Prioritizing your mental health is of utmost importance.

Most of us know this, but here’s the problem: a lot of us don’t know how to actually do it. This month, we’re covering 3 different strategies proven to help, all of which are easy to add into your routine.

HEALTHY IS A GRATITUDE PRACTICE

Scientific studies show that practicing gratitude increases happiness, has a significant impact on long-term success, and even improves numerous health outcomes. Implementing a daily gratitude practice can lead to health benefits such as a stronger immune system, reduced blood pressure, and a reduction in pain of almost 60%.

Each day, try documenting three things you are grateful for in a notebook, on a napkin, or by typing them into your phone. They don’t have to be profound. It could be a good cup of coffee, the warmth of a sunny day, or listening to your favorite song.

HEALTHY IS A DIGITAL FAST

Our digital devices make us more connected than ever, but the amount of time and frequency with which we’re using them may be causing more health problems than we realize. 80% of us check our phones within 15 minutes of waking up. When the first thing you do is look at your phone, which contains messages, emails, and notifications that act as stressors to your brain, it robs your brain of the slow, natural priming it requires to manage stress and other functions in your body and nervous system. Try waiting at least an hour before checking your phone each morning and build other blocks of time into your day that are phone-free.

HEALTHY IS 5-MINUTE JOURNALING

Do you ever take the time to reflect on your day and write about it? If not, you could be missing out on some remarkable mental and physical health benefits that come from journaling – and it doesn’t have to take long. Taking the time to write for 5 minutes a day about your experiences can reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, help with focus, and improve your critical thinking and memory.

Simple changes, big impacts.

Come see us at our November events to learn more about these strategies, or to receive our support and guidance with any of your personal health goals! We’re here to walk with you through your health journey, every step of the way.

Improve your cardiovascular health, improve your life.

No matter where you’re at on your health journey, we have tips and tricks that will fit your lifestyle. Getting active to improve cardiovascular strength is always a great tactic, but if that isn’t a great fit for your life right now, no worries! Here are some other strategies to implement this month.

HEALTHY IS SWEATING

The body uses a process called hormesis to respond to stressors in a manner that allows it to come back even stronger than it was before the stressor. This is why working out leads to muscles getting stronger, and why using heat stressors in the form of exercise or a sauna actually leads to major benefits such as:

• Stimulation of the immune system
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduction of inflammation
• Increase in cardiovascular strength
• Antidepressant and mood boosting effects

HEALTHY IS A CALM MORNING

When you first wake up, cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone,” is at a high point in your daily hormonal rhythm as a natural way of preparing for the day ahead. Adding additional stress during this time can spike your cortisol, causing your blood sugar to rise and leading to negative long-term effects such as decreased energy, fatigue, and headaches as well as a lowered immune system. Start your day by making your bed, stepping outside to get some fresh air, or writing down three things you’re grateful for.

HEALTHY IS GENIUS FOODS

Our brains use nutrients from foods just like our bodies do. Giving your brain the right nutrients will supercharge it, allowing you to learn faster, feel refreshed, and give your brain the boost it needs to fight major ailments like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Examples of genius foods are below, and if you’re craving something sweeter, dark chocolate is considered a genius food as long as it has 80% cacao!

MEAT & SEAFOOD

Wild Salmon

Pasture-Raised Eggs

Free-Range Poultry

Bison

Shellfish

Take control of your health.

Join us this month to learn more strategies for implementing these tactics into your daily routine, and check in with our Wellness Coaches about any of your health goals. We’re here to help!

Boost revenue, increase impact.

ADD A REVENUE STREAM TO YOUR PHARMACY WITH HEALTH COACHING.

Create a culture of wellness and boost your revenue with a Healthy Is Wellness license. Provide in-person, personalized, one-on-one health coaching to your patients with the help of data from our customized health assessments:

BODY COMPOSITION

Provide a full body composition scan in less than one minute with our medical-grade technology, providing critical insights into overall health risk and metrics such as muscle mass, visceral fat, inflammation, and more.

MOVEMENT

You’ll have the ability to measure balance, identify injury risk, provide insights on preventing injuries, and improve physical performance by looking closely at movement signatures in assessments that are non-invasive and take less than 1 minute each.

BIOMETRICS 2.0

We’ve brought biometric screenings into the 21st century by providing a template to measure multiple medical-grade biomarkers that deliver a more accurate risk assessment than traditional screenings and are completed within minutes. This includes critical blood markers like HbA1c and micronutrient levels like Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Omega 3, and more.

One size doesn’t fit all, so our program can be easily adapted to fit specific health conditions, goals, and lifestyles. Customers will also have access to our behavior change program, physical handouts, and our mobile app, arming them with additional resources and the ability to set goals, track challenges, and see progress over time.

RETAIN & INCENTIVIZE EMPLOYEES

Through our revenue sharing model, your employees will be incentivized to grow the program at your location and drive membership signups. The more people they help on their journey to better health through our memberships, the more money you both will make.

Get started fast.

QUICK START LICENSING, TRAINING, & SETUP

We get you up & running in as little as 3 weeks from the time you complete your application, sign the licensing agreement, and begin the onboarding process. You’ll have our team there to guide you through virtual employee training via our online learning management system and in-person to set you up at your pharmacy location and get you off to a great start. We make it as easy and seamless as possible while instilling the knowledge and confidence to run the program successfully, and enabling you to scale easily over time.

Our team will also provide a full marketing kit containing handouts, signage, and digital collateral for use on monitors and social media.

Did you know you can support your mental health and strengthen your immune system at the same time?

Let’s explore some challenges that can help you eat to beat depression, stress, anxiety, and brain fog, all while helping you strengthen your immune system as we head into the fall.

HEALTHY IS EATING YOUR WAY INTO MENTAL WELLBEING

The world can prove to be quite stressful, and your mental health can suffer during times where things feel out of your control. Unfortunately, we tend to compound the problem by turning to foods that add more stress and inflammation to your body. By eliminating ultra-processed foods, inflammatory fats, and artificial sweeteners and introducing higher-quality foods, you can begin to see amazing results.

HEALTHY IS EATING YOUR WATER

We all know water is essential for your metabolism and the health of every cell in your body, but not all water is absorbed the same way. Different benefits can be gained from eating water-rich foods such as zucchini, cucumbers, fresh berries, romaine lettuce, and melons than from simply drinking a glass of water, and these foods can help hydrate your body faster.

Simple changes, big impacts.

It doesn’t take a massive lifestyle overhaul to make progress. It just takes a few simple, intentional changes. Sign up for your next coaching session and our team of coaches will help you figure out which challenge can make the biggest impact for you and help you take control of your health.

When you care for your gut, your brain and body thrive.

Your gut has its own nervous system, which produces over 90% of your serotonin and more than 50% of your dopamine (known for making you feel good). We’re focusing on simple tactics that will allow you to optimize this mind-gut connection and achieve your health and wellness goals.

Healthy Is Coloring Your Microbiome

Our microbiome is a diverse ecosystem of micro-bugs in our gut, each affecting and influencing different aspects of our bodies. This complex ecosystem requires a diverse palette in order to function optimally and ensure positive changes throughout your body. Consuming whole foods in a variety of colors gives your microbiome a boost. Try to consume something from each color below every day.

Healthy Is Minding Your Gut

Did you know the mood you are in when you eat can influence everything from how your body digests the food to the hormones you release? Your gut has its own nervous system, and its lining is stacked with endocrine (hormone-producing) cells.

Avoid eating while stressed by practicing gratitude, taking deep breaths, and slowing down to enjoy your meal. Take your time and enjoy eating again. As amazing as your gut is at turning food into energy, it only does so efficiently if you eat in a calm, non-stressed state.

Healthy Is More Fiber

Fiber slows the rate at which food enters your bloodstream and increases the speed at which food is processed through your digestive tract, keeping your blood sugar and cholesterol in balance and helping you eliminate toxins. Try to incorporate high-fiber fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts into your diet each day.

Progress over perfection.

Every little change helps! Pick one of these challenges to get started on, and add in more as you form new habits. Not sure what will make the biggest impact for you? Sign up for your next coaching session and our team of coaches will help.

When asked to quantify health and chronic disease risk, most gravitate towards the usual metrics of weight, blood pressure, and body composition. However, movement may be one of the most important and overlooked factors we are able to measure. Movement ability has been shown to be predictive of functional decline, injury risk, and chronic disease, all of which reduce an individual’s quality of life and can wreak havoc on an organization’s healthcare expenses.

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of incorporating a movement analysis program into your organization’s wellness offerings.

Reduce Injury-Related Costs

But it’s not only about reducing injury risk on the job; 80% of Americans will suffer a back injury at some point in their life, with most of these occurring outside of work. In the U.S., $80 billion is spent each year to treat back injuries. According to the CDC, this leading contributor to sick days costs employers $1,685 per employee per year. Injury prevention is crucial, and that comes through regular movement and risk assessment.

Increase Productivity

Wage and productivity losses due to injury in 2021 totaled $47.4 billion, and it is estimated that 99 million working days are lost due to injuries every year. Whether in an office, a manufacturing facility, or another setting entirely, increasing your employees’ ability to move has massive benefits of boosting energy, engagement, and efficiency.

Improve Mental Health

A great way to take care of your employees’ mental health is to keep them injury-free. Employees with a work-related injury are twice as likely to report serious psychological distress, and as many as 50% experience post-injury depression symptoms.

Workplace injuries aside, participating in regular movement has proven benefits when it comes to mental health. Movement produces endorphins which improve your mood and help you de-stress. Research shows that increased physical activity of any kind, even walking, can improve depression symptoms and reduce the risk of developing depression in the first place. Enabling employees to stay active is paramount.

How We Can Help

Our team of coaches will work one-on-one with your employees to empower them with customized injury prevention and performance improvement strategies that will simultaneously increase productivity and overall quality of life. Everyone is different, so we’ll cater our recommendations and coaching to each individual based on medical-grade data from our assessments.

Healthy Is Wellness utilizes Sparta Science Force Plate technology to analyze stability, force creation, and injury risk in less than 15 minutes. This data paired with our personalized coaching brings significant benefits to businesses by improving efficiency, reducing absenteeism, lowering healthcare costs, and cultivating a healthier workplace.

Ready to get started? Get in touch with our team!

Sources

https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/costs/work-injury-costs/

https://www.colorado.edu/health/blog/moving-your-body

https://health.gov/news/202112/physical-activity-good-mind-and-body

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisongriswold/2012/06/12/to-work-better-just-get-up-from-your-desk/?sh=33d2c15b1c15

19 Back Injury Statistics: How Many Back Injuries Occur Each Year? (thegoodbody.com)

The Back Breaking Cost of Back Pain in the US – IRIS FMP (fmpglobal.com)

Do You Know Your Movement Vital Signs? – Rehab2Perform