Living longer equals a good healthy lifestyle
'Your health is in your hands'.
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Klipspuit West hosted their first health expo on October 28 to raise awareness about the importance of taking one’s health seriously. They hope to turn this into an annual event which will benefit the community.
One of the organisers, Peter Paulsen said that the goal of the expo was to afford residents the opportunity to have their sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure screened.
“So many of our people, especially the elderly, cannot walk to the clinics and be expected to sit in long queues all day, so we wanted to make things easier for everyone in the community. This health expo is the first step to a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
The importance of nutrition, exercise, water, sunshine, air, rest and trust in Christ was also discussed. Maxwell Paulsen spoke about nutrition and said that a healthy, balanced diet is key.
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A balanced, vegetarian diet is the best. We should eat many fruits and vegetables. Whole grains are important for a health, balanced diet,” he said.
Donald Chibika encouraged attendees to drink as much water as possible.
“Our bodies lose water all the time, so it is important to replace what is lost. Don’t wait until you are thirsty, the recommended dose of water consumption per day is six to eight glasses,” said Chibika.
Allistair Solomons focused on the importance of rest.
“Sleeping is essential to maintain a well-balanced mind and healthy body. It allows your body to renew itself. Rest strengthens the immune system and can add years to your life. Seven to nine hours of sleep a night is best for adults,” said Solomons.
Peter Paulsen said that the response from the community was positive, “Many seem to be interested in taking their health more seriously and that is what today is all about, people coming together for one common goal, ” said Paulsen.
Close to 200 people were screened on the day and 60 of these were chronic patients.
“We have a community that is not 100 per cent as far as their health is concerned, and that needs to change. We believe that if people are aware of their health status, they can go for further treatment, knowing what their problem is,” he added.
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