One of the most common health issues we find facing today’s workforce is high cholesterol. Left untreated, high cholesterol levels can lead to more serious problems like diabetes, heart disease and strokes, all primary causes of death in the U.S.
Since September is National Cholesterol Month, this is a good time to remind everyone of some simple ways that employers can help their workers attack this problem.
1. Eating right: It is very easy for someone to eat a bag of chips or grab a burger with fries somewhere fast, especially under the pressure of workplace deadlines. Think twice before ordering that Big Mac though (85 mg of cholesterol). Providing workers with easy access to fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grain snacks such as walnuts, almonds or nuts is a better alternative to chips and candy.
Let your workers know that instead of drinking that soda to stay awake and active, they should try a banana: Bananas have natural sugars that help make the brain stay alert longer than any manufactured soda can.
2. Work it: The benefits of spending two-and-a-half to three hours a week doing a physical activity or exercising are enormous. Encourage workers to take a walk around your building for 15 to 30 minutes or go to a gym during lunch hour instead of sitting at the desk all day.
People who sit all day have a higher risk of bad cholesterol levels, and that we know. What you might not know is how much the body needs constant movement and activity throughout the day. Standing up to stretch, parking your car a longer distance from the office and not sitting the whole time during a meeting makes a lot more progress for a healthier lifestyle.
Want to track your progress, there are a number of free apps that monitor how much you walk and how many calories you burn, like MapMyWalk and Moves so you can calculate how much exercise you are getting.
3. Chill out: The two lifestyle choices above will also help reduce stress and lower obesity, two other factors that cause high cholesterol levels. Stress management is key to lowering blood pressure, and will also develop a more successful environment in the workplace.
Procrastinating on the source of your stress instead of facing it head on and taking pro-active steps will hurt in the long run. It is important to take a deep breath, control your surroundings (turn off the TV, stay away from hot-button topics that heighten your emotions) and don’t carry on too many tasks at once in the workplace.
Taking walks, eating right and not using any tobacco-related products are a great step toward lowering your stress and losing weight, which will lower those cholesterol levels.
The dangers related to high levels of bad cholesterol are very real. By encouraging employees to take these simple steps, you will put them on the right path to a healthier and more productive lifestyle.
———-
To stay up-to-date on the latest in corporate wellness and how we can help your company improve the health of your workforce and your bottom line, follow us on Twitter @StarWellnessUSA and on Facebook at facebook.com/StarWellnessUSA.
———-
To sign up to receive our e-newsletter, email me at info@starwellnessusa.com.
Copyright ©2014 Star Wellness USA
