CHAPTER 1
Human Intelligence
The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.— Albert Einstein
Researchers say learning and intelligence are two distinctconcepts that work closely together. Learning is the processof acquiring new information. Intelligence is the ability to learn, toretain what is learned, and to use logical reasoning to solve problemseffectively.
Learning and intelligence in childhood and early adulthoodare important predictors of success in obtaining social mobility,adult social status, and income. They are crucial because what welearn and how we use that information are pivotal in understandinghuman behavior. It's one thing to learn all kinds of information andto have various levels of understanding, but if we don't ever use thatknowledge, then what's the point?
Intelligence has been defined in multiple ways. Researchers andtheorists have different beliefs about what constitutes intelligenceand how it affects everyday life, but there are some generally acceptednotions of intelligence that they share. For the purposes of this book,we'll focus on a specific notion of intelligence to see how it can affectour choices, eating habits, overall health, and lifestyles.
Single Intelligence
Two ideas are prominent in the study of intelligence: the notionof a single intelligence factor and the idea that humans havemultiple intelligences that contribute to an overall intelligenceprofile.
Traditionally, researchers have believed that individuals havean overall general intelligence, which is the ability that allowspeople to process information of any type and in any context. Overtime, this approach has grown to dominate psychometric tests(tests that measure intelligence), and it has become widely usedand understood as the general factor that describes human mentalabilities. Psychometric intelligence (intelligence measured by testssuch as the Weschler Intelligence Test and the Stanford-Binet IQTest) is described as generic thinking skills that include efficientlearning, reasoning, problem solving, and abstract thinking.
Researchers have used the idea of a single intelligence tostudy the relationship between various social factors includingeducation level, achievement, socioeconomic level, health andlongevity, and mortality rates. For example, a child's IQ predictshis or her later socioeconomic success more accurately than aparent's attributes. Researchers consistently report that factorssuch as problem-solving ability, mental speed, general knowledge,creativity, abstract thinking, and memory all play key roles in themeasure and standard of intelligence, suggesting that a qualityof intelligence is the ability to interact with the environment andovercome its challenges.
Multiple Intelligences
General intelligence is only one way of looking at intelligence.Humans have a variety of mental capacities, and not all are capturedby the concept of a single intelligence. Over time, we have come toaccept multiple definitions of intelligence, suggesting that abilitiesother than the traditionally studied mathematics and linguisticabilities are valuable in society. We value individuals who possessunique abilities in sports, music, interpersonal relationships,intrapersonal understanding, and a variety of other areas.
In the 1980s, researchers proposed the idea that people learnand think differently and therefore possess multiple intelligencesrather than one general intelligence. This idea was appealing toeducators, who could see that children were displaying a wide rangeof abilities and strengths in the classroom. Educators realized thatthere must be an alternate way to explain the differences in learningand acquisition of knowledge. One general intelligence factor wasno longer satisfactory in explaining learning; instead, researchersand educators turned to the idea that multiple intelligences couldexplain the variation in human abilities. This was used to promotea more diverse approach to teaching and learning in which diversestrengths are supported and individuals are encouraged to improveupon their weaknesses.
Harvard University professor Howard Gardner initiallyidentified seven intelligences and later modified his list to includean eighth. The following chart helps define the intelligences in detailby indicating the behavioral strengths, preferred activities, andlearning style associated with each type of intelligence. Although allhumans possess all of the intelligences to some degree, individualscan show more strength in one or more intelligence areas.
Whether you believe in the idea of one general intelligence orprefer to conceptualize human abilities as multiple intelligences,intelligence is a factor that affects your daily choices, your eatinghabits, your approach to tasks, your relationships with others,your understanding and ability to process new information, yourpreference for activities, and ultimately, your future.
Some educators and researchers believe intelligence can beunderstood from only one of the two approaches—the generalintelligence approach or the multiple intelligence approach. However,it's not necessary to focus on one approach to the exclusion of theother. Both approaches can offer significant insight and directionin understanding the concept of a new intelligence—HealthIntelligence.
What Is Health Intelligence?
At the core of problematic health trends such as the obesity epidemiclies a lack of basic understanding of what it means to be healthy.Some individuals who have healthy eating and exercise habits havedifficulty understanding why such a high percentage of individualsin our society have become so unhealthy. But being healthy is notjust a matter of avoiding that which we know to be unhealthy. Rather,to be healthy we need to use what I call Health Intelligence—a ninthcategory to be added to the intelligence spectrum.
Health Intelligence is understanding, developing andimplementing healthy routines to produce a wholesome andproductive lifestyle.
Health Intelligence integrates knowledge about the body, soul,and mind. To be health intelligent, all areas of the individual's beingmust be addressed equally, cared for equally, and nurtured equally.No one area is more valuable than another, and all three areas arenecessary for positive overall health. Without a balance betweenthe three areas, overall health is at risk. A visual representationof Health Intelligence would look something like the followingdiagram:
Howard Gardner (1999) the originator of the theory of multipleintelligences, believed the purpose of schooling "should be todevelop intelligences and to help people reach vocational andavocational goals that are appropriate to their particular spectrumof intelligences" (p.34). People who are empowered in this way feelmore engaged and competent and are therefore more inclined toserve society in a constructive way. I certainly support this belief.
I further believe that having the ability to live a healthy life isnot an inborn trait. Healthy living is an acquired behavior that mustbe taught and developed effectively through education, modeling,practice, and discipline.
As previously stated, healthy eating is not enough to guaranteetotal health. We must also have: (a) meaningful relationships, (b)spiritual awareness and practices, (c) environmental wholeness, (d)physical health regimens, and (e) ongoing mental stimulation. Seethe diagram below.
Total health means that all of these areas are addressed appropriatelyin the individual's life so he or she is living a well-rounded, well-balancedexistence. If one area is neglected, the whole individualsuffers, and health becomes a concern. Overall good health requiresa happy balance of these five lifestyle areas.
There is an abundance of research on the different effects ofphysical illness, disease, doctor care, nutrition, and daily lifestyle.People are becoming more and more willing to take steps toimprove their physical health. In addition, people often choose toaddress physical pain, illness, and disease before other facets of theimportant balance (for example, soul and mind) simply becausethey are concrete problems that can often be readily addressed.
The job of the patient is becoming more complex, andindividuals have to deal with new, ever-changing, and multifacetedinformation on what is required to care for their own health and thehealth of their families. Researchers have confirmed that inadequatethinking skills can get in the way of effective self-care. To keepup with complicated and rapidly evolving health information, weneed to use critical-thinking skills. Unfortunately, a large segmentof society has not been taught how to use these more advancedthinking skills.
People go to the doctor all the time for basic care and routinecheckups. Doctors prescribe specific medicines or other care thatis meant to promote healthiness and well-being. Doctors have thebest interests of the patient in mind and want to give that patientnecessary information and strategies for self-care. But what are thechances that people actually follow through on the recommendationsat home? Maybe they do, and maybe they do not.
The important question is: Why don't people always followtheir doctor's orders?
Many patients ignore their doctors' orders not because of theirunwillingness to comply, but because they lack the training to doso. These patients may not understand the directions and maynot be able to implement the recommended treatments, especiallyas regimens become more complex. There is simply too much toremember: which prescriptions to take, what time to take each ofthem, whether to take them with or without food, what dietaryrestrictions each requires, and so forth. All of these extra detailsadd to the complexity of the recommendations and leave patientsfeeling overwhelmed, increasing the risk of noncompliance. This isespecially true for those who are more advanced in age.
When people can't absorb or remember the information theyneed, their health suffers.
In this environment, Health Intelligence is more crucial thanever. What does this mean exactly? It means that individuals haveto be smart about everyday health choices. That includes beingintelligent about alcohol, drug, or cigarette consumption; foodchoices; eating habits; nutritional information; dental habits;physical activity choices; sleeping habits; mental health care;spiritual health; relationships; spiritual care; and every other aspectof health. That is a lot to consider, but the combination of healthybehaviors is related to understanding health information and beingable to apply it to everyday decision making about health. It meanstaking care of all the different facets of your life so that you are livinga wise, balanced, and happy life.
Choosing Knowledge
Because the media regularly reports new health informationeveryone has a chance to obtain it, but equal access to informationdoes not necessarily mean equal understanding. Surprisingly, whenmore knowledge about health risks and new diagnostic options aremade public, the people who seem to be most responsive to thenew information are those who are already relatively well-informedabout health issues. By the same token, a person who is more HealthIntelligent will not necessarily be more compliant with treatment orexhibit healthier behavior. Research evidence shows that a person'sHealth Intelligence can be linked to hospitalization, the numberand severity of current illnesses, annual medical costs, and self-ratedhealth.
Overall, people with higher health training tend to reportbetter health. If people with higher test scores are more likely thanthose with a lower educational level to undergo routine medicalcheckups and screenings, they are also more likely to have healthproblems discovered and diagnosed. This means that problemscan be treated sooner and, potentially, the treatments can be moreeffective. Additionally, prevention measures can be applied whenfamilial patterns of health problems are discovered early. BeingHealth Intelligent can benefit the patient, the immediate family, theextended family, and even the larger society, which benefits fromnecessary, timely, and affordable health care for its members.
Regardless of your current knowledge about health issues andyour educational level, you can still learn more. It's not too late tobecome informed and interested in your own health. Anyone canlearn. If you are open to improving your self-care, if you want to bein better health, and if you are interested in improved wellbeing foryou and your family, you can learn. If you are ready to begin thejourney into improved Health Intelligence, read on.
CHAPTER 2
The Body
It is confidence in our bodies, minds and spirits thatallows us to keep looking for new adventures, newdirections to grow in, and new lessons to learn - whichis what life is all about.— Oprah Winfrey
The human body is the most extraordinary creation. Evenmore astonishing is that it's made up of approximately 70%of water and four key elements—hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, andnitrogen. In order for it to function effectively, along with theseelements the body must be nourished with food that is rich invitamins, iron, protein, carbohydrates, and fat. If all of theseelements are not present to support the balanced sustenance oflife, over time, serious malfunction occurs. If medical interventionor a change in the way the body is treated is not taken to correctsuch imbalances, numerous types of illnesses can result that couldpossibly lead to death.
Obviously, each of us needs to take care of our body. We needto understand what it needs to function so that good health canbe maintained and achieved. In the process of understanding ourbody, we each need a clear lens that allows us to look and reflect onit both from the inside and outside.
The first step in achieving the goal of body care is to make aconscious choice to take ownership of your body, because you aloneare responsible for taking care of this great structure. Once ownershipis acknowledged, its care should include nutrition, exercise, dentalhealth, compliance with medical care, and protection from overexposure from the sun. In addition, we need to make daily lifestylechoices that will sustain general body functions.
Nutrition
The body needs nutrients for the sustenance of life. We are wellaware that there are countless numbers of foods in the marketplacethat have no nutritional value. We cannot become complacent;we must make every effort to find the foods that will provide thenourishment that the body needs to keep us healthy. A lifetimeof nutritious eating means focusing on consuming healthy foodsevery day that will prevent deficiencies of vitamins, iron, and otherminerals. It means eating foods that are low in carbohydrates andfat. It means eating foods that will aid in supplying the brain withnutrients that will provide us with clarity of thought. It meansenjoying healthy beverages. It means making sure that when weindulge ourselves, we do so only in moderation.
In today's consumer-oriented economy where we have largequantities of food available wherever and whenever we want,maintaining a proper diet requires discipline. This can be hard tomaintain if both reward and consequence are not foremost in ourmind. Some of us consistently complain that there is not enoughtime or energy left after working eight hours to prepare a balancedmeal at home; therefore, eating out becomes the norm. Similarreasons are given for the lack of exercise and inadequate sleep. Theseexcuses are causing illness and disease at alarming rates, not onlyin this country but internationally.
Exercise
The relationship of exercise to the body is as crucial as breathing is tolife. Exercise provides much needed support for the muscles, glands,cells, skeletal framework, and organs, and helps the respiratorysystem to function healthily. The body depends on exercise tostrengthen the heart and bones, and for the rejuvenation of cells.The increase of oxygenated blood that is enhanced by exerciseserves to nourish, promote growth, and enrich the mind. Withoutan exercise regimen the body experiences a slow decline that willultimately cause shortening of the lifespan.
Whenever we hear about healthy eating, we also hear about theimportance of exercise. It's true that the two concepts go hand inhand to achieve the most effective and comprehensive results. Justlike healthy eating, exercising every day is a lifestyle choice thatrequires commitment, focus, and motivation. It's necessary to keepour calories in check even as we exercise. Most research suggeststhat adults should exercise at least thirty minutes per day, whereaschildren should exercise about sixty minutes each day. Some basicexercise ideas that can help you make smart choices about what todo and what not to do are:
1. Exercise should be fun, age-specific, and tailored to theindividual's fitness level and ability.
2. Exercise should involve large muscle groups to increaseenergy expenditure.
3. Exercise should increase in frequency, intensity, andduration with time.
