MANILA, Philippines ? Earlier this week, I attended the first of a series of informative health lectures sponsored by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Doctors Allan Handysides and Kathlee Kuntarf, specialists on healthy lifestyle practices, have come all the way from the United States to give the lectures in a very audience-friendly, easy-to-understand style.

The second part of the series will run on May 10-15 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom of the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati. Admission is free: nothing to buy, nothing to subscribe to.

Promoting healthy lifestyle

Adventists are staunch promoters of healthy lifestyle, and this has been shown by studies to translate into longer lives. They not only have more years in their life, but more life in their years. The National Geographic magazine published a well-researched study showing that residents in Loma Linda (consisting mainly of Seventh Day Adventists), Okinawa in Japan, and Sardinia in Italy, live longer, healthier lives than just about anyone else in the world.

These three places have the highest number of centenarians, and the common denominator in the three is the healthy lifestyle which has become a habit for their residents. And they reap the rewards because their life span is at least 10 years more than their counterparts in other areas. Several other studies have borne this out.

?Best practices?

Experts like Doctors Handysides and Kuntarf say that one may live up to a decade longer if he/she only adopt the right lifestyle; and they tell their audience simple but effective ?best practices? they can follow.

The organizers have given the acronym Celebrations to the series of health lectures, and it stands for the following:

C is for choices. Healthy choices bring positive effects to the individual, family and community. Unhealthy choices drain vitality.

E is for exercise. No one can argue against the benefits of exercise, but only a few really adhere to regularly doing it. Experts recommend 30 minutes of continuous aerobic exercise each day, although two 15-minute sessions are almost as good. Vigorous exercise delivers a pleasurable feeling of well-being.

L is for liquids, especially water. Water helps regulate body temperature, transport nutrients and oxygen to the cells, remove waste, prevent constipation, moisten tissues, cushion joints and keepblood flowing. Milk, fruit and vegetable juices contribute to hydration; but coffee, tea and alcohol increase fluid loss.

E is for environment. The physical, chemical and biotic factors that surround us (such as air, temperature, soil, sun, plants, trees and water) determine potential health and even our survival.

B is for belief. A strong belief and faith system with a positive mindset can do wonders for us, not only for our physical, but also for our spiritual and mental health.

R is for rest. The need to relax is greatest when there doesn?t seem to be time for it! Rest comes in several different packages: periodic breaks, a restful night?s sleep, a weekly day of rest and an annual vacation. For peak efficiency, mental health and abundant energy, we should have all types of rest.

A is for air. For mental and physical activity, the cells in the brain and body must have abundant oxygen. Diaphragmatic breathing is the best method of respiration.

T is for temperance. Self-control is necessary to avoid health-destroying behaviors. Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs are enticing because they are promoted as fun, stimulating and an antidote for stress and pain. We need to temper our urge to fall into such traps.

I is for integrity. Dishonest and corrupt people wreak havoc on their health without their realizing it. Call it karma or negative energy, they eventually develop serious medical problems including cancers, heart diseases, ulcers and practically any illness.

O is for optimism. An optimistic outlook allows us to laugh, and laughter is a powerful medicine.

N is for nutrition. Food is not only for satisfaction or satiety, but more importantly, for nurturing good health. But nutritious food can also be delicious and enticing to one?s palate. Come to the restaurant of the Manila Adventist Medical Center at the corner of San Juan and Donada streets in Pasay City, and you can have a healthy and nutritious vegetarian treat, with a fine-dining ambience, but at cafeteria prices.

S is for social support and services, the social side of our health. We feel good and actually become healthier if we always do an act of kindness towards others, especially to people who can never pay us back for what we?ve done for them. But one way or the other, even in terms of better health, we get paid back a hundredfold.

Aside from learning from the lectures, participants can also benefit and get some freebies from the various exhibit booths; everything for free. No fees, no catch; except for your commitment to practice what you?ll learn. For inquiries, call 361-2542 or 361-3781; or text 0928-507-9828, 0920-9090-307, 04 or 0918-819-2836.