Improving Health

It’s probably safe to say that everyone is done with 2020. What a year it has been! Most people are welcoming 2021 with open arms and hoping for a better year ahead. For many, the new year comes with a newfound resolve to get healthy. This desire to reset habits may be more applicable than ever as we say goodbye to an unprecedented year of stress and uncertainty. Stress may have contributed to unhealthy coping strategies, like overeating, too much alcohol or smoking.

Prediabetes, a condition characterized by elevated blood sugar, is a precursor to diabetes. It affects 1 in 3 Americans, and more than 84% of those affected are unaware that they have the condition. (1) If gone undetected, prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes and lead to many health complications in the body, affecting the heart, kidneys and blood vessels.

The immune system is our body’s defense against germs, viruses, and other diseases. In many ways it functions much like our military. When a threat is identified, the troops are sent out to fight. It’s a complicated system with many parts that require several resources to keep it strong. Nutrition plays an important role in keeping the immune system strong and ready to fight. Here are five foods and a select list of healthy habits that have been shown to play an important part in our immune system. 

Many people look to food for comfort during stressful times such as these. Managing your stress, emotions and eating habits is important to stay well. Here are some helpful tips on how to eat well and stay well, even during stressful times. 

On any given week, meal prep can be a challenge. Finding the time to plan, look up recipes, shop, and cook seems impossible at times. During this recent pandemic, although we may find that we are home more often, we are encouraged to not go to the grocery store as often. And even if we do make it to the store, due to higher demand and/or popularity, you may find some food is just not readily available.

It’s hard to overestimate the importance of sleep. Some researchers and experts who used to consider sleep a pillar of health along with nutrition and exercise now consider it even more foundational.  They now feel that if we are not sleeping well, other interventions like nutrition and exercise will likely be much less effective.  

If you are having a difficult time incorporating regular exercise in your new at-home routine, remember:

Quarantine burnout is real. The current crisis has changed the way we live, work, shop, and socialize. Here are some tips that may help you reduce mental and physical burn out and learn how to navigate this "new normal". 

A new environment can bring about new behaviors. Here are some ways to stay healthy if you are working at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chances are, someone in your office, neighborhood group, or exercise class has mentioned the Whole30 diet. Thousands of people have taken to the program, many after the holiday season. Wondering what it is? Here are your answers!