Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 4, 1 April 2014 — E ola mau [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

E ola mau

By Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Dr. PH„ R.D.

Arecent newspaper article reconfirmed that Kānaka Maoli are among the heaviest adults in Hawai'i. And, many Kānaka Maoli suffer from health problems associated with being overweight, such as hypertension, diabetes, high blood cholesterol and triglycerides and joint problems. We need healthy Hawaiians, but how ean that change? Change is difficult! Recently, small groups of Kānaka Maoli have taken action, slightly altering their food and exercise practices. And, improvements show in their heahh tests and measurements. Perhaps Kānaka ean recall the inherited pono way s of our ancestors. Our early ancestors focused on keeping healthy to survive and expand their numbers. From a few dozen who first settled Hawai'i, the population swelled to somewhere between several hundred thousand to nearly a million by 1778. Our ancestors eommitted their energies, ingenuity and determination into building a strong and healthy population. Habits, temptations and constraints in time and budget will often interfere with efforts to control or lose weight. Habits resist change, as the strong tendency is to continue doing things in familiar ways. Supermarkets know precisely where to plaee "food temptations," so the shopper's eyes will find them, assuring many unnecessary items will drop into the shopper's cart . . . "messing up" the food budget and waistline. Rushing assures impulsive choices. And, the ultimate temptation is a "fully prepared meal" that's selling at an attractive price. The way to make best and eeonomieal food choices is have a written plan ... and, to stick to it!

Plan meals for at least a week and shop for as many days as the budget will allow. Reducing the number of trips to the store saves money. Look for the weekly "store specials" using newspapers or other ads. Check your food cupboard and freezer before shopping, so you don't buy duplicates. Shop only for things on your plan so you don't piek up unnecessary items. Stews, casseroles and mixed dishes, like stir-fry over noodles and spaghetti with meat sauce, are the least expensive and will feed larger families best. Vegetables ean be added to these dishes to increase nutritional value. Tape your plan on the "fridge" or cupboard, so your family ean stick to the plan. Planting papaya, hanana, sweet potatoes and greens in the yard is a great long-range plan. These plants grow easily and will add vitamins and minerals to meals. Mango and citrus, like tangerines and oranges, grow well in most yards, too. All family plans involve participation fromeveryone; divide up the chores, like watering plants, preparing meals, storing groceries, setting and clearing tables, and doing dishes. Planning for a healthy family requires a "family exercise plan." Sometimes splitting into morning and evening groups will work best. Some like to squeeze exercise into the "waiting time" when the family gathers before driving home. Others opt to wake early and exercise before work. Others choose noonhour walks in a shady park. Modem living provides many labor-saving machines that work against weight loss. Saving work energy ean add body weight. Years ago, exercise experts estimated that secretaries who changed from manual to eleetric typewriters could gain between 10 to 12 pounds a year! It's that easy to gain weight. Kānaka Maoli have survived many adversities. As mākua and kūpuna, we are entrusted with the kuleana for 'ohana heahh and survival of the lāhui. With clear and ever-increasing evidence of poor heahh among Kānaka Maoli, action must be taken to survive. Mākua and kūpuna must help ourselves and our keiki to face, fight and win over heahh issues plaguing Kānaka Maoli, today. ■

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