corporate wellness Archives - Page 11 of 21

Caffeine and Health

“Whenever I get to a new city, the first thing I do is to scope out the nearest Starbucks”, a woman told me the other day while on vacation hauling her familiar cup, sleeve and lid. “There’s nothing like this coffee” she continued. And she was right. In terms of caffeine content, Starbucks trumps other coffees hands down. A typical 16 oz. cup of regular coffee contains between 100 and 200 mg of caffeine and a regular strength “No-Doz” tablet has 100 mg. Starbucks contains 330 mg. Energy and productivity are essential for a healthy, meaningful life. People have used simple stimulants like caffeine for centuries. Everyday more and more people look for ways to improve their mental and physical focus. Many people turn to coffee for a liquid energy boost but there are newer preparations on the market. Energy [...]

Tags: caffeine, caffeine and energy levels, coffee, corporate wellness, corporate wellness programs, energy, energy drink, tea, which of the following beverages provides both caffeine and energy|

How to Meal Prep Healthy Lunches

“BEEP! BEEP! BEEP” the alarm seems so much louder on the first day of school! Back to school can be a stressful time between trying to adjust to all the new schedules, as well as making sure everyone is organized and fed. This includes school lunches that need packed. This can feel like an annoying chore, adding to the morning chaos. Until someone figures out how to make lunches pack themselves, here are some tips to streamline your busy mornings. Meal Prep! That’s right - meal prep. This is the key to a healthy week and is helpful for all. Preparing nutritious foods will save stress and time before heading out of the house for the day. Have a flexible plan for the week. Pick something to be the “main” component of your lunch like a whole grain sandwich [...]

Tags: back to school, corporate wellness, corporate wellness programs, How to Meal Prep Healthy Lunches, lunch, lunch box, morning rush, nutrition|

Natural Ways to Maximize Energy

Energy is both a physical and mental resource. If you use caffeine or another energy product on a daily basis, take a moment to understand the potential health effects of your daily habit. Also understand that there are many positive strategies that can help you boost energy, productivity and concentration. These lifestyle habits also allow you to minimize the use of artificial stimulants and reduce the potential for harmful side effects if they are used. Here are our Top 7 Caffeine-Free Energy Boosters: Fiber + Protein While simple carbohydrates found in energy bars and drinks boost blood sugar quickly, they often leave you feeling depleted shortly after the initial energy boost. Instead of buying these so-called energy products, eat whole foods for energy. Complex carbohydrates, also known as high fiber foods, are a better choice for sustained energy especially when [...]

Tags: caffeine, caffeine free, corporate wellness, Corporate Wellness Firm, corporate wellness program, energy, magnesium, Natural Ways to Maximize Energy, sleep hygiene|

Fitting Exercise into a Busy Schedule

Cue giggle and eye-roll. This is after your doctor says, “just exercise a few days a week”. It’s an uphill battle finding time to exercise consistently when our schedules are jam-packed and constantly changing. It’s not uncommon to feel like we are short on time, don’t have enough equipment, or are simply struggling to keep-up. First and foremost, we need to commit to making exercise a priority. Then, we can work on ways of creatively squeezing exercise into our busy schedules. Short on Time Often, we have an idea in our head that we need to set aside a large chunk of our day for exercise. On busy days, and with an ever-changing schedule, it can be difficult to carve out even 30 minutes regularly. Luckily, exercise sessions don’t all need to be this long. Studies have shown that [...]

Tags: bodyweight exercise, corporate wellness, Corporate Wellness Firm, corporate wellness programs, exercise, exercise equipment, Fitting Exercise into a Busy Schedule, how do you fit exercise into a busy schedule, how to fit exercise into a busy schedule, how to fit exercise into a busy work schedule, interval training, tips for fitting exercise into a busy schedule|

Flu Vaccines in the Time of Corona

Influenza or “flu” is caused by a contagious virus that infects your lungs and respiratory system. There are different strains of the influenza virus that are passed around the world. Symptoms of the flu may be mild or severe, and include fever, dry cough, sore throat, muscle aches and generally feeling tired and sick. Will the virus be worse this year since we are not wearing masks? Influenza viruses are spread by droplets that enter the respiratory system through our nose and mouth. Washing your hands is the best defense, but masks also reduce the likelihood of many types of respiratory (lung) infections. As the seasons change and we move indoors, viruses become more robust (cold, drier weather keeps them infectious longer) and that is why more people get sick during the winter months. If I get the flu vaccine, [...]

Tags: corona, corporate wellness, Corporate Wellness Firm, flu, flu season, flu vaccine effectiveness, flu vaccine side effects, winter 2021|

The Corona Impact – Drink Less Alcohol

How much is too much? Current CDC guidelines for alcohol consumption recommend less than one drink per day for women and two for men. Trends indicate moderate drinkers are consuming far more than the current guidelines. In the past year, it was found that men averaged four to fourteen drinks per week and women averaged four to seven drinks. There are short and long-term health consequences of consuming too much alcohol. The Corona Impact A 2020 study measuring alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic found that drinking increased amongst 60% of participants (compared to the year prior, 2019). Even before the pandemic, the consumption trends still far exceeded CDC guidelines! In addition to the health consequences this past year had on many individuals, increased alcohol consumption adds to the risks for more health issues. Risks Short-term consequences include alcohol poisoning [...]

Tags: alcohol, alcohol abuse, corporate wellness, dietetic internship, fluids, hydration, intern, mocktail, nutrition, water|

Green Spaces to De-Stress

We live in a constantly stimulating world, so it’s important to remember and always consider the reactions that occur naturally when we are in green spaces. Being outdoors promotes emotional and social wellbeing, as well as improving physical fitness and balance. Numerous studies bear this out. Provided you are fit enough to walk comfortably, the health benefits of regular outdoor activity reign supreme. Being outdoors allows us to take our mind off stressors and return feeling more in control and recharged. Find a park nearby and take a nature walk today! See the list below for ideas of outdoor fun. Continue reading July 2021 Newsletter: Shake Up Your Exercise with a HIIT Workout

Tags: beach, bike, c, corporate wellness, exercise, fly a kite, hike, outdoor activity|

Shake Up Your Exercise with a HIIT Workout

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a type of workout that alternates brief periods of vigorous exercise with periods of moderate activity, or rest (recovery). For example, a person could run for 30 seconds and then walk for three minutes. The periods of vigorous exercise and periods of rest/recovery can vary, as can the intensity levels of both. This allows HIIT workouts to be very adaptable to each individual and their fitness levels. The popularity of HIIT has remained on the rise thanks to continued research supporting it as an efficient and effective way to get and stay fit. HIIT is an excellent way for you to improve your fitness level and health, but it does require pushing your body to a higher intensity, so take your level of fitness into account before starting. Consulting a doctor before beginning [...]

Tags: corporate wellness, exercise, fitness, high intensity interval training, hiit, interval training, outdoor exercise, tabata, wellness|

Tips for a Healthy Cookout

Finally, a mask-free summer that is barbequed, smoked, slathered, rubbed, and dipped! When it comes to summertime cookouts, going overboard on indulgent foods happens often. It may seem impossible to include healthier alternatives at these get-togethers but serving healthier options can be easier than you think. According to the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics we need to think beyond the traditional barbeque favorites. Here are a few ideas for your next summertime party: Go Lean Instead of using processed meats such as hot dogs and sausage, try incorporating leaner meats. Choose healthier options like lean beef, pork, and chicken. Fish is also a great alternative and cooks up quickly on the grill. Consider swapping out typical beef burgers for heart healthy turkey burgers. Ground turkey can be found as lean as 99% fat free. Add some flavorful ingredients [...]

Tags: barbecue, barbeque, cookout, corporate wellness, fruit for dessert, grill, healthy cooking, kabob, roasted vegetables, summertime|

Wellness for the HR Professional: Nutrition

Most of us feel like we are in survival mode as we return to the workplace. We have also gained the “COVID-19 pounds”. Take the following steps to healthfully go back to work. Be kind to yourself and slowly integrate health behaviors (back) into your life. These 2 major steps are meant to help you thrive during this time and not add more stress. Eat mindfully. This means to increase your awareness of what influences your food choices. Consider the following: Why am I eating? Am I hungry or am I stressed? Is this physical hunger or an emotional response? Enjoy your food. Use all your senses to enjoy your food. This means you eat slowly, take small bites and chew thoroughly. No distractions. Take time to enjoy your food. Stop working for a period, turn off the screen [...]

Tags: corporate wellness, COVID, COVID-19, food for fuel, HR, HR pro, HR professional, human resources, nutrition, wellness|