What Exactly Does a 6,190 Calorie Lunch Do to Your Body?

I came across this ABC story that ran a while ago but I just had to share it with you. It actually tells you what happens to your body FOR 6 HOURS after eating an unhealthy meal. Nothing good... and the results are immediate! Check out the 2 minute video. 

After reading a report by a consumer group about the effects of unhealthy food from popular chain restaurants, ABC's Yuji de Nies and Jon Garcia conducted a test to see how eating these foods for lunch would affect their bodies. 

Before they ate lunch, Yunji and Jon had blood samples drawn and an ultrasound done to test the health of their arteries.  They then sat down to a meal of 6,190 calories and 187 grams of saturated fat -- an appetizer, lunch and dessert from a popular chain restaurant. 

To see what happened to their blood and arteries immediately following the meal, watch the clip below.

click here to see the video news story

Wellness = Quality of Life

For those of us personally and professionally committed to wellness, we understand that a comprehensive definition of wellness includes fitness, nutrition, and healthy behaviors such as tobacco avoidance and stress reduction. But for so many others, until recently, wellness simply meant not being sick. 

According to a recent survey by The Hartman Group, wellness has now gone mainstream and is viewed as a marker for quality of life. Their results showed that the majority of consumers who responded included a range of components: physical fitness, stress management, and feeling good about themselves.  

While the definition of wellness will always be tailored to the individual, the good news is that more people are actively seeking wellness, including looking for information and how-to tips. Worksite wellness programs are the perfect opportunity to provide individuals with different levels of interest and participation in wellness behaviors with opportunities to learn about health-promoting behaviors and put them into practice.

Another encouraging finding of the survey was that consumers are more likely to seek foods to prevent disease rather than to treat it. This shows that consumers are focused on maintaining and improving their health, which is a key component of worksite wellness. Emphasizing prevention – taking healthy action to promote and preserve health rather than simply focus on fixing problems once they occur – is not only catering to what employees are looking for, but is also a great way to promote company health, including moral, increased productivity and reduced sick days and healthcare costs.

But while lots of good news was uncovered, the survey points out that not everyone is on board the wellness train. Twenty-five percent of respondents were categorized as being on the ‘periphery’ of wellness, meaning they are least likely to be involved in wellness. The ‘periphery’ approach tends to be more along the lines of avoiding ‘bad’ foods and behaviors as opposed to seeking out healthy choices. While the temptation of wellness enthusiasts and health-promoting products is often to bombard this audience with benefits and reasons why they should act, people don’t want to be ‘preached’ to. The power of worksite wellness programming is that by providing a variety of information and incentives through a range of medium, it provides equal opportunity and benefit to all individuals, no matter where they fall on the wellness spectrum.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS106164844120100824 

Public Health Enemy #1…and 2

An interesting article in the New York Times last week highlighted an inevitable phenomenon occurring in the world of public health…competition for dollars and attention. For years, smoking held the top spot as public health enemy #1, and along with this distinction came tremendous time, effort, and dollars spent in attempt to snuff it out. But in recent years, smoking has been edged out by big competition…obesity.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you already know that obesity, along with obesity-related healthcare costs, seems to garner the overwhelming majority of health-related media attention. And as this article points out, the prevention and research dollars have followed suit. As an example, one major source of private funding for public health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, who has spent two decades helping to reduce the nation’s smoking rate by almost half, has shifted their priorities in recent years to focus on childhood obesity. In fact, according to the article, the foundation spent nearly 15 times more on anti-obesity funding than anti-tobacco funding last year.

Some experts believe the shift in attention and funding is warranted, given that smoking rates have been driven down by previous efforts, while obesity rates have been rapidly rising. But anti-smoking advocates fear that the drastic shift will erode previous success while there is still much progress to be made.

The good news is, while there will always be competition for government dollars and research funding, individuals, families, schools and employers don’t have to choose. Rather, choosing to make overall wellness a priority means covering all the bases – including nutrition, smoking cessation, fitness, stress reduction and more. According to the American Heritage Medical Dictionary, wellness is “the condition of good physical, mental and emotional health, especially when maintained by an appropriate diet, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications.”

So by definition, wellness is an all-encompassing approach to health. Comprehensive worksite wellness programming allows participants to take positive steps in the areas where they struggle the most and rewards employers with healthier, happier employees, which translates to healthcare and productivity savings. So leave the competition for the sports field - choosing wellness is a win-win and one thing we can all agree upon!

Five Tips for a Healthy and Delicious Fourth of July BBQ

1. Have guests asking where’s the beef? This Fourth of July celebrate America’s birthday by ensuring all your guests have many more of their own! Skip the red meat (burgers, sausages and steaks) and replace it with lean protein such as skinless chicken or black bean burgers. Skip the saturated fat, without skimping on taste.

Spicy Black Bean Burger
• 1 15- to 16-ounce can black beans, rinsed, drained
• 1/3 cup chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup dry bread cumbs
• 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup bottled chunky salsa
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco)
Using fork, mash beans in medium bowl. Mix in onion, breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons salsa, cumin and hot pepper sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Using moistened hands, shape bean mixture into two 3- to 4-inch-diameter patties. Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler. Brush barbecue rack with oil. Grill burgers until heated through, about 3 minutes per side. Grill cut sides of buns until lightly toasted, about 1 minute. Transfer burgers to bottom halves of buns. Spoon 1/4 cup salsa over each. Cover with tops of buns.

Source: http://www.epicurious.com/ 


2. Flip the Chips.
Potato chips and tortilla chips seem to be a staple at every summertime barbeque. This year, skip the added fat and flip your chip. Choose a lighter version of your favorite chips, try popchips™ a new chip that is neither baked nor fried, but popped into existence, there are so many flavors to chose from that none of your guests will even miss the traditional potato chips.

http://www.popchips.com/


3. Raise the veggies!
Vegetables are a great source of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Not only are they healthul and delicious, but they are the perfect side to have at every barbeque because they fill you up without as many calories as other sides such as potato and cheesy macaroni salads. If you’re invited to a barbeque this weekend and can’t show up empty-handed try this cabbage slaw, it’s got lots of healthful fiber and a gorgeous color to boot! This delightfully light, summer salad is very satisfying due to the “creamy” dressing. The peanut butter does kick in some calories so don’t sit down and eat the whole bowl, share with friends.

Red Cabbage Slaw with Peanut Dressing
• 6 cups shredded red cabbage
• 1 cup shredded carrot
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onion
• 1 small clove garlic
• 1/4 cup cubed fresh ginger
• 2 teaspoons of sugar
• 1/3 cup smooth natural peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 3-7 tablespoons of water
Shred cabbage with a knife, cutting it very thin. Shred carrots and slice green onions. Place all veggies in a big bowl. Peel and rinse garlic. Use a garlic press or finely chop garlic. Add to food processor. Wash and coarsely chop fresh ginger into chunks/cubes. Don’t peel it. Add to food processor. Food process until ginger is finely chopped. Add sugar, peanut butter, and vinegar to food processor. Process until mixed. Gradually add water to food processor until dressing is desired consistency (I use about 5 tablespoons of water). Food processing should whip the dressing into a creamy texture. Pour/scrape dressing onto salad. Toss. Serve immediately or put in fridge for later (it will stay crispy for at least three days). Makes about 7 cups. One cup of this red cabbage salad has 116 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 cholesterol, and 4 grams of protein.

Source: http://chetroy.com/healthyvegan/?p=168

4. Provide your guests with refreshment, not a gut.
Summertime drinks, while tasty, can supply a huge chunk of your daily calorie intake. Considering that a 12 ounce margarita has over 560 calories and a 12 ounce pina colada has over 650 calories and more than 6 grams of saturated fat (a Big Mac has 10g of saturated fat), these drinks are more on par with decadent dessert than a drink with dinner or lunch. At this year’s barbeque be sure to provide your guests with plenty of nonalcoholic drink choices: seltzer water, 100% fruit juices and cold herbal teas. And if alcohol must be on the menu, provide lower calorie options like light beer and wine spritzers.


5. Get Fruity- Fruit is the perfect summer dessert…
If it’s available. It’s amazing how fast fruit salad gets gobbled up at a barbeque, but sadly it is often forgotten. Making a fruit salad is simple even if you’re pressed for time. Cut up a watermelon, pineapple and wash a bunch of grapes- this will be the base of your salad. Next, go to any salad bar with a fruit section. Here you will be able to put together a colorful salad with all the fruits that can be more time consuming to chop up like cherries and kiwifruit. Having this sweet treat will is a great alternative to ice cream and other high fat desserts that often show up at Fourth of July celebrations.

Over the course of 10 years, an average of 4.95 billion dollars can be saved through well run worksite wellness programs!

Prevention! Prevention! Prevention!!

In a new report issued by Healthways Center for Health Research, researchers estimate that over the course of 10 years, an average of 4.95 billion dollars can be saved through chronic disease prevention such as those provided by worksite wellness programs.

The researchers used a method of forecasting called standard actuarial modeling, wherein they evaluated the progression of health care costs based on projected increases in demand. They concluded that preventing chronic disease progression after age 25 in only 10% of people born in 2008 would provide a savings of $180 for each individual for each year through age 64. And, they further estimated that if this strategy could be expanded to reach 25% of this population, savings would reach $470 per individual annually, representing a savings of approximately $945 billion over ten years.

It’s all over the news that healthcare spending is out of control and that prevention is a key factor in changing the landscape! The authors of this recent study report that decreasing the cost of care will ultimately come down to a substantial decrease in the demand for care, through reduction of chronic disease. Health care for people with chronic diseases currently accounts for 75% of the nation’s total health care costs, and this number is expected to increase. Logically, one of the best bets we have for decreasing our health care costs lies in preventative care, and management of chronic disease; exactly what we practice at Wellness Workdays!

There is a lot of evidence that worksite wellness strategies are paying off.

Employers who have implemented wellness programs for employees have experienced short-term medical cost savings three times more than how much they invested in the programs. (Baicker K, Cutler D, Song Z. Workplace wellness programs can generate savings. Health Aff (Millwood). 2010;29(2):304-311.) While it always seems to come down to money, it can’t be denied that healthier individuals lead more fulfilling lives, not only do they live longer, but the years are spent out of the hospital, enjoying the things that make life worth living. Do your company and your employees a favor; invest in worksite wellness programs and watch your spending go down and your employees’ happiness go up!

To read the complete story and review the findings click here

The State of Health of Our Healthcare Advisors!

We look to our healthcare professionals to give us advice, but do they follow their own health messages? And perhaps an even better question is, would you listen to your doctor’s advice, or any other health care professional, if clearly s/he was not following it personally?

I recently read an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal focusing on what patients could learn from the way physicians take care of themselves. The article summarized that physicians, as a group, are leaner, fitter and live longer than the average American! What can we learn?

Another thing to keep in mind is that many studies show that doctors who exercise and watch their weight are more likely to counsel patients to do so.

The Physicians' Health Study (PHS), which has followed the health practices of about 25,000 male doctors since 1982, found that male physicians had better cholesterol levels than average: 76% were below 200 mg/d, and only 5% were over 240, compared with 20% of U.S. men aged 60. Only 14% of those male doctors had hypertension, compared with 65% of U.S. adults aged 60.

Perhaps this is because physicians tend to eat more healthfully. Forty three percent of male doctors in the PHS ate fish two to four times a week, and 11% ate it five times a week, which was associated with a 37% lower risk of dying of colorectal cancer. In a more recent survey, doctors in Canada ate 4.8 fruits and vegetables (far more than average Canadians) and drank caffeinated beverages just one to two times a day. And results from the Women Physician's Health Study (WPHS) which surveyed the health practices of 4,500 women doctors in the 1990s indicated that 8% of female doctors were vegetarian compared to 2% to 3% of the U.S. population.

These doctors are not just eating well, they are exercising. More than half of 2,115 Harvard Medical School physicians polled said they exercise for 30-60 minutes at least three times a week. And results of the PHS showed that those who exercised daily were only half as likely to develop Type 2 diabetes as those who didn't exercise.

Eating well and exercise are important to overall health, and so too are health screenings and preventative care, which physicians are more likely to do. When it came to breast health 86% of female ob/gyns aged 48 and over have had a mammogram in the past two years, compared with 70% of women in the U.S. population. Nearly 50% of female physicians in the WPHS said they always or nearly always used sunscreen outdoors (although 22% said they rarely or never did).

Where some doctors could use a hand is with their mental health, because as a profession, they are one of the busiest. When surveyed by the American College of Surgeons in 2008, only 36% of surgeons felt their work schedule left enough time for personal and family life, and only 51% would recommend that their children pursue a similar career. We often think of how our practitioners can enhance our own health, but little reflection is given to the mental health of our doctors. In a survey of 763 practicing physicians in California, 53% reported moderate to severe stress; only 38% described their daily stress as light. Thirteen percent said they used sedatives or tranquilizers, one-third reported little or no exercise and poor sleep and one-fifth worked more than 60 hours per week (compared with 34.5 hours for the average American.)

This article is very interesting and provides a lot of information about what we can learn from our doctors. Here is a link to the full article: Wall Street Journal Article

Take Meds as Directed: The health and financial consequences are drastic

http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2010/05/10/millions_of_patients_skip_drug_doses_or_never_get_prescriptions/

I read a very interesting article several weeks ago about prescription drug misuse A large population of patients are misusing drugs by skipping doses; anywhere from a day here and there, to not filling prescriptions at all. While this problem seems to receive little attention, it is very widespread and the health and financial consequences are drastic.

According to this article there are several reasons individuals are not taking his or her prescriptions:

1. There are just too many medications to keep track of for some patients

2. Unwanted side effects

3. The effects of the drug are not immediate so the patient does not see the need for taking it

Price may also be an issue for many patients. Even if most of a patient’s prescriptions are generic, the cost of so many pills can add up very quickly. When reading this article, this paragraph gave me pause as this is something we speak to our corporate clients about.

“Last month, in the New England Journal of Medicine, a Harvard health economist and the New England Healthcare Institute’s president sketched in stark detail the consequences of patients failing to take their drugs. The behavior spawns hospital stays costing $100 billion a year — stays that could have been averted. And 89,000 deaths from high blood pressure could be prevented annually if hypertension drug regimens were followed.”

This staggeringly high amount of money almost pales in comparison to the amount of money that could be saved by employers and workers if individuals took his or her medication exactly as directed and refilled on time.

According to The Express Scripts 2009 Drug Trend Report, which quantifies and reports changes in drug spending on a year-to-year basis and details the costly effects of irrational behaviors on pharmacy-related costs projects that making simple changes like getting people to take their medicines, exactly as directed, or to refill their prescriptions on time could save employers and their workers as much as $163 billion a year in healthcare costs, i.e. $1 out of every $5 spent on prescription drugs is wasted.

Consider these numbers:

• $106 billion from medical costs is related to non-adherence to therapy (patients failing to take prescribed drugs thus potentially worsening their condition)

• $51 billion in missed opportunities related to lower-cost medication alternatives, both brand and generic.

• $6 billion in missed opportunities related to lower-cost options for delivery of medications.

There are things that you can do as an individual for you and your family:

1. Become educated about your medications and the medications your family members are taking. If you are an employer, be sure that your employees know the importance of filling prescriptions and taking medications exactly as directed.

3. Focus on prevention; change your lifestyle and increase your healthful eating habits so you are less reliant on medications in general.

There are things that you can do as an employer:  A major component of our wellness plan focuses on "consumerism" or self-care...

1. Educate your employees to reduce the number of calls to the Emergency Room, reduce the incidence of preventable diseases, reduce the number of employee sick days, and increase the number of routine exams and preventive screenings.

2. Develop or include a behavior modification component in your existing wellness program to assist your employees to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyle changes.

3. Focus on lifestyle change, education, prevention and working towards getting people well so they no longer need their medicine. And for those that do need medicine, create awareness programs to help them manage their chronic issue, whether it is heart disease, diabetes or allergies!