Probably neither hedonic excesses, of unbridled pleasure, of brutish heart-stopping treats, of late-nighters until one falls sideways, nor, on the other hand, exhausting sacrifices that make us pay a high bill over the years.

Francisco de Assis had a terrible opinion about his body. This would be a mere shell for the soul. And a very pernicious envelope, because with its impulses and desires, it ended up leading the said soul to the paths of sin and perdition.

A completely different view would probably have Giacomo Casanova, a dashing adventurer who was reputed to seduce women and indulge profusely in the pleasures of unbridled sex.

 

Both were Italians, but they lived in very different times. Giovanni di Pietro, better known as St. Francis of Assisi, was born in 1182, having been canonized by Pope Gregory IX in 1228, just two years after his death. Casanova, on the contrary, was born in 1725. Having been prepared for an ecclesiastical career, he soon followed other paths. He was arrested, escaped from prison, travelled across Europe, wrote several works, including his memoirs.

 

Giovanni di Pietro was at death's door for neglecting the minimum care for his body and was saved by friends who took him to the infirmary of a monastery, where he recovered his health, living until he was 44 years old. Casanova, on the contrary, surrendered his body to the maximum pleasures of seduction in perpetual motion, had a thousand adventures and lived until he was 73 years old.

 

Without defending Giacomo's libertine life or Giovani di Pietro's asceticism, we ask where we are left in terms of options? Currently, in our core, we are marked by these two visions: on the one hand, we think that our body must withstand everything, namely the hardships of constant work, sleepless nights and the imposition of getting up early to work. Or, on the weekend, late nights, good snacks and sex, if possible.

 

The reference to these two names, present in our imagination, is related to the dilemma faced by any European and Western citizen. How to take care of your body and your health throughout your daily life, in these times full of confusing and contradictory information? The tradition is no longer what it used to be, nor does it seem to satisfy any young people who want to think for two minutes about their health.

 

Imagine yourself as a young couple. We can call them Rita and João.

Imagine that you are pregnant. A new life arose in the womb. What health care options should you follow? In the image of many medieval saints, the path of sacrifice and work penalizing the body and primary health care, in the image of many medieval saints? Or giving in to the pleasures of fast food, snacks, cookies or ice cream?

Interestingly, a mental exercise can lead us to a clearing of clarification. Just ask the following: Homo sapiens, which appeared on Earth 100,000 years ago, what characteristics does it have to survive as a species and increase throughout the planet?

 

Then what interests us – she will ask Rita, looking at João and stroking her already prominent six-month-pregnant belly.

 

My dear Rita, my dear João: this is the question, whose answer is worth 1 million euros!

If we realize that Homo sapiens has a set of characteristics, let's say metabolic, that appeared 100 000 years. Ago and which it has not been freed from, since genetics always takes thousands of years to evolve, we have a precious clue to give our body the care that he, deep down, needs.

 

Probably neither hedonic excesses, of unbridled pleasure, of brutish heart-stopping treats, of late-nighters until one falls sideways, nor, on the other hand, exhausting sacrifices that make us pay a high bill over the years.

But the question remains: where is the treasure map to find the midway?

 

There is patience, and everything is discovered.

 

© Eduardo Rui Alves

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