Think of the Roman empire or ancient Greece, and your first thoughts might be of political scheming, cultural innovation and incredibly violent warfare, rather than the world of wellness. But even in the ancient world, questions on how to preserve good health commanded the attention of the era’s deepest thinkers.
Among the Greeks and Romans, physicians like Hippocrates, Galen and Diocles were fixated on health, how to build it and how to maintain it. They viewed good health as a constantly shifting balance between internal forces and external conditions: food, temperature, movement and even your clothing choices (or lack thereof) played a part. And the wrong choice – at the wrong time of year – could tip that balance in a very unwelcome direction.
Professor Claire Bubb, an expert in ancient science and literature, joined the
HistoryExtra podcast to explain some of the measures that Greco-Roman doctors advised for a healthy life.
Here, we share five tips for maximising your health and longevity, from those ancient Greeks and Romans, as told by Professor Bubb…
