LiveWell Vermont

Looking to increase worker safety, employers are enacting policies banning use of electronic devices behind the wheel. Image: pixelfit/iStockphoto In 2014, the House passed a cellphone ban- no hand-held devices while driving in Vermont. This law has prevented many accidents and saved many lives. Reducing cellphone use behind the wheel is important on an individual level and for employers! We want all people to have maximum safety when on the road.   Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that distracted driving contributes to about nine deaths and more than 1,000 injuries on U.S. roadways each day. OSHA and the National Safety Council cite motor vehicle-related crashes as the No. 1 cause of on-the-job death, with distraction among the leading factors. Cellphone-distracted driving takes a motorist’s eyes, hands and mind away from the road and wheel, which increases potential dange...

Life hacks are creative tricks to improve your life and/or increase your productivity. WARNING: these four life-changing life hacks could improve your happiness and your health. 1. Volunteer for one new organization this month. Volunteers have lower health care costs, lower rates of heart disease, and report higher levels of well-being. Also: new studies find that altruism (practice of concern for the wellbeing of others) can be highly addictive. So, try it once and you’ll be hooked! 2. Make one new happy friend this month. Each new happy friend you add to your network increases your happiness by 15 percent. Having a  good friend at work  is also a big indicator in whether you will enjoy your job or not. 3. Get down to one TV screen in your home. Americans watch about 5 hours per day, but studies show the happiest people are only watching about an hour. Reduce TV watching to only one room of the house to make your hour of watching worthwhile....

Recipes gathered from:  MyFitnessPal With 4th of July around the corner, it is time to fire up that grill! Gather friends, get outdoors and cook some summer favorites. Below is a list of recipes that will allow you to experiment on the grill without the extra calories and fat. Give these recipes a try and let us know if you like them! 1.  GRILLED BACON-WRAPPED GREEN BEANS  | MAEBELLS Nutrition (per serving):  Calories: 87; Total Fat: 5g; Saturated Fat: 2g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 11mg; Sodium: 281mg; Carbohydrate: 5g; Dietary Fiber: 1g; Sugar: 3g; Protein: 4g 2.  GRILLED ZUCCHINI CORN SALAD  | UPROOT KITCHEN Nutrition (per serving):  Calories: 94; Total Fat: 4g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 6mg; Sodium: 74mg; Carbohydrate: 13g; Dietary Fiber: 2g; Sugar: 3g; Protein: 3g 3.  APRICOT-GLAZED GRILLED CHICKEN  | THE HEALTHY MAVEN Nutrition (per serving):  Calories: 281; Total Fat: ...

 Blog inspired by Jodi Helmer If you’re feeling run down, it could be because you are not getting enough sleep. Your immune system relies on high-quality sleep to function. Not getting enough sleep can put your immune system at a greater risk. Dr. Charlene Gamaldo, medical director at the Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep, compares sleep to a symphony orchestra: When your sleep habits are out of whack, it creates disharmony. “Many of the key components of the immune system have sleep-regulatory processes,” Gamaldo explains. “In other words, for the immune system to do what it needs to do, you need sleep.” The National Sleep Foundation  recommends  adults get 7–9 hours of sleep per night. There are more benefits to getting enough sleep outside of feeling well rested: A WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM Gamaldo refers to “warriors” in the immune system that work overtime while you sleep, fending off viruses and reducing inflammation. ( Chronic inflammation  is li...

Thursday, June 21, 2018 is National Dump the Pump Day Ever wonder how you could save money, catch up on email, chat with your neighbors, reduce your carbon emissions and relax-- all at once and while on your commute? Public Transit!! On 6/21 you can ride the bus for FREE , thanks to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans).   Bus service providers around the state are joining, including: Green Mountain Transit (GMT) Marble Valley Regional Transit (MVRTD) Addison County Transit Resources (ACTR) [now Tri-Valley Transit (TVT)] Stagecoach Transportation Services (STSI) [now Tri-Valley Transit (TVT)] Advance Transit (AT) Green Mountain Community Network (GMCN) Southeast Vermont Transit (SEVT) Rural Community Transportation (RCT) P lan your route by visiting this website: https://www.connectingcommuters.org/bus-info/bus-providers/ There are numerous benefits of public transportation that overlap with g...

Blog inspired by post from Jodi Helmer What happens to our bodies as each year passes?  As we grow our cell function decreases, bones lose density, joints show signs of wear and muscle tissue and strength decrease while body fat increases. You might not be able to reverse those years, but you can slow the process through exercise. “Both strength and power training are critically important as we age,” says Alice Bell, a spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association. “In order to effectively manage the impact of aging on muscle strength and power, it is critical to incorporate high-intensity strength training into your activity regimen.” New research shows that certain forms of exercise have the most profound anti-aging effects. A study , published in the journal Cell Metabolism, assigned participants in two age groups — 18–30 and 65–80 — and divided them into three training categories: high-intensity interval training (HIIT), weight training or a co...

Since the weather is FINALLY starting to warm up, we hope you are getting to spend some time outdoors! Living in Vermont we are spoiled with beautiful places to run, but make sure you are recovering properly and fueling appropriately.  Maybe you’ve signed up for your next (or maybe your first!) race and are itching to hit the pavement- but before you lace up your shoes and start ticking off the miles, it’s important to avoid developing any bad habits or preventing them before they begin. After all, the name of the game is to train smarter (not harder). Here are some tips to help avoid common race training mistakes that could hold you back from achieving your best on race day. LOGGING JUNK MILES Your leisurely 12-mile training run has its time and place, but if you’re looking for a personal best on race day, it’s beneficial to spend some time outside your comfort zone. Throw in a few tempo workouts to complement your long runs and, if you feel so inclined, s...

Need some HEALTHY activities you could provide as alternatives to celebrate with dad on his "Big Day"?  We have put together a short list of ideas below.  Father's Day is next weekend! We want Dad to be happy and healthy for many more to come so get out there and have some fun! 1. Take a Hike This is one of the MANY reasons to LO VE RMONT ...right?? Grab some trail mix and a bottle of water and get outside!  It doesn't have to be "Sunset Ridge," it could be a casual stroll.  Either way, it’s a great way to reminisce about the old days or catch up.  Walking is good low-impact exercise for all, and the fresh air and movement will benefit you both mentally and physically.  2. Go Fish No, not that kind of Fishing....Although, cards can be a fun family activity after you catch some dinner!  You can stand on the shores of Lake Champlain, take out the canoe or schedule a charter! The level of effort is COMPLETELY up to you! The ...

Yesterday was  National Cancer Survivors Day ® !! It was a  CELEBRATION  for those who have survived, an   INSPIRATION  for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of  SUPPORT  for families, and an  OUTREACH  to the community. It is estimated that there were 65,190 cancer survivors ages 0-14 (children) and 47,180 survivors ages 15-19 (adolescents) living in the US as of January 1, 2016. National Cancer Survivors Day® is an annual, treasured Celebration of Life that is held in hundreds of communities nationwide, and around the world , on the first Sunday in June. It is a CELEBRATION for those who have survived, an INSPIRATION for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of SUPPORT for families, and an OUTREACH to the community. On National Cancer Survivors Day®, thousands gather across the globe to honor cancer survivors and to show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be fruitful, rewarding, and even inspiring. It is a d...