BEMEDALED swimming champion Akiko Thompson

SOME people believe in luck. That’s why they line up for hours to join game shows. They wait in front of the TV to catch lottery results. And they can never resist betting some money at a card game once in a while.

People’s belief in luck also extends to health. There is this idea that some people are just blessed with good genes that make it hard for them to gain weight or develop diseases. This may or may not be true. Some people may be lucky in health, but that certainly doesn’t mean that they are the only ones who can be healthy. Everybody can live a balanced, healthy and active lifestyle, whether they are lucky or not.

Take, for example, Olympian Akiko Thomson. Luck was definitely on her side when she brought glory to the Philippines as a swimmer, but that wasn’t the only thing she had going for her. As every athlete knows, being the best entails being in excellent health, a lot of hard work, patience—and it doesn’t develop overnight. Even now that her competing days are over, Akiko still makes health her No. 1 priority.

“Health is very important, especially because I’m a very active person,” shared Akiko. “The thing is, you only really appreciate the value of health when it’s gone. But there are so many things you can’t do if you aren’t healthy. I’m very thankful that I started off in a sporting career. So being active is something that my body looks for even if I’m not competing in that level anymore. Also, when you’re an athlete, naturally a balanced diet is part of your life.”

Like Akiko shared, being healthy doesn’t mean you have to be an athlete. It actually just means living out three simple healthy and active lifestyle—or HAL—values: eating a balanced diet, regular physical activity and proper hydration. 

Diets make people cringe because it means either eating only one type of food or abstaining from other types of food. A balanced diet means eating a wide variety of foods to meet your daily caloric and nutritional needs. Different foods give you different things: vitamins, minerals and energy. So you have to eat different types of food to make sure your body gets everything it needs to stay healthy. There are also no “junk foods” to avoid, only “junk diets” or bad combinations of food and excessive eating. What’s important is to maintain a balance between what you eat and what you burn through physical activity.  

Speaking of physical activity, some people seem to think that being fit means having to go to the gym or do sports. That’s just not true. Anyone can be physically active, whether they can afford the gym or not, or if they are inclined to sports or not. That’s because physical activity can actually mean any activity that can get your body moving, sweating and burning calories. It can mean walking your dog around the park, or playing with your kids in the afternoons. Did you know that household chores are also physical activities? Yes, you can bunot, walis and laba your way to fitness. Just remember to do at least an hour to an hour-and-a-half of physical activities every day to keep fit.

Akiko certainly is no stranger to physical fitness. But as she shared, swimming is not the only thing keeping her active these days. “Swimming is my staple but I also enjoy running, which I try to do once a week. I like to golf as well. I also like just being outdoors. You don’t have to be an expert or whatever, as long as you’re just moving. My mom does a lot of work in the garden and that’s good stuff.  Eventually, my goal is to get back into the gym and start lightweight training. It’s because I recognize that as you get older, caring for your bones is very important, especially for women. So that’s one way of building your muscles to support your bones.”

Being the great swimmer that she is, she knows how beneficial it is for one’s health and life in general. “I always tell people that it is a wonderful investment, because it’s one of the sports that you can do even when you’re old. The good thing about swimming is that there’s very minimal injury because it’s a non-contact sport. And since you’re in the water, it doesn’t matter if you’re big because you’re buoyant, so it’s not so hard. Another good thing is that you’re using your whole body, so it’s not just working your legs—and it’s also good for the lungs.”

“Not only that, it’s a vital skill to learn. Because you never know when you will need to swim,” added Akiko. “Something that people don’t realize is that 16 children in the Philippines drown a day. That’s something that the swimming association is trying to address. How do you address that? What we’re trying to do is help people to have a very comfortable, friendly relationship with the water because that’s the only time that they will enjoy. And then from there, you can develop the skills. It’s a life skill and a life sport.” 

Another HAL value that people tend to forget is hydration. It’s a shame because it’s one of the most important aspects of health. According to the Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness (BIHW) web site: “If you don’t get all the fluids you need, you may start to feel dizzy, get a headache or develop muscle cramps. Even mild dehydration can affect physical and mental performance, while severe dehydration can be life-threatening [www.thebeverageinstitute.org, 2006].”

If people do remember to hydrate, they still follow the eight-glasses-of-water-a-day rule. Actually, the BIHW web site says your body needs 11 to 16 cups of total fluids a day, depending on age, weight, gender, the weather and level of physical activity. Fluids also mean all beverages that contain water can hydrate. So you can drink your favorite soft drinks, teas and juices. Food with water like fruits, vegetables, soups and stews can help, too.

Another myth about hydration is that only athletes need to do it. Think again. Everybody needs to hydrate because your body uses fluids in everyday functions like walking, too. Akiko agrees: “Drinking is just really important. It’s healthy to perspire. If you’re drinking and perspiring, that’s healthy. You don’t have to run marathons to hydrate yourself. I personally normally have a water bottle in my car just to sip whenever. It’s something that I do unconsciously.” 

Hydration really is important—even swimmers need it, too! “A lot of people just assume, ‘Oh, you’re in the water anyway,’” explained Akiko. “But you sweat in the water, too. All athletes have a water bottle, they just need it.”

“I just really encourage people to make health a part of their lifestyle,” she added. “You have to start now while you still have your health. Because you don’t want to wait until you lose it and can’t gain it back. It’s very important to be preventive. I know that if you’re not an athlete, initially it’s very hard to push yourself to be active. But, you know, you do that in the beginning and it becomes something that your body looks for.”

For more information about your health and beverages, visit the Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness web site at www.thebeverageinstitute.org. Live a balanced, healthy and active lifestyle today. 

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Shot on location at Cantinetta, Ground Floor, Karrivin Plaza A, 2316 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City (892-9873). Special thanks to Ivan Maminta, general manager.

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