By Merinah Mbabazi
“As you nurture yourself, family and friends spiritually, it is important for us to remember that the purposes we have need a healthy body.”
These wise words were shared by Ms Regina Nantege, a nutrition therapist and dietician during UCU’s community worship. The focal point of her sermon was obtained from the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 9 verse 26. His message is that believers do not run aimlessly “like a boxer beating the air”, but with the purpose as to achieve our goals.
Nantege emphasised that one individual may have a different goal from another and may therefore appear to be running aimlessly to others. It is key to remember why we have decided to practise good habits, especially those that keep our minds and bodies healthy and disregard opinions of those who may not understand.
“I used to be that person who brags about being able to sleep short hours until one day; I woke up at the point of almost knocking a boda boda man off the road. I had dozed for seconds,” the dietitian said. She shared this anecdote in relation to why it is important to get a minimum of at least seven hours of sleep per night otherwise our brains will suffer.
Another important practice Nantege shared is regular exercise, which is lacking in our community today. A few hands were raised followed by mummers and soft laughter, when she asked the congregation how many people had exercised the day before. Numerous studies have shown that children and adults who exercise have increased brain performance. She also recommended exercise in form of walks for conflict resolution as it helps one to calm down and think with more clarity.
The last important factor the nutrition therapist expounded on was the food we consume. We tend to take more caution with material things that can be replaced without being careful with the irreplaceable-our bodies. Nantege advised the UCU community to eat different foods in moderation which enables one to maintain a balanced diet. She also suggested replacing snacks between meals with healthier options like fruits.
Aimless individuals are not able to enjoy the fullness of life with minimal pain. Ms Nantege humoured the audience by saying that we may pray for blessings but may not be alive to receive them if we neglect our health. Improving our mental health through daily prayer, meditation and being mindful of the words we speak is also imperative for our well-being.
The message was in line with the theme for the Health Awareness Week, “My Mind | My Body | My Responsibility”.
