How does your post feed you?
From looking at workout posts on Facebook to jumping onto the Instagram celery juice race, we sure have made some health decisions based on certain posts or feeds on social media, to a certain extent.
With spending hours on various social media platforms, our decisions about our well being are affected by our friends and influencers. But in reality, how much do we do in real life, according to a newsfeed? Are they beneficial or do they have a negative impact on our lives? Our own experiences will tell the tale, apart from the various studies conducted.
The Cons
Social media could offer health benefits
You can’t skip or simply go through a Pinterest page without admiring a gorgeous salad or smoothie. There are times when images of mouth watering foods offer the oomph you are looking for in your veggies for lunch and feel good about it. Most people enjoy looking for recipes from other feeds. It helps increase their knowledge when it comes to food and recipes.
Some feeds on social media boost our morale towards fitness or offer a healthier future. Most body builders who have struggled or are still struggling with anorexia, have said that there are certain posts or feeds that have helped them overcome their eating disorders.
They have said that these posts have pushed them to recover and help them focus on physical strength.
The Con
Social media has the tendency to foster unrealistic expectations
While the perfect body, can make you drool, there can be a dark side to it all as well. With such images, we could end up feeling that attaining the perfect body can be tough or not possible. Social media does give the feeling of making a meal or a workout seem effortless. It is not as easy as it looks as most times, people often get frustrated and give up.
Following a diet culture often leads to judgement about food, which is often stressful. The pressure of staying fit is constantly felt.
Making the most out of health on social media
We all want to be in control of the health choices we make and at present, social media is the place. To attain help or benefit from a post, set boundaries on how much time you spend on social media. A study once reported that those who spend time on Facebook, have felt less stressed out.
Then, see the number of followers and friends you have, and decide how they influence your life. You can use social media to inspire you but be realistic.
