Wellness begins with small, better choices

Healthy Options marked its 30th year with a message that feels especially relevant today: wellness begins with awareness, and every small decision counts.

To celebrate its anniversary, the country’s leading all-natural health and wellness retailer hosted an intimate media roundtable and public talk featuring Dr. James Rouse, an internationally recognized naturopathic and functional medicine doctor known for bridging science and lifestyle.

Held at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel last Wednesday, 22 October, guests gathered for his talk titled “The Power of Making Better Choices,” where Dr. Rouse reminded that health is built one mindful action at a time.

Before the main session, Dr. Rouse sat down with members of the media to discuss the Filipino relationship with food. In a culture that loves a good meal and often treats food as comfort after a long day, he shared how mindful eating can start with something as simple as breakfast. “Eating protein in the morning or generally as your first meal of the day lessens one’s craving for the sweet and keeps you full throughout the day,” he said.

An Emmy award-winning clinician, life coach, and author of DIEM: The Art of Every Day, Dr. Rouse spoke about longevity as more than just living longer. “What you eat, how you move, and how you think, these are the three most powerful levers we have to transform our lives,” he said. “Wellness begins with awareness, and every small, better choice we make today is an investment in a more vibrant tomorrow.”

He also shared his thoughts on the Filipino “toxic” work culture of skipping meals due to long work hours, calling it a mindset that needs to change. For him, “the ultimate measure of success is living well through good health.”

Healthy Options CEO Romy Sia shared that the collaboration with Dr. Rouse aligns with the company’s long-standing mission to help Filipinos make better lifestyle choices. “For 30 years, Healthy Options has championed the Filipino journey toward better health and sustainable living,” Sia said.

Both Dr. Rouse and Sia added that good health begins with what we eat, but supplements can serve as valuable support. In the Philippines, Glutathione remains one of the most popular supplements, with its market projected to reach $1.4 million in revenue by 2030, according to a Pharmaceutical Market Research report. Marketed mostly as a skin-brightening product, it is actually an antioxidant that supports immune health, improves insulin resistance, and may even help reduce blood pressure, truthfully for the ones taking it are glowing from within and it shows through the skin. 

Dr. Rouse, however, clarified that supplements should not replace meals. “Supplements come with great benefits, but these shouldn’t replace meals.” In the term itself, ‘supplement,’ it should support healthy eating and living habits.

Celebrating three decades of helping Filipinos live healthier lives, Healthy Options marked its 30th anniversary with a message from Dr. James Rouse, who reminded everyone that true wellness is not about perfection but about progress. The brand continues to guide Filipinos toward better choices, one mindful step at a time.