By TAMARA DELANEY

Freeport News Reporter

tdelaney@nasguard.com

Reminding members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force that a healthy lifestyle is essential for a stress-free career, leaders of the Lucaya Urban Renewal Project and the Rand Memorial Hospital held a special health seminar yesterday at the Gerald Bartlett Headquarters.

Chief Superintendent and Police Press Liaison, Basil Rahming, addressed fellow members of the force, noting that the health seminar was a much needed awareness into health because it shows guidelines for stress-free living.

"There is an urgent need for this workshop because every moment of our working day is consumed with stress because throughout your day you do not know what you will be receiving," he told the group. "When it comes to maintaining a healthy living, what happens on the inside also affects what happens to us on the outside. It shows. That is why I encourage you to live a stress-free life and adhere to the health advisory."

The chief superintendent then enlisted the service of Betty Kemp, chief dietitian of the Rand Memorial Hospital, to convey to the officers the vital information needed to inspire and assist them with a wholeness and stress-free livelihood.

Under the theme "Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle," Kemp encouraged the officers to eat healthier, advising them to avoid foods that are high in salt and fat because "they can put you at risk for serious health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney failure and countless others."

"To achieve the best way of living healthy you have to promote long term changes in your lifestyle," she told the group.

"Other elements of good health include exercise, rest and avoidance of stimulants such as sugar and caffeine.

Kemp provided a list of food for the officers to avoid. She also revealed that discipline in avoiding such an unhealthy appetite is a necessity as it makes a dramatic difference in dietary habits.

"The police have always been there for us and we're certainly happy to partner in any ventures. This speaks to the efforts which we put forth in the last few years in terms of encouraging our clients to look after themselves," she said.

The seminar, which included a panel of Urban Renewal officials and nurses from the Rand memorial, also featured a free blood pressure and diabetes test given by nurses to the officers.

The workshop was also used as a consultation venue in which health counselling was provided by a leading health nutritionist.

MAINTAINING MY HEALTH — Inspector Loretta Mackey is given a blood pressure check and diabetes test by nurse Sharie Dawkins at the health awareness seminar held yesterday. The seminar was used as an outlet for guidelines to living a healthy, stress-free life.(Photo by BRADLEY RUTHERFORD)