The SafetyZone: Diet, Hygiene, Exercise

SPENCER: Chickpeas, roasted,

organic, high in linoleic acid.

VIVIANE: You've been healthy lately.

SPENCER: Part of my show prep. Some of us take our crap very serious.

JAROM: Linoleic acid. That sounds great.

VIVIANE: Hi, everyone.

JOHN: Hey, how are you?

AARON: Good to see you.

SPENCER: John, what's up, man?

Yes, my friends. Linoleic acid. Fun fact.

Not only is it very healthy.

It's actually a polyunsaturated Omega-6 fatty acid. You're welcome.

HANK: What is that?

FEMALE PRODUCER: Spencer's latest health craze.

HANK: Aaron, tell Spencer to cut it out and count them down.

HANK: Spencer, stop snacking.

We're live in 10.

SPENCER: Technically, linoleic acid

is an 18-carbon chain with two double bonds.

AARON: Stand by to cue intro.

JAROM: Try 17 carbons next time.

AARON: Five, 4, 3. Spencer.

Cue intro.

SAFETYZONE NARRATOR VOICE: From around the corner and across the globe.

It's time for another exciting episode of the SafetyZone.

Please welcome your hosts.

Spencer, Viviane and Jarom.

Viviane: Hello, and welcome to the SafetyZone.

JAROM: The only show dedicated to keeping

our missionaries safe through video replay and analysis.

Spencer, are you doing okay?

SPENCER: You bet.

JAROM: Spencer's got a little something stuck in his throat.

I'll just introduce today's topic.

Diet, hygiene, and exercise.

It's not just accidents and injuries that can slow missionaries down.

SPENCER: That's right. Thank you. I got it now.

Getting sick can take you out of action fast.

Today, we're going to try something new.

We're going to look at some footage.

JAROM: Are you sure you're okay? We look at footage every show, man.

SPENCER: Yes, but today, we're going to use the latest technology. A nutrition scan.

JAROM: What's a nutrition scan?

SPENCER: Indulge.

SISTER 1: It did go pretty good but...

JAROM: Two different kinds of food here.

SISTER 2: Yeah.

SPENCER: Alright, the nutrition scan is up.

SISTER 2: Towards the end...

SPENCER: Almost full bars. Not bad.

VIVIANE: Good job.

SPENCER: Let's move it over to the right.

SISTER 1: Maybe we could send them a message or something or wind them?

SISTER 2: Yeah.

JAROM: Not as healthy.

Are you saying it's bad to eat cereal?

SPENCER: I'm not saying anything of the sort.

It's the nutrition scan.

But to answer your question, no,

cereal is not bad, per se.

But just watch this.

SPENCER: Upon further review,

turns out this sister eats nothing but Fruity Bite cereal.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

JAROM: That's a lot of Fruity Bites.

SPENCER: Indeed, breaking news:

Eating the same thing all the time is bad for you.

That's just one way to let poor nutrition get the better of you.

VIVIANE: I would think cleanliness would be at the top of the list.

SPENCER: Well, you're smart to say that.

Also, you should be on television.

Oh, wait. You are. You should look at this, too.

SPENCER: Two sister missionaries return home

after [INAUDIBLE] in the morning, they've been working hard.

They're hungry for lunch.

Well deserved, and voila.

VIVIANE: Look at that lunch meat.

JAROM: Put away your food. Do the dishes.

These are basics. Simple things.

Disgusting, right?

VIVIANE: Yeah.

SPENCER: It gets better. Jarom,

Viviane, the trusty street vendors.

JAROM: They abide every rule of cleanliness there is.

All the time. No flies show up, either.

SPENCER: No. That's a less-than-10 fly policy.

JAROM: Man, it almost makes you want to stick to cereal for every meal.

SPENCER: That's probably a better option than what we just witnessed.

Now, how about a round of, That's More Like It?

SPENCER: Take these elders. Out-of-the-box meals and fast food can be convenient.

But I'm telling you, nothing beats taking the time to plan

and prepare delicious and wholesome meals.

These elders, Vivian, what are they looking for?

VIVIANE: Not Fruity Bite cereal, that's for sure.

They're picking out local fruits and vegetables,

and it looks like they're following a simple rule.

The more variety and color, the better for you.

SPENCER: These missionaries in another part of

the world are preparing the local food they just bought.

Now, closely look at this.

In some parts of the world, simple rinsing or even rigorous washing isn't enough.

A mild bleach solution is needed to make sure all microbes are eliminated.

Then, these two sister missionaries in a neighborhood market. Watch closely.

[FOREIGN]

JAROM: Hey, bolsas of milk.

I haven't seen that since my mission in Brazil.

It looks like these missionaries are checking to see which

milk has been pasteurized. Good job, sisters.

VIVIANE: You're saying, prepare your own food when you can.

Choose healthy fruits and vegetables with bright colors.

Wash those items thoroughly with bleach if necessary. Did I get it all?

JAROM: Don't eat fly-covered street vendor food.

VIVIANE: I almost forgot that.

SPENCER: Nutritious food is one part of the equation.

When we come back, my favorite. It'll be hygiene time.

SAFETYZONE NARRATOR VOICE: When we return, Spencer tackles hygiene.

AARON: We're out.

JAROM: That didn't sound right. Spencer tackles hygiene?

VIVIANE: I just want to know how you didn't throw up through that kitchen scene.

SPENCER: I closed my eyes.

STEPH: Hey, Hank. We didn't have time for this footage.

You might want to take a look.

FEMALE PRODUCER: Ramen noodles?

HANK: I love ramen noodles.

What's wrong with Ramen noodles?

STEPH: Nothing. Until you realize this is the 33rd night in a row

these elders are having ramen noodles for dinner.

HANK: I don't love ramen noodles that much.

AARON: We're back in 5, 4,

3. Roll the bumper.

SPENCER: Welcome back. As promised, it's hygiene time.

SAFETYZONE NARRATOR VOICE: Spencer tackles hygiene.

SPENCER: Wow.

JAROM: I didn't know you could tackle anything.

SPENCER: Tackle this. Let's talk about cleanliness.

It's a pretty simple equation.

The cleaner things are, the fewer germs get spread.

Take the time to clean.

VIVIANE: I love that these elders aren't just sweeping crumbs onto the floor.

They're really making sure their food prep area is spotless.

SPENCER: Clean water is just as important.

In many places, missionaries are provided

with countertop and portable water filter systems.

JAROM: Good idea. Water quality varies around the world.

VIVIANE: That clean water is not just for drinking or cooking

but for washing fruits and vegetables, too.

SPENCER: Right, you are once again Viviane.

It's all about a culture of cleanliness.

JAROM: Culture like, bacteria culture?

SPENCER: As I was saying, it's all about...

JAROM: If I watch mold grow on sandwich meat in the fridge,

is that cultural awareness?

SPENCER: Why do you do the things that you do?

Maybe the most important aspect of the culture of cleanliness is hand washing.

JAROM: Did you know regular hand washing with soap can

reduce germ-related health risks by up to 80%?

SPENCER: Wrong. 79.7%, Professor.

The important thing is to use soap.

Lather up—scrub those hands for 20 to 30 seconds.

VIVIANE: I actually have a little trick while you're scrubbing,

sing the primary song,

happy, happy birthday to yourself.

SPENCER: In your mind, right?

VIVIANE: Probably for you, yes.

SPENCER: Wow.

VIVIANE: To recap on the subject of hygiene,

clean food, clean water,

clean apartment, and clean hands.

SPENCER: You got it. Which leads us to our final element of healthy living.

SAFETYZONE NARRATOR VOICE: Exercise.

SPENCER: Watch this footage. Don't comment until we're all the way done. Just watch.

[MURMURING]

ELDER 1: Yeah, we definitely need a [BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING]

ELDER 2: I got delivery questions with them.

Then, if we have time, we'll set up the program.

ELDER 3: Great. Good to see you. Thank you.

ELDER 4: We need to start working with the Gilbert family.

SPENCER: Alright. My colleagues, what did all of these scenes have in common?

JAROM: Name tags.

SPENCER: Besides name tags.

VIVIANE: Physical motion. Missionaries move a lot.

Being a missionary is physically demanding.

VIVIANE: Even though you just took a shot at me,

you're still my favorite TV personality.

Yes, physical motion.

JAROM: Because missionaries are in motion all the time,

they need to keep their bodies strong through regular exercise.

SPENCER: Surprisingly correct.

JAROM: Why, surprisingly. Can I be your favorite TV person?

SPENCER: No, you can't. Here's the thing.

Regular exercise doesn't need to be anything fancy. Watch once again.

SPENCER: No matter where in the world you serve,

you can and should exercise for 30 minutes each day.

Rain or shine, winter or summer, inside or outside.

You don't need special equipment or a gym.

Make use of what's around you.

You and your companion don't need to do exactly the same exercises.

Just make sure not to separate.

VIVIANE: That's a good point.

SPENCER: The important thing is

to get your body in motion and feel

the exhilarating, rejuvenating effects of working those muscles.

Breathe in that life-giving oxygen,

clearing your head and enlivening your soul.

JAROM: Hallelujah.

VIVIANE: Here's the thing about exercise.

It helps control weight.

It combats health issues.

It improves mood, it boosts energy,

and it promotes better sleep.

SPENCER: Five benefits that any and every missionary would love. Let's recap.

SAFETYZONE NARRATOR VOICE: Recap rewind.

VIVIANE: Recap rewind. Proper diet, good hygiene.

JAROM: A culture of cleanliness.

VIVIANE: And regular exercise.

A great recipe for missionary health.

Do you have a real-life story to end with?

SPENCER: Absolutely. Hank, cue the segment intro.

SAFETYZONE NARRATOR VOICE: Let's Get Real.

SPENCER: This is another important story.

Our young missionaries sometimes forget that staying healthy and free of

disease is their responsibility, not someone else's.

ELDER JACKSON WARD: I remember when Reilly, my little sister, opened her mission call.

It was New Year's Day, and we all gathered here in this big room,

and she starts to open it.

I remember her just looking at the paper, then looking up right at me,

and she's just like, no way.

SISTER REILLY WARD: Dear Sister Ward, you're to

service a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

You're serving in Nicaragua, Managua.

ELDER JACKSON WARD: I'd actually just gotten back from that mission six months prior.

I looked at my mom, and my mom was just like, oh, no.

GRETCHEN WARD: When I found out that Reilly was going to the same mission as Jackson,

at first, I was very worried and nervous.

I wasn't nervous about safety type stuff,

I was more nervous about health things.

SISTER REILLY WARD: The attitude I had going into the mission is I'm not a sissy.

My dad didn't raise me like that,

and I was going to do whatever I needed to do in order to teach this message.

ELDER JACKSON WARD: Everything was fresh in my mind.

I was able to give her some good advice on what to eat, what not to eat.

SISTER REILLY WARD: He did share rat stories with me and his house and how he showered also.

He gave me a pretty good warning of what I was getting myself into.

ELDER JACKSON WARD: When I drink bad water is when I felt the worst.

One thing I just told her, I was like,

make sure you have clean water.

SISTER REILLY WARD: When I first got there,

I was so excited, honestly.

I was excited to get to know this culture,

get to know this different people.

More than anything, I was just excited to get out there and serve,

but I was just in shock of how I was going to be sleeping and

showering and eating and

stuff like that.

[FOREIGN]

SISTER REILLY WARD: I was in the part of the country that was the poorest.

Down there, they don't have running water.

It's just the people drank out of well water.

There was times where I didn't drink the water.

I had my own water bottle,

but there was lots of times where I was accepting a glassful of well water,

and sometimes you would get a glassful of water that has ants in it or dirt in it,

and you just look down at it, and you're like, oh,

no, am I supposed to drink this?

They're right here looking at me.

ELDER JACKSON WARD: They have nothing,

and they want to give you anything that they do have.

They're so happy and so excited to give it to you.

It makes it super tough that when there is

something that could make you sick to tell them no.

[FOREIGN]

SISTER REILLY WARD: I remember there was one night where I just had really bad stomach pains,

and I was laying in bed and I didn't know what was going on,

and I started getting really hot.

I woke up the next morning, and I had a really high fever.

I think it was a 104 fever,

and I just felt awful.

We called my mission president's wife,

and she told us to go to the nearest clinic.

The doctor gave me lots of tests,

and he actually did an ultrasound on me,

and he said that because of what I was eating and drinking,

I had damaged the inside of my stomach.

[FOREIGN]

SISTER REILLY WARD: I wasn't

able to work for three days.

I was stuck inside my house,

and if I'm not able to work,

my companion's not able to work.

[FOREIGN]

She was just inside taking care of me,

and I just remember all I wanted to do was get outside,

but I couldn't because I was sick because of what I was allowing to come into my body.

I did serve 15 months in Nicaragua,

because of civil unrest,

they had to close down the mission,

and I got reassigned to the Texas Fort Worth Mission,

and I finished out there,

and a couple of weeks ago, I returned home.

But now, as I'm back from my mission,

I'm still feeling these stomach pains, and as I eat,

I am hungry, but once I take a couple of bites,

my stomach starts hurting, and I can't finish it.

I'm still seeing these effects from what I did in Nicaragua.

DOCTOR MICHAEL HERRERA: Hi, Reilly.

How are you doing? Welcome home.

With Reilly, there's going to be some further work up

that we need to do additional blood tests,

possibly some stool testing and other imaging so that we can determine where she's at.

Based on her exposures,

there is some concerns for parasites and

protozoan infections and things that, quite frankly,

could stay with her the rest of her life.

[FOREIGN]

ELDER JACKSON WARD: You can help people overcome anything through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

I think the best way to be able to do that is if you're totally obedient.

That means being obedient to the health rules in your mission.

SISTER REILLY WARD: It doesn't matter really where you are.

You are going to be offered things, and people are going to put things

on your plate or in your water where you know you shouldn't drink it.

You know you shouldn't eat it,

and you need to be the one and have this power to say no.

JEFF WARD: I remember telling her that these families have nothing,

and they're going to give you everything they have.

Eat it. Take it.

I think the advice that I give her now is that it really isn't worth getting sick,

and even if it's something that you're going to offend them,

that it just provides an opportunity to find other ways to love this family.

JAROM: Let me tell you, it's not easy saying no.

Often the people you serve really sacrifice to feed you or to offer something to drink.

VIVIANE: How do you handle it?

JAROM: How are we giving advice to missionaries today?

I'd say think about what to say in advance.

SPENCER: In places where missionaries are issued portable filtration bottles,

you could just hold it up and say,

I'm so sorry, but we're not allowed to drink anything that doesn't come from this.

VIVIANE: Good idea. What I was thinking with food,

you might as well just be direct and polite and say something like,

that looks delicious, but I know it won't agree with my stomach. Thank you, anyway.

JAROM: Important thing is to think about it in advance.

Talk to your companion and other missionaries.

Our elders and sisters need to understand it's okay to say no.

VIVIANE: That's right. Good health is all about the choices you make.

SPENCER: And the right set of habits.

JAROM: And a culture of cleanliness.

SPENCER: Eat right with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Stay clean.

Your food, your water, your apartment,

your hands, and get plenty of regular heart-pounding exercise.

For Viviane, Jarom, and the entire SafetyZone crew, I'm Spencer.

Stay healthy out there. [MUSIC]

SAFETYZONE NARRATOR VOICE: Thanks for joining us in the SafetyZone.

We'll see you next time.

[MUSIC]