LiveWell Vermont

Join the National Hearth, Lung and Blood Institute(NHLBI), The Heart Truth, and organizations around the country on National Wear Red Day, celebrated each year on the first Friday in February, to raise awareness for heart disease! Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease. The good news? Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. American Heart Month is a chance to raise awareness about preventing heart disease. Show your support by wearing red tomorrow!

This awesome challenge started yesterday! If you have not signed up yet, there is still time!! You have until Sunday February 3rd to register!  This 3-week challenge is worth 60 incentive points towards the Start Small. Go Big! Incentive Program. Register in the portal today!

According to HealthLine, water makes up 60% of the average human body. Being that our system relies so heavily on water, it is important to make sure you are getting enough. MSN reported that 3 out of 4 adults are chronically dehydrated an unaware. Here are some common symptoms of dehydration: Water helps your body flush out toxins. When we are dehydrated, we remove our bodies ability to properly flush out these toxins. Chronic dry skin can be an indicator you are not getting enough water. If you find your skin is dull and dry as opposed to moisturized and plump, you might want to increase your water intake. The color of you urine is an oddly accurate way to find out how hydrated you may be. The darker the yellow, the more likely you are dehydrated. When you do not have enough water in your system, your kidneys have to work much harder and produce a more concentrated liquid. PROTECT THE KIDNEYS! Drink the water! Frequent headaches are painful and can interrupt your day to da...

Have you heard about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont's Snow Days?! These free events give Vermonters the opportunity to try cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, in an effort to encourage physical activity during the cold winter months. Rentals are free on a first-come, first-served basis. No preregistration required. For more information, call (802) 371-3205 or email events@bcbsvt.com  

Sugar is EVERYWHERE! You can find it in your snacks, drinks and even in your vegetables! But is all sugar equal? Let us break it down for you! According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the maximum amount of added sugars you should eat in a day are ( 7 ): Men: 150 calories per day (37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons) Women: 100 calories per day (25 grams or 6 teaspoons) Natural sugars are found in foods like yogurt, milk and fruits. These sugars do not lead to the same health problems that added sugars do. Think of it this way: whole foods, especially fruits, contain health-promoting substances, like calcium, magnesium, potassium and fiber. Because of the nutrients these sugars provide, there isn't much need for worrying about them. There is one exception- you can overdo fruit juice. Because a cup of juice contains more than one piece of fruit, you get more fructose — the natural sugar without the fiber. If you’re drinking more than one cup of juice per day (or serving t...

Live Well Vermont is walking around the world in the first semester of Start Small. Go Big!! Over the next 3 challenges we hope to get 49, 802, 000 steps!! The first segment of the challenges, Around the World: Phase 1, starts on January 28th. YOU CAN REGISTER TODAY IN THE PORTAL!!! Sign up now and start walking with Live Well ! Contact LiveWell Vermont with any questions: DHR.LiveWellVermont.Vermont.gov or 802-828-7308

January is the month of citrus fruits, the best source of vitamin C and bioflavonoids that help us strengthen the immune system and prevent seasonal ailments. To better absorb their active ingredients, citrus fruits should be eaten whole. Other allies against cold are dried fruits, which are nutritious and energizing as well as excellent ingredients to prepare savory and light sweets. Consider adding any of the following fruits to your menu this week: kiwi, orange, tangerine, clementine, lemon, grapefruit, apple, pear, dried fruits (fig, plum, raisin, date, apricot). If you are looking for something new and exciting, check out this  Pan-Seared Halibut with Citrus-Jalapeño Salsa recipe and let us know what you think!

A  New Year's resolution  is a tradition, most common in the Western Hemisphere but also found in the Eastern Hemisphere, in which a person resolves to change an undesired trait or behavior, to accomplish a personal goal or otherwise improve their life.  Unfortunately,  only 8 percent of people actually achieve their New Year's resolutions.  So, instead of joining the 92%, do your best to focus on realistic and meaningful improvements! The following tips will help create a healthy foundation for the new year.   Drink half your body weight in water - For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, that would be 75 to 150 ounces of water a day. If this is out of your comfort zone, start smaller! Aim to increase your average intake by one glass (8oz)/day for the next week! Add one new healthy food each week - trying new foods can be overwhelming. There are so many to choose from! Where do you start? How do you prepare them? Breathe. Pick one new food ...

Happy New Year!! Now that the stress of the Holidays is over, we can start to focus on a fresh start! It is common this time of year to hear people making healthy resolution! Unfortunately, these resolutions tend to get lost by about mid month. Some studies say 75% of people stick to their goals for at least a week, less than half (46%) lasts for about 6 months. This year, start by focusing on what is truly important to you.  Do you want to improve your diet, exercise routine, finances, or spiritual wellness? Then, set some goals.    Make sure your goals are SMART Goals which are: Break your long-term goals into short-term goals and further into a series of steps and set weekly targets which are not only realistic, measurable and time- based. To stay motivated, make a checklist of how to achieve your short-term goals. Share your goals with family or friends. Maybe they have similar goals. They will hold you accountable and can act as a support system. Tre...

Thank you for another great year! We are excited to see what 2019 holds!

We know what you may be thinking...odd pairing! Well don't knock it until you try it. This soup partners some unlikely ingredients to create a nice refreshing masterpiece.   INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons olive oil ½ yellow onion, diced small 1 bunch baby fennel, diced small 2 ribs of celery, diced small Salt to taste 6 to 8 purple-top turnips, roughly chopped 7 sprigs thyme, de-stemmed 6 oz 2% milk Juice of one Meyer lemon ¼ pound walnuts, roughly chopped ½ pomegranate, seeded DIRECTIONS 1. Heat the olive oil in a small pot. Add the onion, fennel, and celery and sweat until translucent. Then add turnips and thyme. Season with salt to taste. 2. When the turnips are tender, add 2 cups of water and bring it to a simmer. Add the cream and bring it back to a simmer. Add the lemon juice and blend the soup in a blender or food processor. Toast the walnuts in the oven or toaster oven. 3. Garnish with the walnuts and pomegranate seeds.   NUTRITION ...

This winter root vegetable improves heart health, enhances digestion, aid in weight loss, and boost the immune system. Parsnips also enhance vision, promote growth, boost oral and skin health, prevent diabetes and cancer, as well as strengthen brain health. What are Parsnips? Parsnips are a root vegetable native to Eurasia and closely related to carrots and parsley. It was often mistaken for carrots in historical records. Parsnips contain high levels of minerals such as calcium, potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, and iron. They have an impressive range of vitamins, including folate, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, C, E, and K. They also have high levels of fiber, water, and protein and contain low amounts of carbohydrates, sodium, and calories. Let us discuss the important health benefits of parsnips in detail: Parsnips contain a high level of potassium, which acts as a vasodilator (widens the blood vessel) as well as reduces blood pressure and stress...

Over the weekend in Arizona, this long distance runner ran for 24 hours!! Not only did she run for 24 hours, she maintained a 8:40 pace! Running more than 650 laps on a 400-meter track, Camille clocked 162.9 miles. She went through 3 pairs of shoes during her adventure around the track. Read more here . Next time you need an extra motivator, channel your inner Camille Herron!

Protein makes up the building blocks of organs, muscles, skin and nails, hormones, repair tissue and so much more. You have to eat protein to sustain quality life. For this reason, you should eat high-quality protein multiple times a day. Consuming quality protein assist with weight loss, especially belly fat, and increases muscle mass and strength.  The recommended daily intake for protein is 46 grams for women and 56 grams for men. However, depending on your level of activity throughout the day, you likely need  much more than that to function optimally. Go lean : focus on beans, nuts, tofu, fish, and eggs for good sources of lean protein with low saturated fat content. Quality over quantity : don’t stress too much about protein quantity. Eating a variety of healthy protein-rich foods throughout the day (and week!) and ensuring that each meal has a protein source will help ensure your body gets the protein building blocks it needs.  Variety : try rotat...

Do you know about VT Alerts? You can receive personalized alerts via phone, text or email about the emergencies that affect you or your loved ones. AND THIS SERVICE IS FREE ! How cool is that? The alerts are based on your home address, work address and current location. All updates are from state and federal agencies as well as local first-responders, so you know the information you are receiving is reliable! At this point you must be wondering how you can sign up for this awesome feature- 3 easy steps! Go to   VTALERT.GOV and choose your delivery method: text, call, email or all of the above Enter your frequent locations: home, work, school or daycare Select the alerts you wish to receive: amber alerts, life threatening emergencies, severe weather, missing persons, environmental hazardous materials, scams, public health or transportation interruptions DID YOU KNOW: The back of your State Employee Badge has the number to State Security (802) 828-0777). You ca...

No time like the present! Let the Live Well team help you!!   Did you know as a state employee you have access to wellness coaching at no cost to you ?     What is Wellness Coaching? A partnership that SUPPORTS and GUIDES you in defining, creating and achieving your best self. Focuses on your strengths and positivity. Areas of focus may include: Nutrition, Fitness, Stress Management, Weight Management and Work/Life Balance What should you expect? Initial Sessions (about 45 minutes): During these 2 sessions, you will get to know your coach and define your long-term vision of health and wellness. You will decide on a plan and set achievable goals to focus on between sessions. Follow Up Sessions (about 30 minutes): During these sessions (anywhere from 3-8 session depending on individual), you will check in with your coach to review your goals and progress, identify and celebrate y...

Winter Driving Safety Tips By Scott Ptak, ARM, CUSP, SHRM PMA Management Corporation of New England     Even here in Vermont when winter weather strikes, drivers face some out-of-the-ordinary challenges when they get behind the wheel. Snow, slush or icy roads are involved in nearly one in four weather-related vehicle crashes. These conditions can make it harder for drivers to see, slow down and stop – all factors that can increase the chances of an accident. If you must travel during winter weather, preparing your car in advance, knowing the forecast and driving based on road conditions are three key ways to help you drive more safely. Even if you’ve been driving in the Vermont snow your entire life, it’s always good to be reminded of the dangers.   Here are some winter driving safety tips to help you prepare for the elements – before you face them – on the road. Preparing Your Vehicle As temperatures start to drop, it’s time to make sure your car is ...