Choosing Health

By Winchelle C. Nacague

In today?s fast-paced world where there are more things to accomplish than the hours in a day, it?s hard to squeeze in time for our personal wellness. If you?re one of those people who find themselves stressed out and encountering major energy drains, there?s no better time than today to change. Now is the best time to plan ahead, lay the groundwork for eating well, generate motivation from within and gradually embrace change as an adventure.

Healthy Options, the leading all-natural products store in the Philippines to promote healthy eating and living for a richer, more productive and fulfilling life, goes beyond just selling health products. They believe a natural foods store should also provide the knowledge people need to use products beneficial to their health. A one-stop shop for health-related goods, here you?ll find natural nutritious and delicious foods in every category that has no artificial coloring and flavoring, preservatives, synthetic ingredients, trans-fat or MSG.

Therefore, when Healthy Options marked their 13th anniversary, they did it with the vision of a healthier world where people enjoy longer, richer, more fulfilling lives by taking control of their own health. Healthy Options partnered with Health Guru Dr. James Rouse, N.D. to present ?Wellness at the Speed of Life? at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel.

A respected holistic practitioner and natural medicine expert in the US and best known for hosting Optimum Wellness, a TV segment series on NBC-affiliate channels in Los Angeles and Seattle as well as in Denver, Rouse is a powerhouse. Aside from his diverse healthcare training and studies which include psychology, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, and ayurvedic medicine, he has also authored numerous books. Among them are NutriSystem Nourish: The Revolutionary Weight-Loss Program, Grow Your Life from Average to Amazing, Gaiam?s Health Solutions for Stress Relief and Health Solutions for Sleep, plus a series of highly informative reading matter comprising the health-enhancing lifestyle techniques series.

Rouse gives valuable insights to help you make that shift to a happier, healthier balanced life. He helps people engage their inner coach and make choices that integrate and heal the body, mind and spirit. In a nutshell, it involves going back to the basics with a willing heart and determined mind.

Among the many health-enhancing lifestyle techniques Rouse shares is getting adequate quality sleep. Rouse set forth basic principles including routine, mindfulness, movement, optimism, nutrition and discovering and nurturing the things that bring people joy in life. It is discussed in detail in his book Health Solutions for Sleep, a helpful guide to easy sleep-promoting exercises, sleep-friendly foods and numerous clinically proven techniques to rebalance sleep-supportive body chemistry.

Rouse also suggests like leaving as much time unscheduled as you can for unexpected challenges or opportunities throughout the day. When you?re not rushed, stressed or overextended, you will go a long way in nourishing your energy.

Training your mind to go for excellence instead of perfection is another recommendation Rouse makes. Excellence he defines is ?awareness of the parts of yourself that need more love.? See yourself as a dynamic, changeable student of life. By also finding time each day to be alone and using that time to meditate, you can establish a quiet, dynamic mind. Change is also essential. Getting out of your comfort zone and going out to do something exceptional is encouraged. This makes your brain work harder.

One of the most crucial health-enhancing lifestyle techniques was making peace with yourself through exercise. Although negative thoughts can overwhelm us all the time, whether it is in trying to lose weight, obtaining stress relief, restoring our energy or living a balanced life day after day, but Rouse says you can empower yourself and remove any obstacles or distractions to your commitment to live, eat and function well. Part and parcel of his good life principles is to get moving.

Exercise gives people the opportunity to enjoy peace, as Rouse says in one of his book series, Solutions for Weight Loss. Exercise lets you take a step back from the physical and mental crunch of your busy life, rebuild body and mind, and train people in maintaining a distance from each day?s frustrations and obligations. Exercise, Rouse says, is movement with a mission, which is to renew body and soul.

Eating well, as many of us know, can help prevent many chronic degenerative diseases. Take for instance, those who rush through breakfast or worse, skip it altogether, Rouse gives several options that you can try as breakfast is very important in your fight against the daily stresses of life. One is eating 12-18 pieces of almonds as your breakfast. Another is having whole grains like oatmeal with whey protein giving serotonin levels a boost. On the other hand, whey protein affects glutathione and helps the liver, which in effect gives you better skin.

Supplements Rouse recommends for stress relief are B vitamins first thing in the morning or B-complex with meals for your front line to deal with stress better. For those already taking multivitamins, but want to take their health a step further, Rouse recommends getting Health Options? Show me the Whey.

Another wonderful source of healthy goodness Rouse shares is kamote (sweet potato), sliced very thinly like potato chips with a bit of extra virgin olive oil baked with rosemary leaves for 25-30 minutes in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven as an excellent snack. Sweet potatoes are full of antioxidants. It contains carotenoids which are good for the brain and metabolism.

Healthy Options Stores can be found in Trinoma, Bonifacio High Street, SM City Manila, Rustan?s Supermarket Makati, Shangri-La Plaza, SM City North Edsa, Greenbelt Mall, Festival Supermall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, Powerplant Mall. SM City Pampanga, SM City Clark, SM City Sta. Rosa, SM City Cebu, The Terraces Ayala Center Cebu and SM City Davao.