It is an unfortunate fact that we are breathing in a chemical soup where everything including the toiletries, household products, food, water or even the air, is exposed to chemicals. Repeated exposure to such chemicals from multiple agents is contributing to a wide array of health problems, including long-term issues like allergies, poor immunity of kids, respiratory problems like asthma, etc to name a few.
This calls for immediate detoxification in our daily lives.We don't necessarily need man-made products to keep us healthy. Nature is our friend when it comes to living a chemical-free life. But little do people understand this fact. Playing a minimal at present but pivotal role in educating the masses about preventive healthcare through natural remedial measures are health and wellness startups that are accessible at one’s convenience and are becoming a constant companion to the user to keep a tab over health in check, always.
Lifestyle affecting health
Living a natural lifestyle is all about being in tune with the natural world. Personal health and well-being are perhaps two of the most important factors that are to be considered when adopting such lifestyles. It involves embracing a sustainable approach in consumption of goods. Considering the busy schedule of living in tier I or II cities, it is extremely difficult to switch to adopting a 100 per cent natural lifestyle. However, that should not stop people from reducing the exposure or consumption of toxicity inducing elements from our daily lives.
Our country's burgeoning consumer class is heading for an onslaught of chronic ailments like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol, etc. Blame it all on its sedentary lifestyle and an increased exposure to toxic and chemical-heavy products, lack of sufficient physical activity, poor diet, etc. for being the key contributors in the development and progression of preventable chronic diseases.
The current well-read generation is much aware of this and is actively leading a better and healthier lifestyle. Even though doctors encourage healthy habits to help prevent or manage many chronic medical conditions, patients are inadequately prepared to either start or maintain these appropriate, healthy changes.
Despite an understanding of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle, many patients lack the behavioral skills they need to apply everyday for sustaining these good habits. The good news is, people of all age group nowadays understand the reasoning behind a healthy lifestyle, even if they don't understand the disease processes that can occur when they don't maintain healthy habits.
Tech transition in health
Fortunately, we belong to an age where healthcare is heading towards a revolution. Technology is bringing a major transition in health where the conventional health system is now understood better by doctors through their electronic health records. To ensure healthy lifestyle modifications, healthcare and wellness startups are making appropriate interventions, which include exchanging health information, nutritional counseling, exercise training, and stress management techniques to improve outcomes for patients at risk and those who already have common chronic diseases. They are also engaging the patients with their medical treatment through, medical chat rooms and social media conversations.
Preventive health: The new trend
Preventative healthcare is the trending new mantra of staying healthy. People who have no access to healthcare or those who only go to the doctors after they have been ill, usually require more treatment than if they had visited a physician when their health problem first started. The current generation is willing to go an extra mile in maintaining better health, which involves adopting a more natural lifestyle, using natural healthcare and wellness products, eating green and healthy, etc.
The wellness industry in India has become a sunrise sector and is set to grow by 20-30 per cent year on year owing to the profound changes in the lifestyle and income levels of people and an increased availability of funding and expansion into tier II and III cities.
Innovative moves
Startups are betting high on the growth potential of the health and wellness industry after witnessing the growth in the holistic approach to life, something that ancient sciences like, Ayurveda, Chinese medicines, Naturopathy are deeply rooted into. These old disciplines never considered themselves separate from nature and hence the healthcare startups are on a spree to not only promote them, but, also the enthusiasm for leading a healthier life.
Ayurveda is a highly evolved and deeply written scientific discipline that offers an essential magnitude of preventive as well as curative restoring potential for human existence and eminence. The intricately designed philosophy of the Ayurveda healing doctrine has an array of numerous positives for the health and well-being of an individual's body, mind, and soul. No wonder Ayurveda is playing a crucial role for certain startups in bringing a scientific perspective to their offerings.
Moreover, Classical medicines and compositions are deemed tested and are directly allowed by the Health department of India in their original form. This removes any further compulsion for the startups to undergo the process of clinical trials if they would want to manufacture and market them. This opens up a sea of possibilities and a viable market for companies that want to work with Ayurveda.
Natural Healthcare and wellness products come from food-based sources, which the body has a better compatibility towards. By choosing these products, consumers expect their body to be able to absorb the nutrition they contain, more willingly than it can when consuming supplements with artificial ingredients. But, many a times they show skepticism while opting for natural products as chemical ingredients can also be found in many products marked with a ‘natural' label. Such products often pass themselves as natural and the consumers are left to wonder whether the product is certified and can be used in its natural form.
Startups taking ancient practices
Wellness startups nowadays are trying to solve some of these problems including the confusion over the genuineness of the natural personal and healthcare market. They not only ensure the authenticity of the products and their manufacturing process, but also facilitate doorstep delivery and try building a marketplace for verified natural goods. Apart from this, these start-ups are emphasizing on the revival of India's ancient healing wisdom and the Science of Ayurveda. As the country is well known for its alternative and holistic healthcare systems like Ayurveda, these companies are tapping the potential of both modern and traditional medicines to put in place a comprehensive healthcare system.
Although still at the brink of this revolution, we are already observing a tremendous growth of interest in these areas from around the world, including US, Japan, Germany, India, and China. Moving ahead, the trend is only expected to grow significantly. This will be complemented by a huge interest in this space from the existing and newer startups, eventually solving many of the current health-related problems through innovation on the digital platform.
In today's era of globalization, the progressive transition from curative care to preventive healthcare is almost assured. All we need is to change our outlook on our health needs and habits to stay in sync with the current fast-paced lifestyle. After all, health is our greatest wealth!
This article is written by Dikshant Dave, Founder & CEO, Curejoy, as per his personal observations, experience and research.
