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Inactivity, Overweight, and Excess Medical Care Costs
How much extra is it costing your company for physical inactivity, overweight, and obesity among employees? A recent report in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal, called Preventing Chronic Disease, gives a revealing insight.
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Diet and Skin CancerNew Cancer Prevention Guidelines
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in America, taking about 500,000 lives each year. The potential for preventing cancer, however, is quite high. New guidelines presented by the American Cancer Society (ACS) indicate that about two-thirds of all cancers can be prevented by not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, avoiding or limiting alcohol intake, and choosing healthy foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and legumes and limiting red and processed meats.
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Body Fat Measures and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes continues to increase and is a major concern in most countries of the world. In the year 2000, the worldwide prevalence of diabetes was estimated at 151 million persons. At the current rate of increase, it is estimated that by the year 2010, 221 million people will have diabetes. By 2025 this is expected to climb to 324 million people. The primary risk factor for diabetes is obesity (or excess fat weight) closely followed by a sedentary life and poor eating habits.
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Glycemic Index and Obesity
One of the theories about glycemic index (GI) is that high-glycemic foods (i.e., rapidly absorbed carbohydrates such as white bread, soft drinks, snacks, etc.) result in a rapid rise in blood sugar followed by an insulin spike and drop in blood sugar. This results in hunger and a tendency to eat more often. This may lead to increased calorie intake and obesity. New research seems to confirm this theory.
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Obesity Trends
The prevalence of obesity continues to rise at an unprecedented rate. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed results of a random telephone survey of more than 300,000 persons. In just the last 10 years, obesity has climbed 56% (from 15.3% to 23.9%). Early data from the National Health Interview Study (NHIS) shows obesity to be 24.8% in 2006. The NHIS interview included people with and without phones, so is a little more representative of the nation as a whole. Both of these studies are based on self-reported heights and weights.
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Benefits of Quitting Smoking
Smoking damages the lungs, heart, brain, and nearly every other organ of the body. Stopping smoking is one of the greatest benefits you can give your health. Here is a list of benefits that occur when you stop.
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Sugar Intake and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers and is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. (causing over 32,000 deaths yearly). The 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only 5%. Because of the high rate and low survivability, primary prevention is an extremely important strategy for combating pancreatic cancer. A new study in Sweden has identified a high sugar intake as a strong predictor of pancreatic cancer.
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Onions and Garlic May Lower the Risk of Cancer
Do you enjoy the flavor of onions and garlic in your meals? If you do, you may be in luck. New research from southern Europe indicates that these foods may be protective for several cancers. Large case controlled studies compared people eating the most onions and garlic with those eating little if any.
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Sleep Duration and Health
Sufficient and quality sleep is an important indicator of good health. The Archives of Internal Medicine devoted their entire September 18, 2006 issue to sleep and its relationship to health. The editorial in this issue makes this key conclusion: "Sleep is an indicator of health, and sufficient sleep quantity and good quality should be considered as an essential component of a healthy lifestyle, as much as exercise and nutrition."
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Vitamin D May Lower Risk of Multiple Sclerosis
Some 350,000 people in the United States are affected by multiple sclerosis. New research indicates that the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D, may help lower the risk of getting multiple sclerosis (MS).
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Vitamin E and Longevity
Early studies in nutrition suggested that vitamin E may be linked to lower mortality levels for heart disease and cancer. A clinical trial giving large doses of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) to heart patients did not decrease mortality. In fact, a recent review of 19 clinical trials giving vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) to patients showed a small but significant increase in mortality. Based on this information, doctors suggested to their patients that taking large doses of vitamin E is not a good idea. A new study in Finland gives additional light on this controversial topic.
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Bacon, Chicken, and Cancer Risk
The Harvard School of Public Health continues to mine the data gathered in the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Combined, these two studies include 47,422 men and 88,471 women. When looking closely at the eating habits of these people, Harvard researchers found that those who ate bacon frequently (5 times a week or more) had a 59% greater chance of developing cancer of the bladder.
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Health Links
ACS Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention
Every 5 years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) publishes Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines to serve as a foundation for its communication, policy, and community strategies and ultimately, to affect dietary and physical activity patterns among Americans. Read the latest guidelines, as published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
ACS Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention
Healthy Recipes
Legumes – Plant Proteins
Legumes or beans, as well as other fruits and vegetables, are high-nutrient and low-calorie. Legumes are especially high in protein and dietary fiber. Combined with grains they provide high-quality protein, as high as meats. They also have the advantage of being low in saturated fat and are cholesterol free. Eat a variety of protein-rich legumes or beans every day! They are a healthy and inexpensive alternate to red and processed meats.
Keep them available!
- Keep canned beans or dry beans on your regular shopping list.
- Vary the kind of beans you buy or cook — pink, black, white, red, speckled, etc.
- Keep a reasonable amount of dry beans cooked — not so many you eat them for a week.
- Depending on family size, keep at least one can of beans open and refrigerated in a closed container so it is accessible when the fridge swings open.
- If you bake, keep a little full-fat soy flour on hand.
- If you are the only one eating beans, keep at least two cans open and refrigerated in a closed container so you can switch from one kind to another without becoming bored or the beans becoming spoiled.
Eat them regularly!
- Add canned beans or home-cooked beans to soups — make the flavor appropriate.
- Add tomatoes, braised onions or herbs as desired to canned beans for more flavors — garlic is wonderful!
- Use hummus as a dip regularly — buy it or make it. It’s made of chick peas, ceci beans, or garbanzos (really, just one bean with three common names) that have been well-seasoned.
- If you bake, put a tablespoon of full-fat soy flour in the bottom of each cup of measured flour. It will add nutrients and flavor. If you are pleased with the results, add a second tablespoon next time.
- Add beans to salad after removing beans from liquid — add the liquid to soup.
- Get wild and try beans for breakfast. Serve scrambled eggs or egg substitute smothered with whole black or pinto beans, chopped green onions or spinach, and salsa.
Indian Split Pea Dahl
1½ cups yellow split peas (or green split peas)
3 cups water
1 large onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon turmeric
½ teaspoon curry powder
½ cup water
Salt to taste
Juice of 1 lemon
Simmer split peas in 3 cups water for 30 minutes or until no longer gritty if squished between your thumb and fingers.
Simmer onions and peppers with water in another pan until tender, about 15 minutes. Add seasonings and salt. Mix with peas and add lemon juice.
Serve over a generous portion of brown rice. Chutney is a nice accompaniment.
Adapted from The Power of Your Plate by Neal Barnard, M.D.
Resources
PowerPoint® Slides
Handouts
- Physical Activity Is Powerful Medicine — The best medicines are those that prevent disease and improve quality of life. Regular exercise may be helpful in preventing some of the most common diseases today.
- Health Charges for Inactivity and Overweight — A recent report in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal, called Preventing Chronic Disease, gives a revealing insight into the excess costs of inactivity and overweight.
What's New at Wellsource?
Orlando Wellness Marketing Seminar
 The Successful Health Management SystemsT Seminar, presented by Wellsource, Inc. will teach health professionals and others how to develop and market wellness programs or improve an existing program. The next seminar will be held February 26-27, 2007 at the Sheraton Safari Hotel in Orlando, Florida.
The seminar provides professionals in the healthcare and wellness industry with the opportunity to network with peers and share successes and challenges. The learning experience is facilitated with interactive workshops that encourage participation. For a program schedule and registration form.
For information on this and other Successful Health Management SystemsT Seminars, visit our seminar web page, call a Director of Business Development at 1-800-533-9355, or email well@wellsource.com.
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