Tempted by those little Halloween cadies? Learn what its going to take for you to burn off those extra calories.
Here are the calories for some Halloween candies:
Nestle’s Crunch – Fun Size 3 bars=210 calories
Peanut M&M’s – Fun Pack 2 bags=80 calories
M&M’s – Fun Pack 2 bags=180 calories
Snicker’s – Fun Size 2 bars=160 calories
Milky Way – Fun Size 2 bars=150 calories
Kit Kat – Fun Size 2 bars=100 calories
Hershey Chocolate Bar – Fun Size 1 bar=90 calories/ 5grams of fat
Reese’s Cup – 1 cup=80 calories
Butterfinger – Fun Size 1 bar= 100 calories
Twix – Fun Size 1 bar= 80 calories
York Peppermint Pattie – 1 pattie=70 calories
Twizzlers – 1 treat size pkg= 45 calories
Almond Joy – 1 snack size bar = 90 calories
Milk Duds – 1 treat size box = 40 calories
Butterfinger – 1 snack size bar = 100 calories
Milky Way – 1 snack size bar = 90 calories
SweetTarts – 1 treat size pkg. = 50 calories
1 Tootsie Pop – 1 pop = 60 calories
1 Tootsie Roll – 1 small roll = 13 calories
Note: Calorie content is based on 1 serving of Halloween snack or fun size packages, not full size servings found in the candy aisle.
If you are not worried about all of these extra calories over the next week that is fine, but if you would like to avoid Halloween candy and the calories that they offer here is a few tips.
1. Change the way that you think about the little Halloween candy. Most of us will associate these candies with childhood and that carefree feeling, instead think of them as something that will raise your blood sugar and make you jumpy.
2. Eat properly so you can stay away from Halloween candy. If you keep yourself on track for eating then avoiding the Halloween candy is easier because you will not be hungry.
3. Only buy the Halloween candy that you do not like. What may be tough for someone to resist may not be too hard for you to resist.
4. Decide what you are willing to eat ahead of time. Look at the list above, there are some good decisions that you can make that will stop you from making this a weight gain holiday by eating the right Halloween candy. I am a big fan of Tootsie Rolls and those are apparently OK to eat.
5. Just stay away. there is some willpower involved in not eating the things that we are not supposed to eat. Have some willpower and you can stay away from treats, it is only a one week holiday anyway, right?
Cancel Out Candy Calories in 3 Moves
TRY: Mountain Climber
Start in plank position (hands and toes on floor, back straight, abs engaged). Bring right knee to chest and tap toe on floor; straighten leg. Repeat with left knee. Do for 3 minutes.
Burn off: 70 calories, or 13 pieces of candy corn.
TRY: Power Jump
Stand with feet 6 inches apart. Squat, then push up, leaping forward and as high as you can. Repeat, jumping to the left, back and to the right. Do 25 rounds.
Burn off: 80 calories, or two Snickers Minis.
TRY: High March
Extend arms while holding a candy-filled pumpkin. March in place, bringing knees up as high as you can for 2 minutes (without spilling candy!). Rest 1 minute. Do 3 sets.
Burn off: 40 calories, or one mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.
To find out how long it takes to burn off that Halloween candy, click here.
Source:
Evil candy calories: http://ow.ly/wPf6
Candy Lovers' Calorie Blast: http://ow.ly/wPBm
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Was there absolutely nothing relevant and newsworthy going on in the country last week? Is that what lead TIME Magazine to run their flamboyant and irrational cover story titled, “Why Exercise Won’t Make You Thin” by John Cloud?
As a fitness expert, I read with horror this erroneous information. Despite ALL evidence pointing towards the effect of exercise combined with weight management, in a time when 32% of our population (that’s almost 90 million) is considered obese and our country’s youth are literally growing horizontally at an alarming rate, this article disputed the in-numerable benefits regular exercise provides to anyone and everyone for physical health and mental well being.
The image of the woman exercising on a donut states the obvious. Indulging in donuts regularly or any food, high in preservatives and fat will, well, make you fat. We know this. It is obvious. There are plenty of facts to support this. We do not need an article on the front page of TIME Magazine to tell us this.
What is absolutely, 100% true is that a healthy balance of exercise coupled with a well balanced diet and sleep will buy you time in life. Yup, it’s that simple. Many folks could kiss their health issues away, such as heart problems, diabetes, some forms of cancer. These are diseases that kill millions of Americans each year often because they did not exercise, eat right and generally did not take care of themselves prior to getting sick.
At Fitcorp, we have been leaders in our field helping people feel better, look better and just plain lead a happier and healthier life by introducing exercise into their daily routine. We tailor programs that meet the fitness goals of our members. We understand that everyone is not an uber-athlete and everyone has their own personal fitness needs. We also understand that many professionals are in front of a computer dealing with daily stress and a sedentary life. Our job is to help people get moving, find a plan that they can actually do within their time frame and enjoy.
We see the benefits of exercise and its impact on folks everyday. We have members who have been able to stop taking medicine for a chronic health problem due to a healthier lifestyle incorporating regular exercise, members that are able to chase after their children after getting into better shape. We have spurned confidence in thousands of people who were hiding behind their weight. We’ve seen folks leave some forms of depression behind as exercise creates endorphins that made them feel better.
How can anyone possible argue with this? Ask the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association if exercise is an important element in avoiding these diseases. They’ll all tell you the same thing.
REGULAR EXERCISE COUNTS. REGULAR EXERCISE CAN HELP SAVE YOUR LIFE.
Where does diet fit in here? It fits in everywhere. Just because you are exercising, it does not give you the liberty of living on junk food. Exercise alone with no regard to what you put in your mouth does not help you lose weight and most certainly does nothing for your good health. You can lose weight and feel better all the way around by taking some consideration of what you eat combined with regular exercise. The author states that his 360-calorie muffin was erased by an hour of aerobic activity. So if he hadn’t exercised, he would have eaten an egg white? I don’t think so. He likes blueberry muffins and he should be able to eat one. You can do that and eat a brownie once in awhile too if you combine your regular exercise with a balanced diet.
This is not rocket science here and shouldn’t be the tempting topic of what we consider a national news-worthy magazine such as TIME. Sensationalizing these important issues at a time when obesity, and health related deaths are skyrocketing is simply irresponsible. We need all the help we can get here at Fitcorp as do all health and fitness centers. Giving people an excuse to NOT exercise doesn’t help anyone. Here at Fitcorp, we are proud of what we bring to our members’ lives. We help them feel better, look better, be healthier and have a happier, more enjoyable life. It doesn’t get better than that. More than anything, we wish we could help EVERYONE feel the benefits of regular exercise. We know for a fact, if they tried it, they would see the benefits and alter their life.
We go home at the end of the day knowing we have made a difference in someone’s life and that feels good.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Thinner wallets, fatter bellies
How the bad economy is encouraging bad habits - and how health officials are fighting back
By Elizabeth Cooney, Globe Correspondent | July 20, 2009
As if it wasn’t hard enough to lose weight, along comes this relentless recession to make it even more challenging.
Fattening foods are cheaper and easier to find than healthier fare. People are working longer hours for less pay, taking second jobs to make up lost earnings, and struggling to maintain a gym membership - or all three. Worrying about work translates into wider waistlines, it turns out, mostly for people who are already overweight. Oh, and losing sleep, too? That’ll add on the pounds, as well.
While it’s giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “the weight of the recession,’’ it has also presented doctors and health officials with an opportunity to remind people that healthy choices can be made in boom times and in bad times.
State and national health experts say it’s too soon to tell if the anemic economy is boosting obesity. But healthcare providers and exercise experts are seeing changes they tie to tighter times, for better or worse. Whether people turn to fast food because it’s what they can afford or skip exercise because they’re starved for time, the result can be unhealthy weight gain.
“There certainly are dangers during these difficult economic times,’’ John Auerbach, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, said. “It becomes more challenging for people to try to eat the healthiest foods or exercise regularly. It is an issue we are concerned about.’’ Click here to read more.
By Elizabeth Cooney, Globe Correspondent | July 20, 2009
As if it wasn’t hard enough to lose weight, along comes this relentless recession to make it even more challenging.
Fattening foods are cheaper and easier to find than healthier fare. People are working longer hours for less pay, taking second jobs to make up lost earnings, and struggling to maintain a gym membership - or all three. Worrying about work translates into wider waistlines, it turns out, mostly for people who are already overweight. Oh, and losing sleep, too? That’ll add on the pounds, as well.
While it’s giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “the weight of the recession,’’ it has also presented doctors and health officials with an opportunity to remind people that healthy choices can be made in boom times and in bad times.
State and national health experts say it’s too soon to tell if the anemic economy is boosting obesity. But healthcare providers and exercise experts are seeing changes they tie to tighter times, for better or worse. Whether people turn to fast food because it’s what they can afford or skip exercise because they’re starved for time, the result can be unhealthy weight gain.
“There certainly are dangers during these difficult economic times,’’ John Auerbach, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, said. “It becomes more challenging for people to try to eat the healthiest foods or exercise regularly. It is an issue we are concerned about.’’ Click here to read more.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Diet, smoking, exercise key in colon cancer risk
Tue Jul 7, 2009 3:57pm EDT
By Amy Norton
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who want to reduce their risk of colon cancer may want to start exercising more and cutting down on red meat and alcohol, a new research review suggests.
Such measures -- along with not smoking -- may be key lifestyle choices in preventing the cancer, according to the analysis, which looked at more than 100 previous studies on colon cancer risk factors.
Overall, researchers found, high intake of red and processed meats, smoking, obesity and diabetes were all linked to a 20 percent increase in the risk of colorectal cancer. In contrast, people who exercised the most had a 20 percent lower risk of the disease than their sedentary counterparts.
Type 2 diabetes is closely linked to obesity, and both can be prevented or managed through a healthy diet and physical activity -- further highlighting the importance of lifestyle choices in colon cancer risk, the researchers report in the International Journal of Cancer.
As important as diet and exercise were, drinking habits emerged as the most significant lifestyle factor, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Rachel R. Huxley of the George Institute for International Health in Sydney, Australia.
Compared with adults who were light drinkers or teetotalers, those who averaged a drink a day or more had a 60 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer across the studies.
The key message, Huxley told Reuters Health, is that "colorectal cancer is a disease of lifestyle and that modifying inappropriate behaviors now -- such as reducing alcohol intake, quitting smoking and losing weight -- has the potential to substantially reduce a person's risk of the disease."
She added that this is likely to be true of all adults, including those who have a higher risk of colon cancer due to family history.
A 2007 report from the World Cancer Research Fund concluded that there was "convincing" evidence that obesity and high intake of red meat and alcohol contribute to colon cancer, Huxley's team notes. Studies on smoking and diabetes have been less consistent, however, and they acknowledge in the current study that many behaviors -- such as smoking, drinking alcohol, physical inactivity, and eating a diet high in meat -- tend to occur together, making the effect of each individual behavior difficult to measure.
The current findings, the researchers write, suggest that smoking and diabetes are as important in colon cancer risk as obesity and red meat consumption.
SOURCE: International Journal of Cancer, July 1, 2009.
© Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world.
Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
By Amy Norton
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who want to reduce their risk of colon cancer may want to start exercising more and cutting down on red meat and alcohol, a new research review suggests.
Such measures -- along with not smoking -- may be key lifestyle choices in preventing the cancer, according to the analysis, which looked at more than 100 previous studies on colon cancer risk factors.
Overall, researchers found, high intake of red and processed meats, smoking, obesity and diabetes were all linked to a 20 percent increase in the risk of colorectal cancer. In contrast, people who exercised the most had a 20 percent lower risk of the disease than their sedentary counterparts.
Type 2 diabetes is closely linked to obesity, and both can be prevented or managed through a healthy diet and physical activity -- further highlighting the importance of lifestyle choices in colon cancer risk, the researchers report in the International Journal of Cancer.
As important as diet and exercise were, drinking habits emerged as the most significant lifestyle factor, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Rachel R. Huxley of the George Institute for International Health in Sydney, Australia.
Compared with adults who were light drinkers or teetotalers, those who averaged a drink a day or more had a 60 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer across the studies.
The key message, Huxley told Reuters Health, is that "colorectal cancer is a disease of lifestyle and that modifying inappropriate behaviors now -- such as reducing alcohol intake, quitting smoking and losing weight -- has the potential to substantially reduce a person's risk of the disease."
She added that this is likely to be true of all adults, including those who have a higher risk of colon cancer due to family history.
A 2007 report from the World Cancer Research Fund concluded that there was "convincing" evidence that obesity and high intake of red meat and alcohol contribute to colon cancer, Huxley's team notes. Studies on smoking and diabetes have been less consistent, however, and they acknowledge in the current study that many behaviors -- such as smoking, drinking alcohol, physical inactivity, and eating a diet high in meat -- tend to occur together, making the effect of each individual behavior difficult to measure.
The current findings, the researchers write, suggest that smoking and diabetes are as important in colon cancer risk as obesity and red meat consumption.
SOURCE: International Journal of Cancer, July 1, 2009.
© Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world.
Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Getting Healthy, With a Little Help From the Boss
By LESLEY ALDERMAN
Get ready to get well. Boss’s orders.
Once upon a time, corporations offered generous health benefits as a way to woo employees into their ranks. Now, most companies have turned from amorous suitors into stern parents — shifting more costs, and more responsibilities, to their employees.
According to a January survey by the benefits consulting firm Hewitt Associates, nearly two-thirds of large employers planned to transfer more costs to employees. At the same time, one-third planned to put greater emphasis on wellness plans — programs that encourage employees to adopt healthier lifestyles. (So long, Big Macs).
Congress is climbing onto the wellness bandwagon, too. Senator Tom Harkin, the Iowa Democrat who is a leader of the Congressional health reform movement, recently proposed giving tax incentives to companies that offer comprehensive wellness programs to their employees.
The focus on healthier lifestyles makes sense. Unhealthy employees use significantly more medical services than healthy ones and cost employers more money.
“If you are an employer who wants to keep providing health care coverage, you have to target employees’ exercise, diet and nutrition habits,” says Dr. Kenneth E. Thorpe, chairman of the health policy and management department at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.
Three-quarters of the money the nation spends on health care is for chronic conditions, Dr. Thorpe pointed out. If companies can get workers to make behavioral changes to control problems like high blood pressure or diabetes, the businesses’ costs typically go down.
But though the logic seems sound — employees get healthier and employers reduce their overall costs — not all wellness plans are alike.
At paternalistic companies like General Mills, employees have a host of generous options. Workers at the company’s headquarters just outside Minneapolis can exercise at the on-site gym, get eye exams at the medical office and see a physical therapist for random aches and pains — all free of charge.
But some aspects of wellness plans may feel more meddlesome. About 80 percent of big employers offer health risk surveys, which are aimed at identifying health problems or potential health problems. And 60 percent of employers give financial incentives to employees who fill them out, according to a joint survey by the benefits consulting firm Watson Wyatt and the National Business Group on Health, an association of more than 300 large employers.
After a worker takes such a survey — the results are off limits to the employer — a coach or nurse from the outside contractor running the program will call the person and suggest medical interventions or lifestyle changes. Those changes may involve exercising more, eating less meat or losing weight.
“It’s one thing for an employer to offer insurance that protects you from illness,” says Ronald C. Kessler, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. “It’s another when they start suggesting that you shouldn’t eat a P.B.&J. sandwich for lunch. That can feel intrusive.”
But whether you love them or hate them, wellness programs are probably here to stay. Here’s how you can make them work for you.
UNDERSTAND THE TOOLS More and more companies are using health questionnaires as a way of to create personalized health improvement plans for their workers. These surveys ask about your body mass index, how much you exercise and whether you smoke, and are typically administered by a third party.
According to privacy laws, the information you provide to the plan administrators cannot be used by your employer for any purpose related to your employment status. In addition, an employer cannot deny health insurance to an employee for failure to complete a health risk questionnaire, says Martin J. Moderson, vice chairman of employee benefits and executive compensation at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal.
While many employers offer incentives for filling out health surveys, there is some debate over whether it is legal for them to do so. Under the federal health privacy law known by its acronym, Hipaa (pronounced HIP-ah), your employer can provide an incentive for filling out a risk survey, as long as the reward does not exceed 20 percent of the cost of coverage under the plan, and certain other requirements are satisfied, Mr. Moderson said.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, however, has questioned whether such incentives would violate the American with Disabilities Act. If you feel coerced into filling out a questionnaire, or annoyed that some employees get compensated for doing so, speak to the human resources department.
MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU If you’re already using your company’s wellness plan, great. But if you’ve been reluctant, find out what your company has to offer.
“The guy who is not taking advantage of the company wellness plan is underwriting the one who is,” Mr. Kessler said. “You’re basically leaving money on the table.”
Call up your human resource department and find out what you might be entitled to. Or go on your company’s intranet site and look for a health portal where the information is housed. Common perks are ones that even the change-averse are likely to appreciate: discounts on gym memberships and free flu shots, blood pressure tests and mammograms.
MAKE SUGGESTIONS If your company doesn’t offer wellness benefits, and you wish they did, talk to your supervisor or human resources department.
“There’s been a dramatic shift in attitudes toward health at all sized companies,” said Shelly Wolff, national health and productivity leader at Watson Wyatt. “Start by asking for simple things that don’t cost much money.”
Can the company arrange for a corporate discount at a local Y or gym? Will they sponsor a baseball or basketball team? Could they arrange to have a yoga class once a week in an empty conference room? If they snarl, remind them that studies show wellness programs result in less absenteeism and lower costs.
What boss can argue with that?
Source: New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/23/health/23patient.html?_r=1&ref=health
Get ready to get well. Boss’s orders.
Once upon a time, corporations offered generous health benefits as a way to woo employees into their ranks. Now, most companies have turned from amorous suitors into stern parents — shifting more costs, and more responsibilities, to their employees.
According to a January survey by the benefits consulting firm Hewitt Associates, nearly two-thirds of large employers planned to transfer more costs to employees. At the same time, one-third planned to put greater emphasis on wellness plans — programs that encourage employees to adopt healthier lifestyles. (So long, Big Macs).
Congress is climbing onto the wellness bandwagon, too. Senator Tom Harkin, the Iowa Democrat who is a leader of the Congressional health reform movement, recently proposed giving tax incentives to companies that offer comprehensive wellness programs to their employees.
The focus on healthier lifestyles makes sense. Unhealthy employees use significantly more medical services than healthy ones and cost employers more money.
“If you are an employer who wants to keep providing health care coverage, you have to target employees’ exercise, diet and nutrition habits,” says Dr. Kenneth E. Thorpe, chairman of the health policy and management department at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.
Three-quarters of the money the nation spends on health care is for chronic conditions, Dr. Thorpe pointed out. If companies can get workers to make behavioral changes to control problems like high blood pressure or diabetes, the businesses’ costs typically go down.
But though the logic seems sound — employees get healthier and employers reduce their overall costs — not all wellness plans are alike.
At paternalistic companies like General Mills, employees have a host of generous options. Workers at the company’s headquarters just outside Minneapolis can exercise at the on-site gym, get eye exams at the medical office and see a physical therapist for random aches and pains — all free of charge.
But some aspects of wellness plans may feel more meddlesome. About 80 percent of big employers offer health risk surveys, which are aimed at identifying health problems or potential health problems. And 60 percent of employers give financial incentives to employees who fill them out, according to a joint survey by the benefits consulting firm Watson Wyatt and the National Business Group on Health, an association of more than 300 large employers.
After a worker takes such a survey — the results are off limits to the employer — a coach or nurse from the outside contractor running the program will call the person and suggest medical interventions or lifestyle changes. Those changes may involve exercising more, eating less meat or losing weight.
“It’s one thing for an employer to offer insurance that protects you from illness,” says Ronald C. Kessler, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. “It’s another when they start suggesting that you shouldn’t eat a P.B.&J. sandwich for lunch. That can feel intrusive.”
But whether you love them or hate them, wellness programs are probably here to stay. Here’s how you can make them work for you.
UNDERSTAND THE TOOLS More and more companies are using health questionnaires as a way of to create personalized health improvement plans for their workers. These surveys ask about your body mass index, how much you exercise and whether you smoke, and are typically administered by a third party.
According to privacy laws, the information you provide to the plan administrators cannot be used by your employer for any purpose related to your employment status. In addition, an employer cannot deny health insurance to an employee for failure to complete a health risk questionnaire, says Martin J. Moderson, vice chairman of employee benefits and executive compensation at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal.
While many employers offer incentives for filling out health surveys, there is some debate over whether it is legal for them to do so. Under the federal health privacy law known by its acronym, Hipaa (pronounced HIP-ah), your employer can provide an incentive for filling out a risk survey, as long as the reward does not exceed 20 percent of the cost of coverage under the plan, and certain other requirements are satisfied, Mr. Moderson said.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, however, has questioned whether such incentives would violate the American with Disabilities Act. If you feel coerced into filling out a questionnaire, or annoyed that some employees get compensated for doing so, speak to the human resources department.
MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU If you’re already using your company’s wellness plan, great. But if you’ve been reluctant, find out what your company has to offer.
“The guy who is not taking advantage of the company wellness plan is underwriting the one who is,” Mr. Kessler said. “You’re basically leaving money on the table.”
Call up your human resource department and find out what you might be entitled to. Or go on your company’s intranet site and look for a health portal where the information is housed. Common perks are ones that even the change-averse are likely to appreciate: discounts on gym memberships and free flu shots, blood pressure tests and mammograms.
MAKE SUGGESTIONS If your company doesn’t offer wellness benefits, and you wish they did, talk to your supervisor or human resources department.
“There’s been a dramatic shift in attitudes toward health at all sized companies,” said Shelly Wolff, national health and productivity leader at Watson Wyatt. “Start by asking for simple things that don’t cost much money.”
Can the company arrange for a corporate discount at a local Y or gym? Will they sponsor a baseball or basketball team? Could they arrange to have a yoga class once a week in an empty conference room? If they snarl, remind them that studies show wellness programs result in less absenteeism and lower costs.
What boss can argue with that?
Source: New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/23/health/23patient.html?_r=1&ref=health
Congress Plans Incentives for Healthy Habits
In its effort to overhaul health care, Congress is planning to give employers sweeping new authority to reward employees for healthy behavior, including better diet, more exercise, weight loss and smoking cessation.
Congress is seriously considering proposals to provide tax credits or other subsidies to employers who offer wellness programs that meet federal criteria. In addition, lawmakers said they would make it easier for employers to use financial rewards or penalties to promote healthy behavior among employees.
Two Democratic senators working on comprehensive health legislation, Max Baucus of Montana, the chairman of the Finance Committee, and Tom Harkin of Iowa, have taken the lead in devising such incentives.
"Prevention and wellness should be a centerpiece of health care reform," said Mr. Harkin, who regularly climbs the stairs to his seventh-floor office on Capitol Hill.
The White House agrees. One of President Obama's eight principles for health legislation is that it must "invest in prevention and wellness," a goal espoused in almost identical words by Republican senators like John Cornyn of Texas and Orrin G. Hatch of Utah.
Frank B. McArdle, a health policy expert at Hewitt Associates, a benefits consulting firm, said, "Wellness and prevention programs have become a mainstream part of the benefits offered by large employers, and it's virtually certain that Congress will include incentives for such programs" in its bill. The goals of such programs are to help people control blood pressure, fight obesity and manage diabetes and other chronic conditions.
Under Mr. Harkin's proposal, employers could obtain tax credits for programs that offer periodic screenings for health problems and counseling to help employees adopt healthier lifestyles. Programs could focus on tobacco use, obesity, physical fitness, nutrition and depression, he said.
If, for example, an employer pays the cost of gym membership for employees as part of a wellness program, the payment is often counted as taxable income to employees.
Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health, which represents 300 large employers, said, "We would like Congress to change the law so it would not be taxable income if an employer provides a benefit to help employees stay healthy."
Employers who reward healthy behavior may also run afoul of a 1996 law intended to prevent group health plans from discriminating against people because of their health status or medical history.
If an employer offers financial incentives to employees for lowering cholesterol, losing weight or stopping smoking, the amount of such rewards generally may not exceed 20 percent of the cost of coverage.
Many employers would like to offer larger incentives, and many in Congress want to let them do so.
Source: IHRSA
Congress is seriously considering proposals to provide tax credits or other subsidies to employers who offer wellness programs that meet federal criteria. In addition, lawmakers said they would make it easier for employers to use financial rewards or penalties to promote healthy behavior among employees.
Two Democratic senators working on comprehensive health legislation, Max Baucus of Montana, the chairman of the Finance Committee, and Tom Harkin of Iowa, have taken the lead in devising such incentives.
"Prevention and wellness should be a centerpiece of health care reform," said Mr. Harkin, who regularly climbs the stairs to his seventh-floor office on Capitol Hill.
The White House agrees. One of President Obama's eight principles for health legislation is that it must "invest in prevention and wellness," a goal espoused in almost identical words by Republican senators like John Cornyn of Texas and Orrin G. Hatch of Utah.
Frank B. McArdle, a health policy expert at Hewitt Associates, a benefits consulting firm, said, "Wellness and prevention programs have become a mainstream part of the benefits offered by large employers, and it's virtually certain that Congress will include incentives for such programs" in its bill. The goals of such programs are to help people control blood pressure, fight obesity and manage diabetes and other chronic conditions.
Under Mr. Harkin's proposal, employers could obtain tax credits for programs that offer periodic screenings for health problems and counseling to help employees adopt healthier lifestyles. Programs could focus on tobacco use, obesity, physical fitness, nutrition and depression, he said.
If, for example, an employer pays the cost of gym membership for employees as part of a wellness program, the payment is often counted as taxable income to employees.
Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health, which represents 300 large employers, said, "We would like Congress to change the law so it would not be taxable income if an employer provides a benefit to help employees stay healthy."
Employers who reward healthy behavior may also run afoul of a 1996 law intended to prevent group health plans from discriminating against people because of their health status or medical history.
If an employer offers financial incentives to employees for lowering cholesterol, losing weight or stopping smoking, the amount of such rewards generally may not exceed 20 percent of the cost of coverage.
Many employers would like to offer larger incentives, and many in Congress want to let them do so.
Source: IHRSA
Monday, April 13, 2009
Ease the Pressure
By keeping your blood pressure in check, you can help prevent a stroke. Here are five drug-free ways to bring the numbers down.
By Elizabeth Barker
Eat Omega-3s
"Omega-3s lower your levels of blood fats and make your blood less viscous, so your heart doesn't have to work as hard," explains Ginger Nash, N.D., a naturopathic physician in Connecticut. Nash recommends eating flaxseed or nuts every day or getting three servings of omega-3-rich fish like salmon each week. If you don't get enough of these foods, consider supplementing your diet with 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams of fish oil daily, Nash says.
Get a Chiropractic Adjustment
A onetime adjustment of the Atlas vertebra (located at the base of the skull) lowers blood pressure as effectively as taking two blood pressure drugs at once, suggests a recent University of Chicago Medical Center study of 50 people. Although researchers didn't determine how the adjustment reduced blood pressure, they found that the decrease was still in effect eight weeks after treatment.
Use Supplements
Taking 60 mg per day of Coenzyme Q10-a naturally occurring compound often deficient in people with hypertension-may lower blood pressure by helping the heart contract more effectively, according to Nash. Robert E. Kowalski, author of The Blood Pressure Cure (Wiley, 2007), also recommends the supplements Lyc-O-Mato (15 mg daily), a tomato extract that provides lycopene and other antioxidants that may lower blood pressure; pycnogenol (200 mg daily), an extract of pine bark that promotes artery health; Mega- Natural-BP, a grapeseed extract that helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries; and EP Sustained-Release L-Arginine, an amino acid that can improve blood flow.
Take Magnesium, Calcium & Potassium
These electrolytes help nourish the heart muscle and regulate blood pressure. Kowalski suggests you get about 700 mg of magnesium, 1,200 mg of calcium, and 4,700 mg of potassium daily through your diet or in supplement form. And because too much sodium (another electrolyte) can raise your blood pressure, eat salty foods in moderation.
Do Breathing Exercises
Two to three minutes of deep breathing several times a day can help bring down blood pressure, according to Kowalski. He recommends a gadget called RESPeRATE (resperate.com) that teaches slow, paced breathing by chiming when you should inhale and exhale.
By Elizabeth Barker
Eat Omega-3s
"Omega-3s lower your levels of blood fats and make your blood less viscous, so your heart doesn't have to work as hard," explains Ginger Nash, N.D., a naturopathic physician in Connecticut. Nash recommends eating flaxseed or nuts every day or getting three servings of omega-3-rich fish like salmon each week. If you don't get enough of these foods, consider supplementing your diet with 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams of fish oil daily, Nash says.
Get a Chiropractic Adjustment
A onetime adjustment of the Atlas vertebra (located at the base of the skull) lowers blood pressure as effectively as taking two blood pressure drugs at once, suggests a recent University of Chicago Medical Center study of 50 people. Although researchers didn't determine how the adjustment reduced blood pressure, they found that the decrease was still in effect eight weeks after treatment.
Use Supplements
Taking 60 mg per day of Coenzyme Q10-a naturally occurring compound often deficient in people with hypertension-may lower blood pressure by helping the heart contract more effectively, according to Nash. Robert E. Kowalski, author of The Blood Pressure Cure (Wiley, 2007), also recommends the supplements Lyc-O-Mato (15 mg daily), a tomato extract that provides lycopene and other antioxidants that may lower blood pressure; pycnogenol (200 mg daily), an extract of pine bark that promotes artery health; Mega- Natural-BP, a grapeseed extract that helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries; and EP Sustained-Release L-Arginine, an amino acid that can improve blood flow.
Take Magnesium, Calcium & Potassium
These electrolytes help nourish the heart muscle and regulate blood pressure. Kowalski suggests you get about 700 mg of magnesium, 1,200 mg of calcium, and 4,700 mg of potassium daily through your diet or in supplement form. And because too much sodium (another electrolyte) can raise your blood pressure, eat salty foods in moderation.
Do Breathing Exercises
Two to three minutes of deep breathing several times a day can help bring down blood pressure, according to Kowalski. He recommends a gadget called RESPeRATE (resperate.com) that teaches slow, paced breathing by chiming when you should inhale and exhale.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Sweet Tooth? Try Unrefined Sweeteners Like Honey for a Healthier Option
Here’s a quick way to stop guilty pleasures from filling you with guilt: Eat the ones made with honey, brown sugar, maple syrup, or molasses.
Unlike regular sugar, these unrefined sweeteners have potentially useful amounts of disease-fighting antioxidants, according to new research from Virginia Tech. Feel better? Good. Now eat your vegetables.
Unlike regular sugar, these unrefined sweeteners have potentially useful amounts of disease-fighting antioxidants, according to new research from Virginia Tech. Feel better? Good. Now eat your vegetables.
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