culture can inspire healthier choices and encourage individuals to take better care of themselves, it also brings with it significant dangers and downsides, including:

Commercialization and exploitation:

Problem – Wellness has become a huge industry, with companies marketing expensive (and sometimes unproven) products like detox teas, supplements (including ‘smart drugs’ or nootropics), and biohacking devices. Authentic practices, like those rooted in traditional or cultural contexts, may be diluted or misrepresented in pursuit of commercial appeal.
Danger – You may spend large amounts of money chasing health trends that aren’t backed by science or may even be harmful.

Obsession with optimization:

Problem – Wellness culture often pushes the idea that you’re never doing enough – there’s always a better diet, supplement, workout, or meditation technique.
Danger – This can lead to anxiety, over-exercising (burnout), orthorexia (an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating), or even a relentless pursuit of perfection.

Social media influence:

Problem – Wellness influencers often promote unrealistic, curated lifestyles and bodies.
Danger – This can create pressure to conform, lead to body image issues, or perpetuate disordered behaviours masked as “healthy.”

Mistrust of science and medicine:

Problem – Some parts of wellness culture promote pseudoscience, anti-vaccine rhetoric, or rejection of conventional medicine in favour of ‘natural’ remedies.
Danger – This can be especially harmful when it discourages people from seeking evidence-based treatment for serious conditions.

Lack of inclusivity:

Problem – Much of mainstream wellness is marketed toward affluent, able-bodied, white individuals, leaving those with limited resources or marginalized communities feeling excluded.
Danger – This exclusivity can reinforce existing inequalities and create a perception that wellness is unattainable for everyone. Systemic issues, like poverty, food insecurity or adverse environmental factors are typically ignored, potentially leading to feelings of inadequacy or shame.

Wellness Scams

From the ‘Snake Oil’ peddlers of the 1800s to the ‘Master Cleanse’ craze of the late 1990s, people have been drawn to questionable wellness claims for generations. This persistent trend stems from a mix of factors: a desire for internal ‘purity’, skepticism toward conventional medicine, and the allure of quick and easy fixes.

Wellness scams take advantage of people’s desire for better health by promoting unproven or ineffective products and services. These schemes often rely on slick marketing, high-pressure sale tactics, and pseudoscientific mumbo jumbo. Many lack any real medical evidence and may rely heavily on celebrity endorsements to gain credibility. In the end, they can drain your wallet, delay proper diagnosis and medical care, and can sometimes even cause harm.

Some people may seek wellness advice online after a disappointing visit with a doctor, when answers were unclear or not what they were hoping for – or because they simply don’t have access to reliable healthcare. That is understandable, but when possible, it’s a good idea to check any wellness claim with a trusted healthcare provider.

How to spot a Wellness Scam

S.I.F.T. through information

In today’s onslaught of overwhelming information (and misinformation), it can be difficult to know who and what to trust. A clever technique for spotting fake information and misleading social media posts is the “S.I.F.T.” strategy. The acronym stands for: Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, and Trace claims back to the original context.

Stop – Before accepting information, take a moment to pause and consider where it’s coming from and why you might be inclined to believe it.
Investigate the source – Research the credibility and potential biases of the source, looking at its reputation and whether it’s a reliable and trustworthy source.
Find better coverage – Seek out additional sources to compare and contrast information, looking for multiple perspectives and verifying claims against other reliable sources.
Trace claims back to the original context – Identify the origin of the information, including the original source and its context, to understand how it may have been altered or misrepresented.

Steer clear of Buzzwords

It can sometimes be hard to really distinguish between truth and falsehood, but there are a few words that are immediate red flags:

‘Miracle Cure’, ‘Scientific Breakthrough’, ‘New Discovery’, ‘Guaranteed Results’, or ‘Hidden Information’
These imply that a product or treatment is groundbreaking and not widely accepted by the mainstream medicine, and should immediately raise red flags. When these terms are paired with conspiracy-style language, like “hidden information ‘they’ don’t want you to know,” it creates a false sense of urgency and exclusivity – classic signs of a scam. In these cases, the vague “they” usually refers to public health agencies or conventional medical institutions.
‘Ancient/Traditional Remedy’, or ‘Natural Cure’
These vague terms might sound appealing, but they don’t guarantee that a product is safe or effective. In fact, some natural remedies may even have side effects that rival or exceed those associated with conventional medical treatments. It is essential to always look for solid scientific evidence behind any health claim. Wellness culture often criticizes “Big Pharma,” and while the pharmaceutical industry certainly has some issues, “Big Supplement” can be just as problematic – if not more so – because it is largely unregulated.
‘Detox’ or ‘Cleanse’
The wellness industry tends to view the liver and kidneys as filters clogged with “toxins” that need to be “cleansed” (e.g. colon cleansing). However, a healthy body is very capable of “detoxifying” itself. Often it only takes drinking less alcohol, eating less sugar and ultra-processed foods with artificial ingredients, eating enough high-fibre foods (vegetables and fruit – NOT cereals), and drinking enough water.
If someone is using the phrase ‘science hasn’t caught up’, that usually means ‘no research available’.

Be Cautious of High-Pressure Sales Tactics

Urgency and scarcity – Wellness scammers frequently use high-pressure sales tactics, urging you to act quickly or make impulsive decisions by saying, “Don’t miss out!” or “Limited quantities,” pressuring you to make a quick purchase. They may offer limited-time discounts or use manipulative language to create a sense of urgency. Remember that genuine wellness is not a race; it’s a lifelong journey.
Personalized stories and testimonials – They might use emotionally charged stories or testimonials from seemingly happy customers to build trust and encourage purchases.
Celebrity endorsements – Scammers may use celebrity endorsements or “expert” opinions to promote their products or services, without ensuring the endorsement is genuinely credible or evidence-based.

Vague and Broad Claims

Claims to treat a wide range of symptoms without specifying the cause – If a product promises to relieve various aches, pains, and ailments without addressing the underlying causes, it could be a scam.
Claims to cure multiple, unrelated diseases.
Be wary of products that claim to treat cancer, diabetes, or other serious illnesses without providing specific evidence.
Vague descriptions of ingredients – Legitimate products are required to be transparent about their ingredients, and their scientific backing.
Lack of transparency about how the product or procedure works – If a product or service doesn’t explain how it works or what research supports its claims, it’s a red flag.

Other Red Flags

‘No-risk money-back guarantee’ – While a money-back guarantee can be legitimate, be cautious if it’s presented without any questions asked or conditions.
Claims of “expert” knowledge without proper credentials – Watch out for individuals or companies claiming to be experts without the appropriate licenses, certifications, or degrees.
Untrue or misleading testimonials – Scammers may use fabricated testimonials or testimonials that are not representative of the actual experience.
Lack of independent verification – If a product or treatment is not widely recognized or endorsed by reputable organizations, it could be a scam.

Protect yourself by:

Seeking advice from a qualified, trusted healthcare provider before trying any new treatments or products, especially if you have a serious illness or condition.
Being critical of marketing claims – Don’t be swayed by catchy phrases or testimonials without first doing your research.
Checking the product’s ingredients and scientific backing – Look for evidence of independent research and validation.