🧭 Chapter Overview
If wealth is lost, something is lost — but if health is lost, everything is lost.
Health is the true treasure that allows us to live, learn, and enjoy life to the fullest.
This chapter, “Health: The Ultimate Treasure,” helps us understand that being healthy doesn’t just mean “not being sick” — it means being physically strong, mentally happy, and socially balanced.
By the end, you’ll learn how to maintain good health, prevent diseases, and live a balanced, sustainable lifestyle — in sync with the NEP 2025 vision of holistic well-being.
Table of Contents
🎯 Learning Objectives (NEP 2025 Competency Table)
| Competency | Learning Outcome | NEP Skill |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual Understanding | Explain physical, mental & social health | Holistic Thinking |
| Analytical Skills | Differentiate between communicable & non-communicable diseases | Reasoning |
| Application | Apply hygiene, nutrition & exercise in daily life | Practical Competence |
| Ethical Awareness | Understand importance of community health | Social Responsibility |
| Creative Learning | Design personal fitness & diet plan | Self-Reflection & Innovation |
🧩 3.1 What Is Health?
The word health comes from the old English term hale, meaning “whole.”
So, health means a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being — not just the absence of disease.
According to World Health Organization (WHO):
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
🌿 Three Dimensions of Health
| Type of Health | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Health | Proper body growth, fitness, strength | Exercise, nutrition, hygiene |
| Mental Health | Emotional balance, peace of mind | Positive thinking, mindfulness |
| Social Health | Good relationships, teamwork | Friendship, empathy, cooperation |
💡 True health is harmony between body, mind, and society.
🍎 3.2 How to Stay Physically Healthy
🥗 Balanced Diet
Food is fuel for our body.
A balanced diet provides all essential nutrients — carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water — in the right amounts.
| Nutrient | Function | Example Foods |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | Provide energy | Rice, wheat, bread |
| Proteins | Build & repair tissues | Milk, pulses, eggs |
| Fats | Store energy, protect organs | Nuts, butter, oil |
| Vitamins | Boost immunity, prevent diseases | Fruits, vegetables |
| Minerals | Strengthen bones, teeth | Calcium, iron, iodine |
| Water | Regulates temperature, helps digestion | 6–8 glasses daily |
⚠️ Avoid junk food, sugary drinks, and processed snacks — they harm your digestive system and immunity.
💪 Exercise and Rest
Exercise strengthens muscles, improves heart function, and keeps obesity away.
Rest and sleep help the body recover and refresh the mind.
Recommended:
- Exercise or play outdoor games at least 1 hour daily.
- Sleep 7–8 hours every night.
- Practice yoga and deep breathing for mental peace.
🧘 “A fit body and a calm mind are the best medicines.”
🧴 Personal Hygiene
Hygiene is half of health.
Keeping your body and surroundings clean prevents infections and diseases.
Daily Hygiene Habits:
- Brush teeth twice a day
- Bathe daily
- Wash hands before meals and after using toilets
- Wear clean clothes
- Keep nails trimmed and hair clean
🧠 Scientific Reason:
Microorganisms like bacteria and viruses grow rapidly in dirty conditions — maintaining hygiene keeps them away.
🌈 3.3 Mental and Emotional Health
A healthy mind leads to a healthy life.
Mental health means staying positive, calm, and emotionally strong — even during challenges.
🌻 Tips for Good Mental Health
- Talk about your feelings.
- Take breaks and relax.
- Avoid negative self-talk.
- Practice gratitude and meditation.
- Limit screen time and social media exposure.
🧘 Mindfulness Activity
Sit quietly for 5 minutes, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing.
This reduces anxiety and improves concentration — a key NEP 2025 skill!
🤝 3.4 Social Health
Humans are social beings. Good relationships build happiness and support mental health.
How to Maintain Social Health:
- Respect others’ opinions
- Work as a team
- Help those in need
- Avoid bullying or discrimination
- Participate in community work
🌍 Social health = Kindness in action.
⚕️ 3.5 Diseases and Health Problems
When our body or mind does not function properly, we say a disease has occurred.
🧬 Types of Diseases
| Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Communicable | Spread from one person to another | Cold, flu, measles, COVID-19 |
| Non-communicable | Not infectious; lifestyle-based | Diabetes, obesity, hypertension |
| Deficiency | Caused by lack of nutrients | Scurvy (Vitamin C), Anaemia (Iron) |
| Infectious | Caused by germs like bacteria or viruses | Tuberculosis, cholera |
⚠️ 3.5.1 Communicable Diseases
These are caused by pathogens — microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
| Disease | Causative Agent | Transmission Mode | Prevention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuberculosis | Bacteria | Air (cough/sneeze) | Cover mouth, vaccine |
| Cholera | Bacteria | Contaminated water | Boil water, hygiene |
| Malaria | Protozoa | Mosquito bite | Mosquito nets, repellents |
| COVID-19 | Virus | Droplets, contact | Masks, handwashing, vaccine |
💉 3.5.2 Immunity and Vaccination
Immunity is the body’s defense system that fights infections.
Vaccines prepare our immune system by introducing harmless forms of germs so the body “learns” to fight them.
India’s Immunization Success:
- Polio eradicated through Pulse Polio Programme
- COVID-19 vaccination drives (COVAXIN & COVISHIELD)
🧠 Vaccination = Prevention before infection.
🥦 3.6 Lifestyle Diseases
Diseases caused by poor habits are called lifestyle diseases.
Examples: obesity, diabetes, hypertension.
Causes:
- Junk food 🍔
- Lack of exercise 🛋️
- Stress 😟
- Excessive screen time 📱
Prevention:
- Eat balanced meals
- Stay active
- Get proper sleep
- Manage stress through hobbies and relaxation
🌱 Healthy habits = Lifelong wealth.
💚 3.7 Community Health and Sanitation
Community health ensures everyone has access to clean water, proper sanitation, and medical facilities.
Government Programmes:
- Swachh Bharat Abhiyan – Clean India Movement
- Ayushman Bharat – Affordable healthcare
- Midday Meal Scheme – Nutritional support for school children
- Fit India Movement – Encouraging active lifestyles
🚮 Environmental Hygiene
A clean environment prevents epidemics and keeps communities healthy.
✅ Dispose of garbage properly
✅ Use toilets, not open fields
✅ Avoid plastic waste
✅ Plant trees for fresh air
“Clean surroundings reflect a clean mind.”
🧠 HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)
- Why is health called the ultimate treasure?
- How is mental health connected to social health?
- Why is vaccination considered better than medicine?
- How can teenagers balance screen time and mental health?
- Suggest steps to make your school a “Fit India” campus.
⚙️ NEP 2025 COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK
| Domain | NEP Skill | Practical Example |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand holistic health | Explain physical, mental & social well-being |
| Analytical | Identify diseases & causes | Create comparison table |
| Practical | Apply hygiene & fitness | Morning yoga, handwashing drill |
| Creative | Design awareness posters | “Health for All” campaign |
| Ethical | Promote empathy & cooperation | Peer support activities |
💡 Memory Booster Box
🔹 Health = complete well-being (physical + mental + social)
🔹 Balanced diet = all nutrients in right proportion
🔹 Communicable diseases spread by germs
🔹 Vaccination builds immunity
🔹 Lifestyle diseases = due to poor habits
🔹 Cleanliness = half of health
⚠️ Exam Alert Box
📍 Define: Health, Immunity, Lifestyle diseases
📍 Differentiate: Communicable vs Non-communicable diseases
📍 Short Answer: Importance of balanced diet
📍 Value Question: Why is mental health important?
📍 Diagram: Food pyramid / Healthy plate
📘 Quick Recap
✅ Health = harmony of body, mind, and society
✅ Balanced diet + exercise + rest = strong immunity
✅ Hygiene & vaccines prevent diseases
✅ Mental health = emotional balance
✅ Fit India = Healthy India 🇮🇳
🔗 INTERNAL & EXTERNAL LINKS
Internal Links (A2ZLY):
- Chapter 2 – The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye Notes 2025
- Chapter 4 – Diseases and Microorganisms Notes 2025
- Smart Notes NEP 2025 Science Hub | A2ZLY
External Links: