Honoring Our Kupuna With Healthy Living Solutions

We admire them, we appreciate them, and we honor them…our beloved kupuna! Every day is a good opportunity to show respect for our kupuna. In 2006 a Hawaii Revised Statue was enacted designating the fourth Saturday of July as Kupuna Recognition Day, acknowledging the significant role that kupuna play in Hawaii's culture, history, and traditions. 

At Down to Earth, we inspire a holistic healthy lifestyle. This is especially important for our kupuna. A holistic approach to a wellness lifestyle encourages healthy aging and incorporating a broad range of practices to lovingly nurture the whole person. This means looking beyond specific diagnoses and conditions to consider beneficial foods, alternative treatments, exercise routines, and enjoyable social interactions, alongside conventional medical care. 

Studies show that seniors with a holistically healthy lifestyle suffer less from daily aches and pains, recover more quickly from sickness and injury, and live longer. The conclusion of a New England Journal of Medicine longevity study impressively stated that, “Not only do persons with better health habits survive longer, but in such persons, disability is postponed and compressed into fewer years at the end of life.” Further studies have found that physical activity, mental stimulation, and social connections reduce the risk of disease and depression and can help you live longer. 

Here’s helpful information specifically for our treasured wahine kupuna: a large-scale research study analyzed data from more than 85,000 women aged 60 and older over the course of two decades. The results suggested that the type of protein they consumed impacted their likelihood of developing frailty—a common and sometimes very dangerous condition in older adults. Frailty greatly increases the risk of infections, falls, surgical complications, and illnesses that require hospitalization. The researchers found that found that women who ate the most animal-based protein experienced the highest rates of frailty, while the women who consumed the most plant-based protein experienced the lowest rates. 

The bottom line is that our kupuna can increase the length of their lives and, better yet, they can have more enjoyable quality years. Our friendly Down to Earth stores are ready to assist kupuna community members (and all other age groups, too!) enhance their wellness and happiness, whether you’ve been a health nut for decades or you’re just getting started with supplements and natural foods. We’re honored to serve you!