UCLA volleyball star Audrey Pak had a beautiful summer in Honolulu, Hawaii, getting plenty of rest before the season kicked off. Pak shared pictures from the vacation, including one of her wearing a brown bikini, taking a selfie in the ocean with friends and family. “So much to be grateful for,” she captioned the Instagram post. “Okay Audreyyy🙌🔥😍,” commented teammate Katerina Lutz. Here’s what Pak’s approach to health and fitness looks like, according to her social media.
1. Korean Rice Bowls
Pak loves Korean rice bowls from her favorite Westwood restaurant Gogobop, near the UCLA campus. “White rice typically has lower amounts of arsenic than brown rice,” says Devon Wagner, MS, RD. “That’s because the bran, or the outer layers of brown rice, and the germ are removed to make white rice, which decreases the amount of arsenic. Still, switching to white rice is probably not a good idea because white rice has very little nutritional value despite being lower in arsenic.”
2. Red Wine
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Pak fully embraced the food and culture during a trip to Croatia, sharing large carafes of red wine with friends. “If you enjoy red wine, be sure to limit yourself to moderate amounts,” say the experts at Harvard Health. “Measure out 5 ounces (which equals one serving) in the glass you typically use. Five ounces appears smaller in a large goblet than in a standard wine glass.”
3. Swimming, Of Course
Pak is a confident swimmer, both in the pool and in the ocean. “Swimmers have about half the risk of death compared with inactive people,” says the CDC. “People report enjoying water-based exercise more than exercising on land. They can also exercise longer in water than on land without increased effort or joint or muscle pain.”
4. Volunteer Work
Pak has spent at least three trips volunteering in Mexico. Spring break’s looking a little different this year, but here’s to the past 3 spent in such a special place. God, thank you for all you’ve let me experience through my times in Mexico and the people you’ve placed beside me. Praying we choose joy & trust in You even in these crazy times,” she captioned an Instagram post.
5. She’s On the Move
Pak loves to travel, which research shows offers many benefits beyond just being fun. “Traveling for pleasure can contribute to subjective well-being because people have more opportunities to detach from their work environment, to experience new things, and to control what they want to do during vacations,” says Paul Simeone, PhD, Vice President and Medical Director of Behavioral Health with Lee Health. “There’s ample research to support that positive travel experiences can make a person healthier, can strengthen their relationships, and benefits their overall wellness.”