LiveWell Vermont

U! Self Care: You know who is important? You are!! In the hectic day in day out of we often forget that we have to make ourselves a priority. One of our favorite sayings in wellness is “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. Have you ever tried to pour from an empty cup? Try it! It’s anticlimactic. Maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself boosts confidence and self-esteem. By taking time for yourself you are showing that you are important. A primary area people neglect to focus on themselves is work! With deadlines, meetings, phone calls and a never ending but always growing to do list, it is hard to find balance. Having a healthy work-life balance is instrumental in taking care of yourself. Being a workaholic can lead to stress, exhaustion and make you less productive. Not having a healthy work life balance might also lead to health problems like anxiety, depression or insomnia. USE YOUR BREAKS! Whether it is taking a few minutes to go for a walk, call a friend or to eat ...

Turnips When was the last time you craved a turnip? Never? Fair enough. Turnip isn't a regular on most menus, but it is nutrient dense so it might be worth checking out! Turnips are among the oldest and hardiest vegetables. They grew wild in Siberia when dinosaurs roamed the earth and got an early reputation as a food for poor people and farm animals. Today, it is a common vegetable produced in Vermont! The most common turnip is light purple on top and white on the bottom, but there are more than 30 kinds with varying shapes and colors. Some are sweet, like a carrot, while others taste more like a potato. Unlike most other vegetables, you can eat both the turnip's root and the leafy green top! Try this simple Roasted Turnip Recipe

Sugar Substitutes By Mayo Clinic Staff If you're trying to reduce the sugar and calories in your diet, you may be turning to artificial sweeteners or other sugar substitutes. You aren't alone. Understanding artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes Sugar substitutes are sweeteners that you use instead of regular table sugar (sucrose). Artificial sweeteners are just one type of sugar substitute. The topic of sugar substitutes can be confusing. One problem is that the terminology is often open to interpretation. Some manufacturers call their sweeteners "natural" even though they're processed or refined. Stevia preparations are one example. And some artificial sweeteners are derived from naturally occurring substances — sucralose comes from sugar. Uses for artificial sweeteners Artificial sweeteners are widely used in processed foods, including: · Soft drinks, powdered drink mixes and other beverages · Baked goods · Candy · ...

Rest Days Repeat after me, “rest days are important!” *Crowd says, “rest days are important!!”* Great! Now let us tell you why. Every time you exercise you create very small tears in your muscles. This is just a part of the process that allows your body to become stronger. The small tears are not a problem, it is fabulous for building a stronger muscle. You must provide an environment where those tiny tears can repair themselves and grow! Pushing through a tough workout requires mental toughness and stamina, which means that physical exertion is not only hard on your body, but also your brain. Spending a day away from your typical training environment can give you a psychological break from exercise and help your mind relax, allowing it to recover along with your muscles. A day of rest allows your body to repair tissues damaged from the mechanical stresses of exercise. Specifically, rest allows time for the fibroblasts—individual cells...

Quinoa: Quinoa might surprise you with some of its health benefits. One of the big ones being the amount of protein in it! Typically, one cup of cooked quinoa has about 8 grams of protein! More than that, it contains a range of amino acids that are critical in muscle development including lysine. Lysine is an essential amino acid that is used for synthesis of proteins.   Fiber? Yes! Around 5 grams per cup! Fiber can help reduce blood pressure and high cholesterol. Other notable nutrients this gluten free whole grain provides are vitamin E, manganese, iron, folate, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, zinc, riboflavin, vitamin B-1, and potassium. Woah!   What is your favorite way to enjoy quinoa? Share with us!

Portion Control: Waistlines and portion sizes are growing. If you are watching your weight or trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, controlling how much you consume is a great way to start! Research has shown that people generally eat all that they serve themselves, so we are going to provide a few tips to help prevent overindulging. 1.        Use smaller plates. Using a larger plate allows for more food on it. Using a smaller plate creates the optical illusion that you have much more food because your plate is full. Research shows people generally will pause and think twice before going to get a second serving. Bonus tip: load that plate with vegetables! Veggies are low in calories, sodium and fat. Next time you are fixing your plate, try to make half of it vegetables and take note on how you feel when you finish eating.   2.       Ask for half portions when eating out. Restaurants have a big reputation for big ...

Stress is experienced by everyone; the uncertainty of when life will return to "normal" is impacting us all! Trying to develop a new routine, having to take o new responsibilities and adapting to physical distancing is stressful. There are many resources available on our website as well as the rest of the internet. However, the use of essential oils is also very effective way to combat the overwhelming effects of stress in a natural way. Aromatherapy has been utilized since ancient times in order to encourage relaxation and tranquility in the midst of stress. Essential oils have a variety of purposes such as boosting energy, relieving headaches, helping with focus, improving sleep quality, and decreasing stress. Feel free to diffuse the following oils while practicing yoga or meditating in order to increase the relaxing effects of your practice. The essential oils listed below provide a natural remedy for stress and can be used to promote calmness and peace. 1. Lavende...

Are you freaking out about the market right now?? Prudential is here to help! Saving and investing for retirement during this time of extreme market volatility is stressful. That’s why we put together some info for you to help you learn more, understand your options, and take action. We encourage you to visit our site to learn more about volatility and how to manage retirement accounts quickly online. Additionally, to further safeguard our employees against COVID-19, Prudential retirement counselors will be available to meet one-on-one with you virtually , instead of in person, until further notice. We want to encourage you to use this resource during this time. Virtual one-on-one sessions are a great way to review your account and retirement goals with a Prudential retirement counselor who can answer your savings questions. All you need is a phone and an internet-connected computer to access your private, secure online meeting room. You get custom assistance from ...