Stories

From a young age, Chamilka Punchihewa knew she wanted to help people.

Spring is finally here. Why not the most of it by making some positive changes? From spending more time outside to eating fresh seasonal vegetables, there’s lots you can do to embrace the new season.

A Facebook ad for Pacific Heartbeat’s course, Certificate of Proficiency in Pacific Nutrition, caught the attention of Susie Nonoa while she was caring for her sick dad.

Heart disease is the single biggest killer of women in New Zealand. Each year, over 2800 Kiwi women lose their lives to the condition.

Last year Froline ‘Flo’ Tokaa graduated from the AUT Certificate of Proficiency in Pacific Nutrition (CPPN) course delivered by Pacific Heartbeat (PHB) in conjunction with Auckland University of Technology (AUT).

Before you know it, the kids will be back in school and the holidays will be over. The new school term is fast approaching.

Exercise, eating well and getting enough sleep. We know these things help our hearts, but did you know they help our minds stay healthy too?

Pacific people need to focus more on improving nutrition if they are to reverse the alarming life expectancy statistics which is seeing them dying younger and having higher rates of chronic diseases than all other New Zealanders.

Christmas is a time for celebrating with family and friends – but it can be stressful too. By being prepared for what the festive season brings, we can maintain a good balance in every aspect of our lives.

This month our focus is on men’s health and the small changes we can make to ensure we get lots of quality time with our family.

It’s only natural to be tempted by comfort foods over the colder months but, to ward off winter illness and keep in shape, it’s important to make healthy food choices – comfort doesn’t need to mean unhealthy.

Being active during winter can be a challenge. It’s easy to go outside when it’s hot and you want to get to the beach or park. But when it’s cold, dark and rainy, being outdoors isn’t so much fun.