LiveWell Vermont

This recipe is courtesy of Mind Over Munch Ingredients: 1 spaghetti squash  ⅓ cup Greek yogurt, or nondairy yogurt of choice 1 Tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil  3 Tbsp Buffalo sauce of your choice  ¼ tsp garlic powder  salt and pepper, to taste  1½ cups chicken, shredded  2 Tbsp crumbled blue cheese  2 Tbsp green onion, chopped  ¼ cup shredded cheese for topping  Optional: light ranch/blue cheese dressing for topping   Instructions: Preheat oven to 400°F Poke holes in squash with a fork and microwave 5 minutes to soften up the squash. Score all the way around the squash lengthwise with a knife, marking the line of the cut. Cut squash in half lengthwise, scrape out seeds Brush with olive oil, season with salt & pepper Place cut-side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake for about 40 minutes, until tender enough to scrape strands. Should be easily pierced with a fork. (Not TOO cooked through ...

Yes, you read that right! The Live Well Vermont team is coming your way to offer biometric screenings again. Below are the 2019 schedules. Register in the  Wellness Portal  today! 2019 Overall Biometric Schedule Northern Region Schedule Central Region Schedule Southern Region Schedule

For the next 10 Tuesdays we will be sharing a new body weight exercise! You do not need a fancy gym to find some extra room for fitness. Try these at home, work, with friends, alone, ANY way you choose! Number 1: Basic Crunch   What It Does:  Strengthens your abdominals How to Do It:  Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor, at least a foot away from your buttocks. Place your hands behind your head with your elbows out to the side and your neck straight. Curl your chest and shoulders up, keeping your chin away from your chest and your tailbone on the floor. Hold for a moment at the top and then return to your starting position. Repeat 10 times. Be careful not to… pull on your neck. Holding your neck in line with your spine while your hands gently support your head allows your abdominals to do the work.

Besides being the cup of liquid gold that gets your day jumpstarted, coffee has health benefits! Hopefully this blog post, increases your love for coffee or at the least helps you justifies your 2nd or 3rd cup! ☺ Fat Burning: Caffeine can aid in fat burning and several studies have proven that it can increase metabolic rate by 3-11%. Several studies show that caffeine can increase fat burning and boost your metabolic rate. Caffeine increases adrenaline levels and release fatty acids from your fat tissues. It also leads to significant improvements in physical performance. Contains Essential Nutrients : Coffee contains several important nutrients, including riboflavin, pantothenic acid, manganese, potassium, magnesium and niacin. Coffee also contains polyphenols (micronutrients that we get through certain plant-based foods) that are effective at neutralizing free radicals (uncharged molecules in the body, highly reactive and short-lived) and helping to prevent ...

The second phase of this awesome challenge started yesterday! If you have not signed up yet, there is still time!! You have until Sunday, March 24th to register!  This 3-week challenge is worth 60 incentive points towards the Start Small. Go Big! Incentive Program. Register in the portal today!

Join the National Sleep Foundation in celebrating its annual Sleep Awareness Week, March 10 - 16, 2019! More than 18 million American adults have sleep apnea. In the 2005 Sleep in America poll, 8% of respondents experienced or had been observed having pauses in their breathing during sleep at least three nights per week. Adults in the poll were also given the Berlin questionnaire, a standardized test assessing risk for sleep apnea. Based on the questionnaire, 26% of all poll respondents were at risk. I’m a night person. Always have been. Always will be. Hey, night owl. You may be right. But here are some tips for becoming more of an early riser. Just like with any challenge...Start small and GO BIG! Step 1: Set a goal. What time do you wanna get up? This might be a "long term goal" and that's ok! You can set smaller, more manageable goals to help you get there.  Step 2: Set a Routine! Every morning, back up your wake time by a couple minutes. And...

Join the National Sleep Foundation in celebrating its annual Sleep Awareness Week, March 10 to 16, 2019! You know the deal. Adults need an average of seven to nine hours of sleep a night to be their best functioning selves. But work, life, and good TV that comes on after 9pm can always get in the way of that.  It may be tempting to try to edge in a couple extra hours of work or leisure in exchange for fewer hours of sleep, but is the loss of sleep really worth it?   According to the CDC, “insufficient sleep has been linked to the development and management of a number of chronic diseases and conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression.” Additionally, the American Sleep Association states that, “35% of adults report less than seven hours of sleep per night.”  To learn more about sleep and sleep deprivation, or request promotional materials for sleep awareness please visit the National Sleep Foundation at SleepFound...

Life comes with a lot of unexpected, happy, sad, trying and special moments. Regardless of what you face in this lifetime, having a strong support system to guide you and celebrate with you is important. The Okinawa community firmly believes that having a group of lifelong friends contributes to their long, healthy lives. The Japanese term for this support group is ‘moai’. The research is there, but how do we get this support system? Where do we go and what do we do to try and grow our group of life companions? Here are a few ways to grow your moai! Hobbies! Having common interests is a great way to bond with another individual. Exploring and even learning new hobbies can be a great way to strengthen a bond. Meet Up can be a great way to find others in your area with common interests! This website/app allows you to create a group based on your interest or search through a variety of topics to find an existing group you would like to join. Trying new events in your area can b...

YIELD: 2 servings TIME: 10 minutes INGREDIENTS: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 large cloves garlic, minced 6 ounces large shiitake mushrooms, stems removed Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon chopped parsley PREPARATION: Combine butter and garlic in sauté pan. Heat until butter is melted and garlic starts to sizzle, about 30 seconds. Do not let garlic brown. Add mushrooms and sauté 3 to 4 minutes, turning until lightly browned. Season to taste with salt and pepper, sprinkle with parsley and serve.

This breakfast yogurt parfait in a jar is a tasty way to start your day. It’s so quick and easy, too. Why opt for sugary yogurt varieties, when there’s such a deliciously healthy alternative in naturally-sweetened Greek yogurt? The fruits included in the recipe can be swapped out with your seasonal favorites to provide you with a nutritious breakfast to-go! Note that you can get creative about layering your parfait, adding dark chocolate shavings, granola of choice, shredded coconut, sugar free jam, and more to the layers. Servings: 3 | Serving Size: 1 cup | Calories: 184 | Total Fat: 8 g | Carbohydrates: 23 g | Dietary Fiber: 4 g | Sugars: 1 g | Protein: 6 g Ingredients 1 cup grapes or mixed berries 1/2 banana, chopped 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 1/2 cup granola 1/2 cup nonfat or lowfat Greek-style yogurt Instructions Place a layer of berries or grapes on the bottom of the jar, add a layer of yogurt, a layer of granola, a layer of fruit, another ...

Looking for another reason to enjoy a glass of wine?? The men and women of Sardinia, Italy enjoy moderate consumption of locally made Cannonau wine and they have the world's highest concentration of male centenarians and are a designated Blue Zone!  Blue Zones were identified in 2004 as places where people consistently have longer lifespans. Over a decade or so of research has identified a list of 9 factors that prolong life in theses established regions. Among these factors was drinking some form of alcohol. Sardinians are famous for their daily consumption of the robust, regional red wine called Cannonau aka "Garnacha" (Spain), "Garnatxa" (Spain). Cannonau wine has TWO TO THREE TIMES  the level of artery-scrubbing flavonoids  as other wines. Another reason Sardinians may experience these wine health benefits is the way they consume it – always surrounded by good friends and good food! Good company makes everything better!  There is an a...

January 1 is a popular time to make big changes! "New Year, New Me!" That may work for some people but for the majority, by the time January 31st rolls around, those resolutions are reso lost!     Can anyone relate?? Maybe you haven't acheived some big change yet. That is OK! Maybe you have learned something about yourself or discovered something else to be more important! Think about what you truly want in life and use that as every day motivation.  Never underestimate the strength of a win and how that feeling can set you up for larger changes over time. Each success emphasizes your progress — and those micro-benchmarks should be celebrated. Rather than thinking this year is a bust, try these easier tactics: 1 FORGET JANUARY 1 Although the calendar provides that spring-loaded date as a jumping-off point, setting New Year’s Day as your starting line can be problematic, too. It tends to create more pressure, especially if you’ve had a ...

Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate your love … for chocolate! This fun cocktail has all the makings of your new favorite treat, either to share or enjoy all by yourself. Make life even sweeter by swapping sugar with Stevia In The Raw for fewer calories. By: myfitnesspal's recipes Ingredients 1 cup (240 ml) frozen sweet cherries, plus more for garnish 8 teaspoons (40 ml) sugar (or 4 packets Stevia In The Raw Ⓡ ) 1 teaspoon (5 ml) chocolate extract 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla Ice cubes 1 cup (240 ml) sparkling water Directions In a small saucepan, combine cherries, sugar (or Stevia In The Raw) and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook until cherries are very soft. Crush cherries to release their juices, then strain syrup through a fine mesh strainer. In a small liquid measuring cup, stir together 1/4 cup (60 ml) cherry syrup, chocolate extract and vanilla. Pour into glasses filled with ice, and top off with sparkling water. Garnish with cherries.

Let’s talk about tea and longevity. Not just any tea, but the wide array of herbal teas that Ikarians drink. They drink herbal teas to naturally heal many ailments! Most of their herbal infusions are diuretic, which helps keep blood pressure at healthy levels, and are chock full of antioxidants, too! Health Benefits of Herbal Tea  1. Fights the Cold Herbal teas are great for treating a cold. The elder tree herb is one of the best for fighting a cold as it has properties that clear the nasal passages and stops heavy coughs. It can also reduce the symptoms of asthma. 2. Improves Digestion Many herbal teas help with the breakdown of fats and speed up the emptying of the stomach. Doing so, they can reduce symptoms of indigestion, bloating, and vomiting. Some of the best teas for these symptoms are dandelion, chamomile, cinnamon, peppermint, and ginger tea. 3. Boosts Immune System The antioxidants and vitamins found in herbal teas are great for helping fight...

The short answer is YES! But, an ideal stretch routine requires a little bit of planning.  Stretching is a vital part of a healthy fitness regimen. When done properly, stretching can  reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries by increasing blood flow/circulation, improving muscular balance and posture, and improving muscle coordination. Stretching Reduces Fatigue Stretching increases blood supply and nutrients to muscles and joints  Stretching increases a joint’s ability to move through a greater range of motion  Stretching decreases tightness in tendons and muscles  Stretching Improves Muscular Balance and Posture Soft tissue structures often adapt poorly to gravity and bad posture habits  Stretching realigns soft tissue structures, therefore reducing effort to achieve & maintain proper posture throughout your day  Stretching Improves Muscle Coordination Stretching enhances the time it takes an impulse to travel to the br...

Heart disease is the leading killer of Americans, taking the lives of 2,200 people each day. In addition, 103 million adults have high blood pressure and 6.5 million are living with heart failure. While genetic factors do play a part in  cardiovascular disease,  the good news is 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases may be preventable with education and action. Simple lifestyle changes can make a big impact when it comes to heart health.  Show your heart some love with these 5 tips: Don't Smoke! Quitting smoking is the best thing that can be done for the heart and for overall health. Smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in the United States, and smokers have a higher risk of developing many chronic disorders, including atherosclerosis, or the buildup of fatty substances in the arteries.Check out 802Quits for more info.  Know your numbers! Maintaining a healthy weight, blood pressure and total cholesterol play a significant role in mai...

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