How does Naval view the importance of health?

Answer: Okay, let's talk about how the Silicon Valley sage Naval Ravikant views "health."

If you're familiar with Naval, you've probably heard of his three life pursuits: Wealth, Health, and Happiness.

In his view, these three are not equal; they come with a very clear hierarchy.

Health is the "1"; Wealth and Happiness are the "0"s that Follow

Imagine your health, wealth, and happiness as numbers in your life's bank account.

Health is that crucial leading "1".
Wealth and happiness are all the "0"s that come after it.

If you have health (the 1), then every unit of wealth (0) or happiness (0) you gain multiplies your life's value—turning it into 10, 100, 1000... exponentially amplifying your experience.

But if you lose health, that "1" becomes "0". No matter how many wealth and happiness "0"s follow, the final result is still 0.

This is Naval's core and most digestible analogy for health. Without health, nothing else matters. As he himself famously said:

A healthy man wants a thousand things, a sick man only wants one thing.

When you're lying in a hospital bed, you don't think about your stocks, your company, or your relationships. The only thought in your mind is, "I just want to get well." At that moment, health becomes the center of your universe. So, why not prioritize it while you still have it?

What is "Health" in Naval's Eyes? It's More Than Just the Absence of Sickness

For Naval, health is a holistic concept, divided into three interdependent layers, like a three-legged stool:

1. Physical Health

This is the foundation. Naval's philosophy here is remarkably straightforward, even "back-to-basics."

Diet: He emphasizes that "what you don't eat" matters more than "what you eat." He advocates for the Paleo diet, with the core idea: Only eat what nature provides. No sugar, no heavily processed foods. He gives a vivid analogy: "Doughnuts don't grow on trees." So, ditch those "man-made" treats; your body will thank you.
Exercise: He doesn't aim to be a gym bro but stresses consistency and functionality. The best exercise is the one you'll do consistently. For him, that might be yoga, tennis, or daily walks. He particularly emphasizes resistance training (like weightlifting or push-ups) because it's crucial for slowing aging and maintaining physical function.
Sleep: He calls sleep a "superpower." High-quality sleep is the foundation of all recovery. It's not something to sacrifice; it's a precious resource you need to fiercely protect.

2. Mental Health

If your body is the hardware, your mind is the operating system. If the OS crashes, the best hardware is useless.

Meditation: This is practically Naval's go-to tool for mental health. He compares meditation to "clearing your brain's cache." We process massive amounts of information daily, filling our minds with thoughts and emotional "junk files." Meditation is regular cleanup, allowing clearer, calmer thinking instead of being led by emotions.
Being Present: This is part of his happiness philosophy and central to mental health. Don't overly regret the past or excessively fear the future. Real life happens right now. Anxiety and stress mostly arise from fixating on imagined futures or irretrievable pasts.

3. Spiritual Health

This might sound abstract, but Naval's "spiritual" has nothing to do with religion. It refers more to inner peace and well-being.

It comes from a deeper understanding of yourself and the world. When small things stop bothering you, when you can accept things as they are, when you feel a harmonious connection to the universe—that's spiritual health. It’s essentially the ultimate goal of physical and mental health: a state of serenity and freedom.

To Summarize: Key Insights from Naval's Health Philosophy

Simply put, Naval tells us:

Get the Priority Right: Putting health first is life's wisest investment. It's not an option; it's the prerequisite for all other options.
It's a System, Not a Goal: Forget thinking "I need to lose 10 pounds." Instead, build a system: "I eat healthy and move daily." Make health a routine habit like brushing your teeth, not a short-term goal requiring sheer willpower.
Take Full Responsibility: Your health is solely your responsibility. Doctors can only repair you after you're sick, but only you can maintain yourself daily. This is one hundred percent personal accountability.

So, in Naval's world, caring about health isn't motivated by fear of death, but by the desire to live better. It's not a burden; it's the ultimate "life hack" to unlock wealth and happiness.