WHAT PINOYS TAUGHT EMMY-WINNING DR. JAMES ROUSE ABOUT WELLNESS

EMMY-WINNING HOST-PRODUCER AND WELLNESS GURU Dr. James Rouse believes that Filipino culture already holds the secret to “living long and strong.”

- By NATHALIE TOMADA

“Of course, there were things I learned like kamote, the sweet potatoes. I learned about all those things. But the thing I was most struck by—it’s about family here,” Dr. Rouse said.

Drawing from Harvard’s 90-year-old Framingham Heart Study, which “speaks about why some people live happy and long — and what really is the driver for that,” he said, “The study basically said it’s relationships, No. 1.”

“I think that’s why when I came here 15 years ago, for the first time, I was struck that I got the chance to witness the study in real life. I love coming to the Philippines for that reason.”

For Dr. Rouse, the Philippines is a study of what science has long proven — that connections and family are key to a happy, healthy life.

“This is who you are. And that’s a beautiful thing. The way that you have intergenerational wellness. You look out for the people who are your grandparents, you look out for your children. People are connected.”

SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY

The functional medicine doctor, award-winning author and international motivational speaker has been around the world for his work that’s anchored on “science, soul and strategy.”

The STAR and a few other press spoke to him prior to his recent talk on “The Power of Making Better Choices” during the Healthy Options’ 30th-anniversary celebration held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel.

According to him, being exposed to Filipino culture has shown him how “science meets spirituality” in everyday life.

“As a physician, it’s fun to see medicine being lived, but there’s something more extraordinary about actually coming here and feeling what it means to witness how science really meets spirituality,” he said.

“I’ve always said spirituality is more a propensity towards connection and growth, and becoming the version of yourself that makes you proud.”