The Importance of Workplace Wellness Programs & Plan Now for "Dry January"

 

Holistic Habits by Cheryl A. Mothes, Ph.D. Natural Health Nutrition Counselor

Content is a daily radio script from my KHIS radio spot - tune in at 6:15 (CST) every morning to Justin and Meredith’s morning show on 89.9 FM.

 This week we're talking about the benefits of workplace wellness programs - health promotion.  One heavy manufacturing company reported an outstanding 34-to-1 return on investment, and that’s just direct healthcare costs. Some of their indirect costs, like lost workdays and disability, fell even more. You can imagine other potential benefits—happier employees, more productive employees, making them more likely to stick around. Corporations that have a more robust health culture and emphasis do better in profitability.  What does your company do to promote health?  The return on investment is worth exploring the options!  Have a marvelous Monday everyone! 

More about workplace health promotion…  Let's say one employee gets diabetes, and it costs about $10,000 more per year. Suppose a self-insured company could prevent or reverse that case. In that case, they could save the company a lot of money, raising the possibility that workplace wellness programs could not just pay for themselves, but save the company money, even make the company money.  The return on investment - how much money you get back for every dollar spent - is the key.  An ROI of 3 to 1 means every dollar you spend yields $3 back; investing in such a program would end up tripling your money.  A compilation of studies found an average ROI of more than three dollars of healthcare cost savings for each dollar spent on health promotion.  On this terrific Tuesday, talk to your company about the win/win benefits for employees and the employer with a great health promotion program!  Have a terrific Tuesday!

 An impressive number of studies have shown that lifestyle is the root cause of what ails us, particularly for chronic conditions. The studies also show that changing one’s lifestyle can have a dramatic effect on health improvement, both in the prevention and treatment of disease. Most Americans have healthcare insurance through their employers, the cost for which is rising at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, it has not translated into healthier employees or healthier Americans. We spend more on healthcare per person by far, yet the U.S. population is not healthy - we are 43rd in the world. And since 2016, our life expectancy has declined year after year.  Even more, the reason that your employer, or that you as a business owner should investigate wellness programs - they are effective in improving employee lifestyles, reducing disease, increasing productivity, and reducing costs.  Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

 "Dry January" may be a new concept to some - and like any positive change, it still takes planning.  We'll share tips every week to prepare to reassess and eliminate your alcohol consumption, starting with the importance of understanding your true baseline drinking behaviors.  Moderate drinking is up to one 

drink per day for women and two per day for women.  Heavy drinking is more than 3 drinks per day for women and four for women.  If you're more than a moderate drinker, going without alcohol completely may be harder, so it's good to prepare!  Give your physician and family a heads up and ask for their support.  There's so much health to gain and to live longer and live stronger without alcohol.

 It's Fix It Friday and you may not know that the "Senate Bean Soup" recipe has been around for almost 100 years - it's still on the menu every day at the restaurant in the U.S. Senate!  Here's a "New Senate Soup" from Be a Plant-based Woman Warrior that you're sure to love! 

Cook 1 pound of dried navy beans with a bay leaf, 4 cups of vegetable stock, 2 chopped yellow potatoes, w chopped stalks of celery, 1 large, chopped onion, and 2 large, minced cloves of garlic.  Bring it to a boil then reduce it to low and cook it until the potatoes dissolve and the beans are tender, which may take 2 hours - or use your Instant Pot for faster results.  With an immersion blender, pulse the soup so it's about half creamy.  Add 1 chopped red pepper, 1 can of drained and rinsed black beans, 1/2 cup of parsley, and 2 cups of stemmed, chopped kale.  Stir then simmer for another 30 minutes.  Season with black pepper and hot sauce. 

From LAST year, if you missed it :) 

There are so many advantages to eating whole foods that are plant-based.  First, within one day you'll notice you're more satisfied.  I know!  It's shocking, but you'll feel fuller sooner and stay fuller longer, thanks to the fiber in vegetables, whole grains, beans, and fruit.  Less than 5% of Americans eat enough fiber, even though it protects us from heart disease, diabetes, and obesity and promotes good gut health.  Fiber ONLY comes from plants and ONLY all plants have fiber so on this marvelous meatless Monday, notice how much more satisfied you are when you eat whole food, plant-based diet, and for great recipes go to BlueZones.com or ForksoverKnives.com. 

Yesterday we mentioned that within one day of going plant-based, we feel more satisfied.  Studies show that within a week, we will be happier and have more energy!  Whole food and plant-based diets are linked to healthier moods and higher productivity - the more of it we eat, the happier, less depressed, less stressed, and more satisfied we are with our lives.  Because they are easier to digest, plants keep our energy levels higher throughout the day also. So, power up that plantified plate and have a terrific Tuesday!  

 Not only will we be happier and have higher energy levels one week after eating a plant-slant diet, but we’ll also have better blood sugar levels and reduce our risk of developing diabetes by 34%!  Additionally, our gut health will improve which helps every system in our bodies be healthier.  If you're wanting to learn more about plant-based nutrition for your family, get the book "Nourish" by Dr. Reshma Shah and dietician Brenda Davis.  It's a great Christmas gift as well.  Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

 Eating a healthier diet of whole foods that are from plants has been shown to reduce our cholesterol and our blood pressure and help us sleep better within just a couple of weeks.  And it doesn't have to happen overnight.... just add more fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, and whole grains gradually every day and you'll eat less meat and dairy.  Michael Pollan's book called "Food Rules" gives great "rules" for helping you in that journey and would be a great Christmas gift!

 All week we've been talking about how eating more plants helps your health.  Here's more:  within one month, our skin improves - those antioxidants are anti-aging in many ways!  AND because plant-based foods are higher in fiber and you feel fuller longer, within one month of ditching the meat and dairy, on average we lose 4 and a half pounds!   So, on this fantastic Friday, live longer and stronger with more plants on your plates!